Kolkata: There’s something to get ecstatic for Pankaj Advani fans. The Pune born 10-time world billiards title holder has added one more feather to his illustrious cap by winning the third Kolkata Open National Invitational Snooker Championship on Sunday. It was a test of patience for Advani as he braved all odds against Aditya Mehta in the final of the tournament organised by the West Bengal Billiards Association at the Bengal Rowing Club, Kolkata.
Advani got the better of two-time defending champion Mehta 5-1. According to PTI, Advani was impeccably up against Mehta who had no clue to the former’s moves thus conceding the title. Advani wasn’t in a hurry and was cool and calm to start off before finishing it off by posting a break of 101 in the sixth game en route to a 75-56 (60), 76-19 (67), 87-47 (14), 73-17, 0-101 (101), 116-0 (101) win.
Advani who was trailing Mehta by 23-56, was waiting for a flaw on his opponent’s part and posted a break of 60 to take a 1-0 lead. The second game was keenly contested with Mehta leading 13-9 but Advani came from behind to finish the game off with an unfinished 67 break with only the colours left. Mehta was leading 47-5 but Advani romped home with a 3-0 lead and was leading 4-0 at the break. Though, Mehta bounced back to a 101-0 lead with the first century break, but Advani held his nerves in the sixth game to clinch the title with a break of 101.
“Love to play international tournament here, BRC brings out my best. Looking forward to play more games here in future,” Advani, who didn’t participate in the first two years of the tournament said according to PTI after pocketing the winning prize worth Rs 1.25 lakh. “The way Aditya started, I never thought I would get to win the first frame. I think winning the first frame gave me the confidence to go ahead for a win. Had he managed to start off in a better way and finished it off to be 1-0 up, things could have been very different. When you know your opponent is very capable, you know you have to make use of the chances you get because you know there are going to be very few of them. I thought that whatever chances I get, I will get to score. I tried to play well today, I think I exceeded my own expectations and performed exceptionally well today.”” Advani was quoted by IANS after the victory.
(With inputs from Agencies)