Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Advani to meet Xiao in last eight

Wels (Austria): Pankaj Advani, who gave evidence of raising his game in his victory over Craig Steadman on Tuesday night, provided further proof of his recovery in form by scoring an emphatic 5-1 victory over England’s Ben Hancorn on Wednesday in his last 16 encounter of the 2008 IBSF World snooker championship.

In the quarterfinals the former 2003 IBSF snooker champion meets China’s Xiao Guodong, who demolished Northern Ireland’s Julian Logue 5-0. Darren Morgan and James Wattana have both crashed out of the tournament. While Morgan was eclipsed 5- 1 by Lee Page, Thailand’s Wattana suffered a 4-5 reversal at the hands of compatriot Thepchai Un-Nooh, who displayed impressive form with a 111 clearance in the deciding frame.

In the Masters event, India’s Alok Kumar was given a lesson in slow play by Robby Foldvari of Australia, who clinched the deciding frame with a 40 clearance to carve out a 4-3 victory in 5 hours and 40 minutes.

I won my contest against Australia’s Joe Minici by a 4-3 margin to enter the quarterfinals, where I play Yam Shui Ng from Hong Kong. In the ladies event, both, Vidya Pillai and Anuja Chandra are through to the last 8 with Pillai winning 3-0 against Hanna Mergies and Chandra 3-2 against Linda Lucas of Australia.

Advani, who had exhibited unusual inconsistency in the build up to the knock stage, has displayed rare focus and much improved performance in the last two matches.

One could witness a distinct shift in gears on Wednesday night as he went about his job of demolishing his opponent with clinical efficiency. The manner in which he has steadily raised his game, almost makes one believe that he willingly and consciously performs only when it is required. Against Steadman of England on Tuesday he had to dig deep to recover from 1-2 and 2-3 down, but against Hancorn, the National champion was in the driver’s seat from the word go allowing his opponent to take only the 3rd frame thanks to a 55 from Hancorn.

Advani’s safety play was praiseworthy with the cue ball rarely leaving the bottom cushion and every opening was capitalised with useful contributions.

Against Guodong, the 19-year old Chinese who has provided substantial proof of his calibre in the event so far including a string of big breaks, Advani will have to raise his game further. However, given his composure, focus, commitment and past record of responding with courage during the last stages of the event, one has no doubt that the Indian will once again work his magic. He is now three matches away from a possible second World snooker title.

While Vidya Pillai won her contest untroubled, Anuja Chandra staved off a stiff challenge from Linda Lucas and won the decider comfortably. Chandra had two useful efforts of 32 & 36 in her 3-2 victory. Pillai now meets England’s Emma Bonney and Chandra runs into Ching Ching Yu of Hong Kong in the last eight of the Ladies championship.

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