Kothari stuns Advani to lift snooker crown

Mumbai: Sourav Kothari today stunned India`s number one cueist and top seed Pankaj Advani to win the Rs

3.10 lakh prize money Nahar-MIG All India Invitation Snooker Championship 2010 here. Kothari defeated Advani, only the second cueist in the world after Paul Mifsud of Malta to capture the IBSF World snooker as well as billiards crowns, 6-3 (81-1, 66-61, 37-62, 29-77, 72-38, 26-52, 77-0 73-0, 57-45) to clinch the title. Kothari started with a 2-0 lead but then his Petroleum Sports Promotion Board mate Advani fought back and caught him at 2-2. Once again Kothari came back and won the fifth frame to take the lead. Advani pocketed the sixth frame and came level at three all. But after that it was an all Kothari show as he took the last three frames without giving Advani much of a chance. Following the win, Kothari pocketed Rs one lakh as prize money, while Advani had to be satisfied with Rs 50,000. Advani praised Kothari`s skills and complimented him for his brilliance. Meanwhile, Kothari gave credit to his parents and especially mentioned his father`s guidance as a key for his success. PTI