Advani marches into billiards final

Sixteen-time World Champion Pankaj Advani is in line for another title triumph as he stormed into the final of the Asian Billiards Championship here on Thursday.

The Bengaluru cueist was all class in the 100-up best-of-nine semifinal where he ousted fellow countryman Rupesh Shah 5-2 (23-100 (94), 100-38, 100 (94)-84, 100 (90)-2, 68 (68)-100 (78), 100 (51)-27, 100 (100)-3)).

The reigning world champion, who is vying for his seventh Asian crown, will take on Sourav Kothari in the title clash. Kothari outlasted Bengaluru’s B Bhaskar 5-4 (100-72 (61), 49-100 (56), 100 (87)-15, 100 (88)-49, 0-100 (80), 57-100 (67), 59-100, 100-92, 100 (102)-42).

In other matches, 16-year-old Pakistan national snooker champion, Mohammed Naseem Akhtar, entered the semifinals of the simultaneously held Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship. He beat China’s Zhang Jiankang 5-3 (15-67, 84-0, 56-80, 90 (89)-28, 72-36, 39-81, 72-09, 88 (80)-0).

In the women’s Asian Snooker Championship, Amee Kamani beat compatriot Varshaa Sanjeev 3-2 (53-79, 66-0, 23-71 (63), 78 (58)-18, 68-9) to enter the semifinals. Favourite Ng On Yee crushed Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan 3-0 (63-18, 72-24, 60-24) to book her semis spot.