IMAGE: Pankaj Advani outclassed local favourite Jaden Ong in the final to clinch the Songhe Singapore Open title. Photograph: Pankaj Advani/Instagram
India's Pankaj Advani won the coveted Songhe Singapore Open title with a 5-1 win over local favourite Jaden Ong in Singapore on Sunday.
On his way to the final, Advani beat former IBSF World snooker champion Dechawat Poomjaeng of Thailand 4-3 in a thrilling quarter-final at the Lagoon Billiards Room.
While the 5-1 score of the final seems lopsided, the first two frames were won by the Indian clearing the colours from a deficit to pip the Singaporean on both occasions to take a 2-0
advantage.
With some heavy scoring in the third by Advani, Ong needed to turn up the attack to offer himself a chance to survive in the final stage of the prestigious event.
A resurgent Ong pulled a frame back to be in contention. However, in the fourth, a brilliant snooker put by Advani on the final brown allowed him back in the frame and with a clean clearance from brown to black, Advani was one frame away from the championship.
In the final frame, Advani scored a 74-6 win to lift the title.
Advani will defend his World billiards title in Doha in November.
