JOIN USCaught in a huge dilemma over the past few weeks, ace cueist Pankaj Advani has finally to decided to honour his first love — billiards.
Left to make a tough choice between the World Billiards Championship and the International Snooker Championship owing to a clash of dates, the seven-time world champion has decided to travel to Leeds, United Kingdom and give the marquee event in Chengdu, China a miss.
While the World Billiards is due to be held between Oct 18-28, the Snooker Championship is slated from Oct 28-Nov 4, giving Advani, who qualified for $950,000 event along with compatriot Aditya Mehta, hardly any chance of playing in both.
“A few months ago I took up the challenge of playing both billiards and snooker at the highest level and with a decision as unique as that, I was aware that there may be certain repercussions,” said the 26-year-old who now has to pay a statutory fine for skipping the snooker bash.
‘Clash of dates’
“And while an ideal situation would have allowed me to participate at both events, the clash of dates has forced me to pick one.
“Billiards has always been a test of the mind and endurance. I am very eager to play the World Billiards Championship as I have always enjoyed playing an event of such magnitude,” said the seven-time world champion.