Snooker: India
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Women
World U-21
2023
July 18, 2023: The Times of India
Bengaluru: Keerthana Pandian played the big points well under pressure to annex the women’s World U-21 snooker title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
in an all-Indian title clash that was bereft of big breaks, the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) cueist edged out Chennai’s Anupama Ramachandran 3-2 (24-50, 72-50, 71-15, 23-82, 79-45).
Bengaluru’s Natasha Chethan made it a memorable outing for the Indians by claiming the bronze medal. Natasha lost 1-3 to the eventual winner in the last-four stage, while Anupama had outclassed Hong Kong China’s Chan Wai Lam 3-0 in the other semis.
“This is my first World U-21 title and I am super happy and proud to win it in my last year as a junior,” Keerthana told TOI. “This is just the start, I have a lot more to achieve and am really looking forward to it,” she added.
Keerthana, who has been dominating her rival on the domestic tour in recent times, was off to a slow start. But after dropping the first frame of the best-of-five-frame final, the 21-year-old found her rhythm and range to win the next two.
Anupama, whose 119 is the highest break by an Indian woman, then fought back in the fourth frame with miniscule breaks to push the issue to the decider. Keerthana, the reigning junior National champion in both snooker and billiards – having beaten Anupama in both the finals – kept her rival on a tight leash and played a percentage game to win the frame (79-45) and with it the title.
For the record, the Karnataka girl had clinched the World U-16 snooker title five years ago, beating the same opponent in St Petersburg, Russia. Keerthana was beaten in the final a year earlier by Anupama.
Aanya Patel, the fourth Indian in the fray, lost 2-3 in the quarters to Wai Lam.
In the men’s section, Dhruv Patel was the best performer, going down in the quarterfinals to Pakistan’s Muhammad Hamza Ilyas.
RESULTS: Women’s final: Keerthana Pandian (Ind) bt Anupama Ramachandran (Ind) 3-2 (24-50, 72-50, 71-15, 23-82, 79-45).
2018
Asian Team Snooker
India enter Asian snooker final
September 21, 2018: The Times of India
Malkeet Singh played the match of his life under pressure to clinch the deciding frame against Pakistan 2 and a berth for the Indian team in the final of the Asian Team Snooker Championship here. The semifinal against Pakistan 2 was as a roller-coaster ride from the get go. Muhammad Majid Ali got the better of Pankaj Advani in the opener.
World Cup: India beat Pakistan
Advani-led India beat Pakistan to win Snooker Team World Cup, March 3, 2018: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
The Indians made a shaky start in the final with Masih scoring a convincing 73-24 win over Chandra in the opener.
Asif then went on to steal the second frame from Advani and won it on the black ball 61-56.
The third frame was a doubles match in which both Indians played out of their skin to stay alive in the final, winning it 72-47.
The Indian combine of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra staged a remarkable recovery to beat Pakistan in the final of the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup.
After being 0-2 down in the best-of-five final played last night, India found themselves in a deeper hole at 0-30 down in the third frame.
Thanks to a well-crafted 39 break from Chandra and a classy clearance of the final colours by Advani, the Indian hopes were kept alive. In the fourth frame, even though Advani found himself in a spot of bother when trailing 1-20 against Babar Masih, he took charge of the proceedings and displayed his mastery once again by clearing the table with a 69 break. This made India draw parity with Pakistan and it all boiled down to the final frame to determine the first winners of the inaugural event.
Chandra and Muhammad Asif found themselves in a seesaw frame but it was the Indian who changed gears and did most of the scoring with every given opportunity. Eventually, Chandra only needed the green to be in the safe zone leaving his opponent requiring snookers. But with a long pot on the brown, the humbled Pakistani conceded the frame and match.
The Indians made a shaky start in the final with Masih scoring a convincing 73-24 win over Chandra in the opener. Asif then went on to steal the second frame from Advani and won it on the black ball 61-56.
With the Indian team 0-2 down, it had to dig deep and win every frame thereafter.
The third frame was a doubles match in which both Indians played out of their skin to stay alive in the final, winning it 72-47.
"After it became 2-0 in the favour of Pakistan, we knew our chances of winning were slim and had our task cut out. After winning the doubles frame we saw a glimmer of hope and knew now it was up to us to dig deep and individually win both our singles matches to pull off a Houdini," said Advani. "Manan played exceptional snooker especially in the crucial deciders of the semifinal and final, when it mattered most. I'm really happy for him to win his first world title," added Advani, who increased his tally of world titles to a staggering 19.
2019
All India Open: Mehta stuns Advani to win crown
Mehta stuns Advani to win snooker crown, March 20, 2019: The Times of India
Indian Oil cueist Aditya Mehta produced a tremendous performance to stun arch-rival Pankaj Advani 7-3 in the final of the Rs 12.9 lakh CCI All India Open Snooker Championship. It was a great comeback for the lanky Mumbai-based Mehta, who has been struggling due to some health issues and has been playing with an unorthodox stance and cueing action.
He did well to cruise to a 62-60, 0-91, 38-63, 37-70, 74-39, 79-7, 62-59, 84-13, 72-13, 65-19 victory. Mehta received the `Champions’ trophy and a handsome cheque of Rs 2 lakh, while Advani got the runners-up prize of Rs 1.30 lakh.
Advani also pocketed Rs 25,000 for the highest break of 131 he had craftily constructed in the round of 64 match.
The top-ranked Indian Advani showed promise at the start and on his second visit made a 53-run to gain the advantage, but a couple of visits later he fouled on the pink and Mehta did not waste time as he neatly rolled in a 56 break to take the opening honours.
Advani of ONGC came good in the second and, after making a 29-run at the start, he followed it up with a break of 62 to pocket the frame and tie the scores.
Kothari first Indian to win ‘triple crown’ event
Kothari wins in Australia
Kolkata: Sourav Kothari became the first Indian to win a ‘triple crown’ event — the Pacific International Championship in Melbourne. In the best-of-9-frame final, Kothari outclassed Australian Tyson Crinis 5-1 to lift the Reventon Classic trophy.
Pankaj Advani clinches 22nd world title
Sep 16, 2019: The Times of India
One of India’s most consistent sportspersons, Pankaj Advani, on Sunday increased his tally of world titles to 22 by winning a fourth straight final in the 150-up format at the IBSF World Billiards Championship here. The 34-year-old has brought home a world trophy every year ever since returning from a professional stint in the UK in 2014.
In the short format of billiards, this is Pankaj’s fifth title in the last six years. “It’s such a touch-and-go format and so unpredictable that winning this four years on the trot and five out of the last six is extremely special,” said the champion athlete.
In a repeat of last year’s final against local favourite Nay Thway Oo, Pankaj re-enacted the one-sided match with the same eventual outcome as well as identical scorelines of 6-2. From the word go, Pankaj was in full flow. The gifted Indian was leading 3-0 at the halfway mark with the help of fluent breaks comprising of 145, 89 and 127, while Nay Thway Oo was yet to open his account.
After pulling one back with breaks of 63 and 62, Oo was forced to watch Pankaj continue to extend the lead. Pankaj executed with flair as his sheer brilliance was on display, wowing the Myanmar crowd as they couldn’t help but appreciate his brilliant billiards.
Pankaj secured the next two frames which included a 150 unfinished break. He scored a 74 break and shortly after that closed out the match.
Oo was completely subdued by his accomplished opponent and had to settle for a silver medal for the second time in a row. PTI
2021
Pankaj Advani tops GSC World Qualifiers
Pankaj Advani finishes on a high, claims top position:
Ace cuiest Pankaj Advani stamped his supremacy with an all-win record and finished on a high in the GSC World Snooker Qualifiers, clinching the top position in the tournament. The 36-year-old Pankaj, who had won the World and Asian snooker crown multiple times, maintained his excellent form and succeeded in winning all 12 matches (6 each in the Y-Camp and Z-Camp). Pankaj accumulated 10,760 points (3,560 National points, 3,600 points each from Y and Z Camps) to take pole position, a media release issued said.
Red Snooker World Championship, IBSF
2023
R Satya, Nov 26, 2023: The Times of India
Bengaluru : Seasoned cueist Vidya Pillai gifted herself an early birthday present, the one she has been aiming for in over a decade. After six failed attempts in the final, Vidya, who will turn 46 on Sunday, finally ascended the world throne.
The Bengalurean came up with a splendid show, beating all en route to the IBSF 6-Red Snooker World Championship in Doha, Qatar, on Friday night. Vidya outplayed fellow Indian Anupama Ramachandran 4-1 in the title clash.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. So many people are so happy for me. I am completely at a loss for words,” Vidya told TOI soon after her victory. “It has been a long wait. So many finals, so many close matches. But this one is special.
“Special because I really had a tough half. I had Ng On Yee of Hong Kong in the quarters, Bai Yulu of China in the semis. It feels good to have a convincing win, beating two World champions — On Yee and Yulu – en route,” added the champion.
Barring her battle with Yulu in the semifinals, Vidya was hardly troubled in her march to the title. She topped Group ‘A’ with an all-win record and then outplayed compatriot Varshaa Sanjeev 3-0 in the pre-quarters.
Next up for the veteran cueist was On Yee. However, Vidya raised her level a few notches to floor the Hong Kong player 4-0, without breaking a sweat. She had a run of 33 in the second frame and a sizzling 63 clearance in the fourth. On Yee, reduced to a spectator, won a mere 15 points in the entire match.
“This year has been great for me,” said Vidya. “I won two pool national titles, National Games gold, bronze in the 15-red Worlds four days ago, and now this gold.”
