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Pankaj Advani shocks Peter Gilchrist to win World Billiards title

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India's Billiards prodigy 29-year-old Pankaj Advani from Bangalore, established a record after he humbled Peter Gilchrist 6-2 in the final of the World billiards championship (on points) at Leeds on Saturday.

Advani clinched his10th individual World title and his third of the year in different formats of the game, also having lifted the World 6-Red Snooker and the World Team Billiards titles earlier.

"I'm in 11th heaven! I returned to India to focus on this very event and it has paid off. Gilchrist was the most dangerous competitor of the tournament and in a dream final. I am happy with the way I performed. The job is only half done. I have to now focus on the longer format and try for a double. I have a match at noon Sunday, so celebrations will have to wait, but no complaints," said an elated Advani to the media after the final.

The cueist missed two seasons of billiards to be able to explore a stint on the professional snooker tour, was trailing 1-2, but won five consecutive frames to regain the title he had last won in 2012.

On winning his 10th individual World title, Advani absolved his decision earlier this year to give up his professional status in snooker to pursue his billiards career. He thus avenged his previous 2-3 defeat in the league phase to Gilchrist, the 46-year old England-born Singapore resident who has three World titles in his list of achievements.

Gilchrist got off to a quick break of 144 in the first frame and 74 in the third to gain a 2-1 lead, but Advani with his remarkable display and skills turned the game in his favour to take the next two frames and heading into the break leading 3-2.

After resuming, Advani raced ahead all the way with Gilchrist not being able to take control. The crucial moment was when Gilchrist, needed 44 to win the eighth frame, lost position to achieve only 39 to lead 145-77. Advani missed no chance to make an unfinished 77 to wrap up the match.

The results:
Final (best-of-11): Pankaj Advani (India) bt Peter Gilchrist (Singapore) 6-2: 23-151 (145unf), 151 (127)-16, 116-150, 151(108unf)-104, 150(150unf)-0, 151(118)-58, 150-4, 150(77unf)-145(104). Semi-finals (best-of-9): Advani bt Sourav Kothari (India) 5-2. Gilchrist bt Robert Hall (England) 5-3.
 

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