Advani pips Gilchrist for title

The young prodigy from Bangalore, who also holds the World Professional billiards title, was taken to the distance by a tenacious Gilchrist in the final but the Indian found the mental strength to walk away with a gritty 6-5 victory to complete a hat-trick of titles and the fourth overall.

China’s Liu Chuang took home the Asian under-21 snooker crown after edging Thailand’s Thanawat Thiraphongpaiboon 6-5 in another marathon clash.
After losing the opening frame 62-103, in-form Advani conjured up an unfinished 100-point break to level the match before romping to a 3-1 lead following visits of 86 and 66 in the third and fourth respectively.

Gilchrist hit back with a break of 97 to pocket the fifth but the World champion regained his two-frame cushion with another unfinished 102 in the sixth.
Gilchrist then stepped up the ante to level the match at 4-4 but the 24-year-old Advani kept his nose in front after winning the ninth. Not the one to give up, Gilchrist brought the contest back to square one with a 98 to push the contest into a decider when Advani exploded.

Appearing calm and composed, Advani hardly let the tension get to him when he blasted break of 100, unfinished again, to seal the match.

Results (all finals): Billiards: Pankaj Advani (Ind) bt Peter Gilchrist (Sin) 6-5 (62-103, 100 (100)-0, 102 (86)-0, 100 (66)-44, 9-101(97), 102 (102)-0, 38-100, 12-102, 102-83, 0-100 (98), 100 (100)-0).
U-21 snooker: Liu Chuang (Chn) bt Thanawat Thiraphongpaiboon (Tha) 6-5 (97(97)-0, 65-12, 95 (68)-48, 78 (50)-9, 4-97 (96), 107 (60,47)-5, 6-80 (79), 21-87 (50), 1-71(71), 10-69, 78-34).