<p>Torn between two formats, ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani today decided to chose billiards over professional snooker and confirmed his participation in the Indian Open and the World Championships.<br /><br />"Finally I have decided to play in the Indian wild card qualifier to be played in Pune (from September 15-19), which means I am going to play the Indian Open and the World Billiards which happens immediately after. But before that I have to qualify in the qualifiers," Advani told reporters here.<br /><br />He further said, "If I am playing on Indian wild card, I have to let go my professional tour card, which means I would not be playing in that circuit anymore."<br />Advani said he had to take this decision because he wanted to excel in both snooker and billiards.<br /><br />"I took this decision because I missed billiards and my family. I wouldn't have been able to play billiards if I am based in England for six months."<br /><br />"My sole objective has been to excel in both sports not just in one, and that will be possible if I am based in India," the 10-time world champion added.<br /><br />Asked what it means emotionally to give up professional snooker for now, Advani said as a non-professional it would "hit him" watching Indian cueists playing the sport.<br /><br />"As a non-professional it will hit me then, that I am not playing anymore along with them (Indian players)," he added.<br /><br />However, Advani said he enjoyed his snooker playing against top international players and learnt the nuances of the sport.<br /><br />"I had good results. I enjoyed myself and learnt a lot - sportsmanship, the approach to the game, conditions - everything was top class and that's what I wanted - to improve as a player. I am glad I could achieve it in my own way," he said.<br /><br />Asked whether he would revoke his decision to do away with snooker in future, Advani said in next three to four years he may consider playing professional snooker.<br /><br />"May be in next three to four years I may go back, (but) not in the near future for sure," he said.</p>
<p>Torn between two formats, ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani today decided to chose billiards over professional snooker and confirmed his participation in the Indian Open and the World Championships.<br /><br />"Finally I have decided to play in the Indian wild card qualifier to be played in Pune (from September 15-19), which means I am going to play the Indian Open and the World Billiards which happens immediately after. But before that I have to qualify in the qualifiers," Advani told reporters here.<br /><br />He further said, "If I am playing on Indian wild card, I have to let go my professional tour card, which means I would not be playing in that circuit anymore."<br />Advani said he had to take this decision because he wanted to excel in both snooker and billiards.<br /><br />"I took this decision because I missed billiards and my family. I wouldn't have been able to play billiards if I am based in England for six months."<br /><br />"My sole objective has been to excel in both sports not just in one, and that will be possible if I am based in India," the 10-time world champion added.<br /><br />Asked what it means emotionally to give up professional snooker for now, Advani said as a non-professional it would "hit him" watching Indian cueists playing the sport.<br /><br />"As a non-professional it will hit me then, that I am not playing anymore along with them (Indian players)," he added.<br /><br />However, Advani said he enjoyed his snooker playing against top international players and learnt the nuances of the sport.<br /><br />"I had good results. I enjoyed myself and learnt a lot - sportsmanship, the approach to the game, conditions - everything was top class and that's what I wanted - to improve as a player. I am glad I could achieve it in my own way," he said.<br /><br />Asked whether he would revoke his decision to do away with snooker in future, Advani said in next three to four years he may consider playing professional snooker.<br /><br />"May be in next three to four years I may go back, (but) not in the near future for sure," he said.</p>