Pankaj Advani continued his strong show on global stage by winning the 15-frame IBSF World Snooker Championship at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha on Monday. It was the Indian star’s 18th world title.
Advani defeated Amir Sarkhosh of Iran 8-2 (19-71, 79-53, 98-23, 69-62, 60-05, 0-134, 75-07, 103-4, 77-13, 67-47) in the final.
On November 12, Advani had won his 17th world title at the same venue when he won the IBSF World Billiards Championship defeating Mike Russell of England.
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Monday’s snooker final saw Amir pocketing the first frame. Amir looked strong in the second frame too. But a regulation missed green pot gave Advani a chance and he lapped it to level the score.
Advani never looked back from there as he raced to 5-2 lead surviving a neck and neck battle in the fourth frame.
The second session saw Advani getting down to business from the very beginning. A long against the nap roll pot with a perfect position for blue saw him drawing the first blood with a break of 45 to go 45-0 up. After a couple of safety exchanges, Advani trapped Amir again to extract an opening.
{{/usCountry}}The second session saw Advani getting down to business from the very beginning. A long against the nap roll pot with a perfect position for blue saw him drawing the first blood with a break of 45 to go 45-0 up. After a couple of safety exchanges, Advani trapped Amir again to extract an opening.
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A spectacular long red pot saw him making another useful break of 17 points to increase the margin leaving behind the cue ball stuck to safe position. A hapless Amir had nothing to do and a wild shot by him saw Pankaj coming back to table once again to seal the frame with another break of 41 points to take a commanding lead of 6-2 in the best of 15 encounter.
Though Amir got the first opening in the ninth, a missed sitter red pot saw Advani unfolding his vast repertoire of strokes to compile winning break of 77 points with only four reds remaining on the table.
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Needing just one frame to win the title, Advani established his stronghold in the 10th frame by scoring the first 22 points. However, a regulation missed red by Advani, saw Amir open his account in the frame and score 30 points to take a slender lead of eight points.
But he could not take advantage of the situation as Advani’s relentless onslaught, both in potting and lethal safety, pushed Amir to the brink. Then, a spectacular long yellow pot by Advani, while scores were tied, saw him sweeping all remaining colours and the final.