Hyderabad, Nov 13: Former world champion Geet Sethi has been given the top billing in the world billiards championship where 48 cuesits from 20 nations are expected to take part. In the inaugural match on November 17, reigning world snooker champion Pankaj Advani will take on John Hartley of England in a Group E encounter. The match would be officiated by McGilivary of Ireland, the only woman referee in the world.
The tournament, to be played in round-robin league format, will see 16 players moving into the knockout quarterfinal stage. With matches to be played in the best of 15 frames format, chances of greenhorns outplaying professionals are on the cards.
Six professionals, three from India and three foreigners, would display their skills in trick shots on the inaugural day with each cueist getting five minutes time, state Industries Minister K Vidyadhar Rao told reporters here today while releasing the draw.
The top eight seedings:
Geet Sethi (India), Praput Chaithanaskun (Thailand), Devendra Joshi, Dhruv Sitwala (both India), Nalin Patel (UK), Joe Minici (Australia), Ashok Shandilya (India) and Steve Mifsud (Australia). Bureau Report