Pankaj Advani, currently ranked No.58 in world snooker, says it is time to review the prize-money structure for top snooker tournaments in the country.
Four years ago the top Indian players decided that they would not take part in major club-level tournaments that did not offer prize-money of at least Rs.1 lakh for the men’s champion and a total prize fund of at least Rs.3.25 lakh.
“We need to revise the structure again, and we will do that probably in a few days,” said the 28-year-old who has entered the billiards event of the Cricket Club of India Classic Billiards & Snooker tournament underway at the Wilson Jones Billiards room from May 7.
The star-studded snooker starts on May 14. Advani said personal commitments would keep him from taking part in the CCI snooker event which offers the winner Rs.1 lakh.
“But we play in tournaments in India not necessarily for the money, but to promote the game and give an opportunity to the youngsters to play us and push themselves,” he said.
On the proposed revisions, Advani said: “I don’t want to give a ballpark figure now. We cannot have a structure the organisers will not be in a position to afford.
“There are many tournaments with Rs.1 lakh and a few with Rs.2 lakh. Khar Gymkhana gave a prize money of Rs.5 lakh last year for the men’s winner. The CCI has assured that it will hold a bigger prize-money tournament,” said Advani.
India’s top professional Aditya Mehta, the World No.56, has been given the pride of place in the snooker draw.
Advani had words of praise for Mehta. “He has been in pro snooker for seven years. What he has achieved is fantastic. Hard work has paid off for him. It’s a good time for Indian snooker, with two players in the top-64. We have to play one round, and win it to qualify for the Indian Open,” Advani said.
Sourav Kothari, who won the national billiards championship for the first time last February, said it was not a question of whether the Indians are talented enough.
“The challenge is to find adequate sponsors, and to spend many months in the UK where all the qualifying tournaments are played. It’s an advantage for the local players there, but not for the Indians,” he said.
“So the challenge is to overcome this hurdle; one must be determined and show willpower. Things would be better if they have the qualifiers in the UK and in Asia; if this happens many more Indians can pursue professional snooker,” said Kothari, who is also of the opinion that the state administrators of the particular sport should take the initiative to persuade the state government to provide financial support to its players.
Advani said ONGC has backed him right through.
“I am in full agreement with Sourav,” Advani said. “The local players can just drive back home after playing. We cannot do that after each and every qualifier…(it’s a 12-hour flight back home). And, today, the British pound is at Rs.100 and more.”
