India's Advani crowned Asian snooker champion for second successive time
Pankaj Advani of India defeated Iran's Amir Sarkhosh 6-3 (72-42, 72-0, 70-49, 41-66, 70-17, 30-68, 74-34, 12-50, 64-44) in the best of 11 frames final to successfully defend his title as the 36th Asian Snooker Championship came to an end at the Al Messila Resort in Doha yesterday.
The event is the first of the three tournaments hosted in succession by the Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF). The next event, the Six-Red World Championship, starts today and will be held until September 21, while the GCC Billiards and Snooker Championship will take place from September 22 to 28.
Advani, the 36-year-old from Bengaluru, who in 2019 became the only player to have won the titles in all forms of billiards - snooker, 6Reds, and 10Reds competitions – was in superb form in the final. He began with a 50-plus break in the first (55) and second (50), but he posted 63 for a convincing win in the ninth and final frame.
Advani, a calendar grand slam winner and 23-time world champion, had in 2018 defeated the same Iranian rival 8-2 to win the 15-frame IBSF World Snooker Championship also in Doha.
Earlier in the semi-finals yesterday, the Indian legendary cueist overcame Cheung Ka Wai of Hong Kong 5-3 117(53)-9, 65-17, 0-136(136), 42-88, 79-1, 0-113(113), 64(61)-37, 68-14 in the best of nine frames.
Cheung set a record of sorts when his century score of 136 in the third frame surpassed the previous record of 126 by Alijalil Ali of Iraq.
Amir, meanwhile, ended the hopes of Haris Tahir from Pakistan with an identical margin of 5-3 (112 (84)-11, 55-66, 80-0, 46-65, 63-25, 45-69, 66-17, 67-30).
On Wednesday, in the quarterfinals, Pankaj brushed aside the challenge of Alijalil Ali 5-3 (11-64, 84-76, 12-70, 64-32, 78-1, 80(64)-0, 54-68, 57-4) and in the pre-quarterfinals, Alijalil blanked Laxman Rawat, another Indian in the fray, 71-12, 66-44, 75-29, 72-61 while Pankaj showed the exit door to fancied Tam Yun Fung of Hong Kong 33-70, 90-01, 74-60, 119(80)-08, 13-65, 55-24.
Nuaimi elected ACBS presidency for second term
Meanwhile, QBSF Secretary-General Mohammed Salem Al Nuaimi was elected president of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) for the second term of three years, until 2024, during the Electoral General Assembly of the federation held on the sidelines of the 36th Asian Men's Snooker Singles Championship yesterday.
Members of the federation from 22 countries participated in the election.
While thanking the delegates for the trust and confidence reposed in him for the second time, Nuaimi promised to do his best to continue developing snooker in the continent and carrying out his duties and responsibilities diligently - ensuring further growth of the federation.
The general assembly, chaired by the ACBS Vice-President Alan Gere of Pakistan, discussed many topics related to the future of snooker. It also reviewed and took decisions on many proposals.
The 36th Asian Snooker Championship is the first event for billiards and snooker since March 2020. At least 42 players from 19 countries participated in the Asian championship, including Pakistan, India, Iraq, UAE, Qatar, Nepal, Iran, Hong Kong, Jordan, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria and Mongolia players.
Results
Semi-finals: Amir Sarkhosh of Iran bt Haris Tahir of Pakistan 5-3 (112(84)-11, 55-66, 80-00, 46-65, 63-25, 45-69, 66-17, 67-30); Pankaj Advani bt Cheung Ka Wai of Hong Kong 5-3 (117(53)-09, 65-17, 00-136(136), 42-88, 79-01, 00-113(113), 64(61)-37, 68-14)
Quarter-finals: Amir bt Siyavosh Mozayani of Iran 5-2 (69-17, 61-32, 63-17, 28-74, 7-75(52), 73-15, 82(80)-0), Tahir beat Khalid Kamali of the UAE 5-2 (63-32, 94(94)-0, 35-72, 100(77)-32, 15-65(63), 65(64)-8, 108(84)-25); Cheung bt Saleh Mohammed of Afghanistan 5-1 (56-43, 55-61, 109(78)-9, 91(76)-12, 100(63)-20, 61-17); Pankaj bt Alijalil Ali of Iran 5-3 (11-64, 84-76, 12-70, 64-32, 78-1, 80(64)-0, 54-68, 57-4).
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