Pankaj Advani wins his 11th World Billiards Championship title
What's the story
India's professional billiards player Pankaj Advani created history by winning the World Billiard Championship (150-up format) in Bengaluru. Defeating multiple time champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore in the finals, Advani lifted his 11th world billiards title and 16th overall. Advani won the gripping finals match six games to three with a score of 151(98)-33, 150(97)-95, 124-150, 101(98)-150(89), 150(87)-50, 152-37, 86(86)-150, 151(110)-104, 150(88)-15.
Early life
Pankaj Advani
Pankaj Advani is a professional billiards player and a former snooker player. The 31-year old started playing snooker at an early age and won his first title at the age of 12. He won the Indian Junior Billiards Championship title in 2001 and 2003. Advani was the youngest national snooker champion when he won the India Junior Snooker Championship in 2003.
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International debut and first title
After winning National Billiards and Snooker Championships, Pankaj Advani made his international debut at the Asian Billiards Championship in 2002. He finished the tournament as a finalist. He earned his first title at the World Snooker Champion in 2003.
Achivements
Advani only Indian player to win 10 World Billiards title
Over the years, Advani has won many international titles in billiards and snooker. He has 10 World Billiards Champion title along with four IBSF World Snooker Championships. At the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, Advani won gold in the English Billiards' singles event. Along with Rupesh Shan, Devendra Joshi and Ashok Shandilya, Advani won the World Team Billiards Championship in 2014.
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Pankaj Advani retires from snooker
Advani announced his retirement from snooker in 2014 after only two years of playing professional snooker. Better known as a billiards player, Advani said he decided to retire to focus on his billiards.
Awards and honours
Pankaj Advani a recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
The Government of India has bestowed Pankaj Advani with many prestigious awards for his achievements in the sports of billiards and snooker. He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in the year 2004. Advani was conferred with India's highest sporting award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2006. In 2009, he received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour.