Indian ace Pankaj Advani routed his PSPB colleague and ‘friend’ Dhruv Sitwala 5-0 in a flawless display of potting en route to his seventh Senior National Billiards Championship at the Bengal Rowing Club, in Kolkata on Saturday.
The holder of 12 world titles in various categories faced some resistance in the first frame when Sitwala posted 28 but thereafter it was a one-way traffic as the Bangalore lad posted successive breaks of 150 and 153 for a clean sweep.
“I was feeling on top of the world after posting back to back 150s because it does not happen very often. I’m extremely happy to produce my best game in the final,” Advani said annexing his first national billiards title since 2012.
“Those two 150s in the second and third frames really put the match away from him. It would have been a totally different game had he won the first frame.”
Sitwala’s best came in the fourth frame when he posted a break of 81 but Advani was a notch higher as he scored 150 with ease before sealing the issue in the fifth with finesse.
“It’s the first tournament of the year. I’m happy with the way it folded for me. I had a few tough games in the knockout stages, I’m extremely happy to come all the way and qualify for international tournaments.”
Advani also felt happy for his friend Sitwala to emerge second in the country.
“He has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the previous round and performed extremely well under pressure. I’m happy to see him back where he belongs — in the top of the rankings.”
“We share a lot of moments together tour, or any international tournament. We’re quite friendly off the table.
That he’s praising me after losing 0-5 speaks volumes about his character, he’s a true gentleman.”
The 29-year-old will now look to make a fourth double, and first since 2009, by reigning supreme in his pet event snooker, which is getting underway on January 20.
“Let’s see, I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I will relax for a couple of days now,” Advani signed off.
Result
Pankaj Advani b Dhruv Sitwala 150(55,80)-28, 150(150)-0, 153(153)-0, 150(82,61)-81(81), 153(50,103)-0.
