A professional billiards trophy is perhaps the only title missing from Pankaj Advani’s shelf. To correct that anomaly, Advani heads to the World Professional Billiards Championship — an event he’s participated in twice without success.
However, the 24-year-old Bangalore lad says he is in no hurry to win a professional title and wants to take it one step at a time. “I am not thinking of the title. It’s not like Oh god! This is the only title pending or anything… I just want to go there to enjoy my game and if my quality is good then I will be happy,” Advani told DNA.
Advani is among the seven-member Indian contingent, spearheaded by second seed Geet Sethi, that will take part in the World Professional Championship that gets underway at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, from September 2. The players will also play a two-day EBOS billiards tournament on August 30 and 31 in England.
The last time India won a professional billiards world title was in 2006, when Sethi defeated Lee Lagan of England 2093-1057 in the final at Wales. In 2008, the Indian veteran lost in the final to Mike Russell while the other Indians fizzled out in the early stages.
Reasoning out as to only Sethi has an upper hand when it comes to professional billiards compared to the other Indians, Advani feels his experience helps him survive till the last stage. “I have got quite a bit of experience playing in England and this time I am looking forward to doing slightly better.”
Advani’s first pro world event was in 2007. He hasn’t progressed past the quarters in both the events he has taken part in. This time he is confident of having learnt from his mistakes and is optimistic about putting up a quality show.
