BENGALURU: Asian billiards champion
Sourav Kothari recovered from the early skirmish with seasoned campaigner
Lim Chun Kiat to post a comprehensive win and join favourite
Pankaj Advani in the knockout round of 64 in the Seaways
IBSF World Snooker Championships. The 4-1 victory over the Singaporean at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium on Sunday was Kothari's fourth straight win in Group 'M'.
Earlier, Advani defeated Thadeu Giannattasio Nobres 4-0 for his fifth consecutive win in Group 'H' but he was far from impressive.
It was only after winning the first two frames, both on the colours, that Advani found his rhythm.
Playing an open game against an opponent who looked all at sea, Advani rifled in a fine 75 clearance in the third and followed that up with a 59 in the fourth frame. "I'm playing well, but the conditions are not ideal for high quality snooker," Advani said.
Like Advani, Kothari too took a while to get into the groove, but it didn't have anything to do with the conditions but an opponent who didn't give much away. "He is a sticky customer and keeps you tight," Kothari said after the win.
It was only in the final frame, when given a rare chance, that the 30-year-old Kothari could showcase his break-building skills. He constructed a flowing 76 break despite the black being stuck to the bottom cushion for the better part of the break.