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India's ace cueist Pankaj Advani staged a late comeback to beat compatriot Aditya Mehta in the quarter-finals of the Asian Snooker Championship, in Doha, on Thursday.
In what was going to be a clear upset, Mehta was a frame away from ousting the 21-time World champion from the tournament but Advani’s resilient efforts saw him enforce the decider and register a 5-4 (0-99(99), 1-60, 64-50, 97(72)-0, 35-90, 113(105)-0, 8-107(107), 61-16, 72-48) victory.
The two Indians exchanged heavy blows in the form of back-to-back breaks of hundred. As Pankaj succeeded in leveling the frame score with a 105 break in the sixth, Aditya inched closer to the finish with a 107 break in the following frame. However, that was the last frame he was going to win.
Aditya is yet to win a world title but is a former Asian champion. After several years being part of the snooker tour in the United Kingdom, he has returned to play for the country.
Pankaj fought back valiantly with measure and tenacity. A couple of useful 30-plus breaks brought the frame score to 4-all. Aditya was the first to score in the ninth and final frame with a 39 break. A failed safety attempt saw him bring his worthy opponent to the table to score a 29 break before being kept safe on the opposite end of the table.
He was forced to hand Pankaj an opening as there was no other go and the favourite did not disappoint. A well-crafted 37 break saw Pankaj sitting pretty as Aditya was in need of a snooker. It was pretty much curtains for the Mumbaikar as Pankaj delivered the final blow by potting the remaining balls on the table before they shook hands.
Pankaj, who is now assured a medal, is the only Indian left in the fray. His semi-final opponent is Pakistan's Asjad Iqbal.