New Delhi: Ace cueist Pankaj Advani is
confident of defending his title in the Asian Billiards
Championship beginning in Indore tomorrow but reckons it would
be far from a cakewalk because of the unpredictability of the
100-up format.
"The format (Billiards category) is very unpredictable.
It's an 100-up format which means you have to first score over
100 points to win the frame," Pankaj said.
"Best of five frames is usually the format over there and
the games are very short. It can get over anywhere between 45
minutes to an hour. And top eight players of India who are
playing in this format, anyone of them can put the break of
100," he added.
Pankaj won the Asian Billiards Championship for the first
time in 2008 in Myanmar and last year in Pune, defeating
Singapore's Peter Gilchrist 5-3 frames.
"Of course I will be trying to defend my title for the
third time against the top players and I think my chances are
as good as any of them. I am confident of a good show and I am
satisfied with my preparations," he said.
Pankaj's confidence stems from his rollicking start to
the new season, winning the inaugural edition of the Six-Red
Snooker Nationals in Bangalore last month and achieving top
rank in the overall standings in the selection trials for the
Asian Billiards championship and the Asian Games later this
year in China.
Advani will take on compatriot Rupesh Shah in his first
Group 'A' encounter of the tournament which was originally
scheduled in Karachi but was later shifted to India because of
the volatile security situation in Pakistan.
Pankaj said he would have loved to visit Karachi if the
tournament had taken place as was planned, as he had fond
memories attached to that place.
"People there are generous. I have no security fears, not
at all. It's a place of which I have very fond memories. It's
a place I always look forward to visiting because of the
hospitality that is extended to me. There you feel like at
home," Pankaj, reigning world professional billiards champion,
said.
"I faced no problems in Karachi. I have been there 3-4
times and I really loved that place. No issues with me. ACBS
(Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports) had taken that
decision and they must have kept something in mind," he said.
Asked who is best among the current lot of players in
both Billiards and Snooker disciplines, Pankaj said, "Saurav
Kothari, Manan Chandra and Aditya Mehta are shaping well in
Snooker, while in Billiards you have Dhruv Sitwala and Rupesh
Shah.
"All these guys are coming up very well and have shown
their credentials," he said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, April 06, 2010, 16:33