BANGALORE: It turned into a mid-afternoon coup. The Crown Prince usurped the throne from the King. On this ‘Teacher’s Day’ an accomplished student — Pankaj Advani — stood up to salute the packed hall at the KSBA after his 6-1 annihilation of Geet Sethi, an eight-time winner of world billiards, in the best of 11 frames final of the ONGC IBSF World billiards championship.
“This fifth World title to me is special. Though it’s just a year ago that I won the fourth at Singapore, this felt like a long time coming. And it came in the place I grew up playing the sport and in front of my home crowd,” said an elated Advani.
At 23, Advani has already amassed five world and two Asian billiards titles besides an Asian Games gold. On Friday he added his latest title, a comprehensive 150-90, 151-0, 150-24, 150-0, 86-150, 150-72, 150-12 victory over Sethi and $1,500 to go along with it.Spark of revival
There was a spark of revival from Sethi, as he did against Dervendra Joshi in the semifinals on Thursday. With an unfinished 150 in his second visit in the fifth frame, after trailing 0-4 in the first session, Sethi played really well. But it was effectively thwarted by Advani with breaks of 63 and 87 (unfinished) in the next, punishing Sethi for his slightest errors.
Both Advani and Sethi looked scrappy to start off with. The edginess and indecisiveness was apparent. But it was Advani who settled down faster.
A 79 unfinished in the first was followed by a 145 (unfinished in the second), a 90 (third) and an unfinished 150 in the fourth, off his second visit and the break was called for, much to the relief of Sethi.
After the three hour break Advani snuffed the challenge with two more big breaks — a 145 unfinished in the sixth and a 143 in the seventh to rousing applause.
Sethi, gracious in defeat, lavished praise on Advani while accepting the runner-up trophy and $700. Peter Gilchrist of Singapore pocketed $300 for the highest break of 154 unfinished that came in the league stage against Ireland’s Larry Drennan.
The results: Final (best of 11 frames): Pankaj Advani (Ind) bt Geet Sethi (Ind) 6-1 (150 (79 unf)-90, 151(145 unf)-0, 150 (90)-24, 150 (150 unf)-0, 86 (86)-150 (150 unf), 150 (63, 87)-72, 150 (143)-0.
“This fifth World title to me is special. Though it’s just a year ago that I won the fourth at Singapore, this felt like a long time coming. And it came in the place I grew up playing the sport and in front of my home crowd,” said an elated Advani.
At 23, Advani has already amassed five world and two Asian billiards titles besides an Asian Games gold. On Friday he added his latest title, a comprehensive 150-90, 151-0, 150-24, 150-0, 86-150, 150-72, 150-12 victory over Sethi and $1,500 to go along with it.Spark of revival
There was a spark of revival from Sethi, as he did against Dervendra Joshi in the semifinals on Thursday. With an unfinished 150 in his second visit in the fifth frame, after trailing 0-4 in the first session, Sethi played really well. But it was effectively thwarted by Advani with breaks of 63 and 87 (unfinished) in the next, punishing Sethi for his slightest errors.
Both Advani and Sethi looked scrappy to start off with. The edginess and indecisiveness was apparent. But it was Advani who settled down faster.
A 79 unfinished in the first was followed by a 145 (unfinished in the second), a 90 (third) and an unfinished 150 in the fourth, off his second visit and the break was called for, much to the relief of Sethi.
After the three hour break Advani snuffed the challenge with two more big breaks — a 145 unfinished in the sixth and a 143 in the seventh to rousing applause.
Sethi, gracious in defeat, lavished praise on Advani while accepting the runner-up trophy and $700. Peter Gilchrist of Singapore pocketed $300 for the highest break of 154 unfinished that came in the league stage against Ireland’s Larry Drennan.
The results: Final (best of 11 frames): Pankaj Advani (Ind) bt Geet Sethi (Ind) 6-1 (150 (79 unf)-90, 151(145 unf)-0, 150 (90)-24, 150 (150 unf)-0, 86 (86)-150 (150 unf), 150 (63, 87)-72, 150 (143)-0.
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