Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani showcased his mastery on the green baize once again, securing his fifth grand double with an emphatic 5-0 victory over compatriot Sourav Kothari in the final of the IBSF World Billiards Championship (point-format) in Doha on Friday.
Advani, 38, added another milestone to his illustrious career by extending his world title tally to an astonishing 27.
The final against Kothari mirrored their previous encounter in the world championship, with Advani once again asserting his dominance.
In this best-of-9 contest of 150-point frames, Kothari made a strong start in the first frame.
However, Advani, undeterred by the initial setback, orchestrated a remarkable comeback from 6-91, concluding with a stylish 144 unfinished break to claim the opening frame and go 1-0 up.
Advani continued to display his prowess in the following two frames, registering two more century breaks and establishing a commanding 3-0 lead.
With a firm grip on the match, he strategically closed out the championship with two more frames, showcasing his consistency and control.
The Bangalore-based cueist, who had previously bested Kothari in the longer format of 1000-point, clinched his fifth world title in the point-format, adding to his victories in 2005, 2008, 2014, and 2018.
This achievement complements the snooker double he secured in 2015.
Although the last two frames lacked century breaks, Advani crafted crucial breaks of 81 and 77 to seal both the match and the championship.
The victory marks yet another chapter in Advani’s storied career, cementing his status as one of the greatest cueists in the sport.
Having accomplished this remarkable feat, Advani is set to return home for a brief 10-day break before gearing up for the National Billiards and Snooker Championship in Chennai.
