Advani claims seventh National Billiards title
Advani has won the title six times previously: in 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2005.
Sitwala, the billiards specialist whose immense talent has taken him to two World Championships finals and two National Championship finals, could do little as Advani reeled out five straight frames victories with the sequence reading “150(55, 80)-28, 150(150*)-00, 153(153*)-00, 150(82, 61*)-81(81), 153(50, 103*)-00.
"I was feeling on top of the world after posting back to back 150s because it does not happen very often. I'm extremely happy to produce my best game in the final," Advani said annexing his first national billiards title since 2012. "Those two 150s in the second and third frames really put the match away from him. It would have been a totally different game had he [Sitwala] won the first frame."
Sitwala's best came in the fourth frame when he posted a break of 81 but Advani upped the ante as he scored 150 with ease before sealing the issue in the fifth with finesse.
Sitwala was gracious in defeat, saying: “Players like Roger Federer, Sachin Tendulkar and Pankaj Advani come once in 100 years. Once Pankaj gets going like he did on Saturday, there’s nothing that one can do but sit back and watch a maestro in action.”
The 29-year-old Advani will now look to make a fourth double, and the first since 2009, by winning his pet event snooker, in which he will play his first match on January 20.
"Let's see, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I will relax for a couple of days now," Advani signed off.
Commenting on the match, International referee Wasim Ahmed said: “Pankaj played some unbelievable shots to make a break of 150 points in the second frame. When it comes to his shot selection, it is easy to see why he is a multiple World Champion.”
3RD & 4TH PLACING MATCH
For the match for the 3rd and 4th places, Railway's player Siddharth Parikh defeated B. Bhaskar of Karnataka 3-2 to secure the 3rd position.
Scores:
Final
Pankaj Advani (PSPB) beat Dhruv Sitwala (PSPB) 5-0
150(55, 80)-28, 150(150*)-00, 153(153*)-00, 150(82, 61*)-81(81), 153(50, 103*)-00
3 & 4 Placing
Siddharth Parikh (RSPB) beat B. Bhaskar (Karnataka) 3-2
106-150(107), 150(110)-137, 15-151(103), 151(136)-00, 150(118)-114(107)
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