India's Pankaj Advani defeated Mohammad Rais Sen Zahi of Afghanistan 5-2 to move into the quarterfinals of the World snooker championships in Damascus. Advani won 60-40, 110(109)-15, 114(114)-0, 73-69, 0-73, 41-68, 68-21.
Earlier, Advani, who topped his group, winning all the seven matches, got the better of Mohammed Joker of the UAE 5-4 in his first encounter of the knockout stage. Advani will next take on Malaysian Moh Keen Hoo.
In the women's draw, India's Vidya Pillai beat compatriot Chitra Magimairaj 4-0 to move into the semifinal where she faces Ng On Yee, who defeated another Indian Anuja Chandra 4-2 in the quarterfinals.
