Pankaj Advani wins Asian billiards

Six-time World champion Pankaj Advani defeated Thawat  Sujaritthurakarn of Thailand to emerge victorious in the 11th ONGC Asian Billiards Championship on Sunday.

Although Advani was the one who started the proceedings on a positive note by winning the opening game, it was Thawat who actually impressed in the initial stages of the match, played at the Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias Miramar, by taking the second and third games and securing a 2-1 lead.

Having won the second, Thawat showed that not only is he a very capable player but also has an intelligent head over his shoulders.

Under a little pressure as he was trailing 1-2, the 26-year-old Indian ace stroked the balls to a nicety and compiled an unbeaten century break to take the fourth game and restore parity at 2-2.

He then notched a 73 break to win the fifth, leaving Thawat stranded once again at 0.

Showing no remorse, Advani just went about his job of scoring with clinical efficiency to record another unbeaten century break on way to pocketing the sixth game.

Totally subdued, Thawat could not gain any advantage whatsoever from a possible one-cushion regulation cannon, which was very much required, even to have a semblance of a chance of a comeback after Advani had begun the seventh game.

Advani, in trying to score a cannon, got a yellow pot instead. Following on the stroke, he promptly double-baulked. The ploy enabled him to notch a break of 98 and stretch the lead to 5-2.

However, Thawat fought back, compiling a century break to get one back, and trail 3-5, but that was the only distance he could cover.

Advani stamped his authority on the rather one-sided match with a splendid century break in the ninth game to win the match and championship with consummate ease.

Scores (English Billiards): 101(101)-28, 00-100(100), 28-100, 100(100)-00, 101(73)-00, 100(100)-00, 100(98)-00, 11-100(100), 101(101)-00.