Leeds: King of Indian cue sports Pankaj Advani added yet another jewel to his glowing crown, outplaying former champion Peter Gilchrist in the 150 up points format World Billiards Championship final and pocket his 11th world title on Friday.
Advani, 29, conquered Singapore cueist Gilchrist 6-2 in a high quality finals of the shorter format of billiards.
While Advani had lost to Gilchrist in the league stage 3-2, the Indian seemed determined to reverse the outcome in the most crucial match of the tournament.
Gilchrist was off to a flying start registering a 145 unfinished and securing the first frame. However, Advani responded with a 127 in the second to even the score.
Gilchrist surged ahead to 2-1 but that was the last frame he was going to win in the final. After Frame 3, it was the Advani show. The next two frames saw the Indian score heavily with two unfinished breaks of 108 and 150 to go into the interval with a slender 3-2 lead.
On return from the mid-session break, Advani was in demolition mode and won the next 3 frames to lift his eleventh world title.
Advani now is the holder of three different world titles in 2014 - the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker title, the World Team Billiards title and now the World Billiards Championship (point format), an unprecedented record in itself.
"I'm on 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," said an elated Advani after the triumph.
With the time format starting tomorrow, Advani said, "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 tomorrow so celebrations will have to wait, but no complaints."
Score (final):
Pankaj Advani defeated Peter Gilchrist 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).
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