Hyderabad, Nov 22: Seven-time world champion Geet Sethi sweated it out to enter the last-eight stage while teen sensation Pankaj Advani went down fighting in the pre-quarterfinals for the World Billiards Championship here on Saturday. In a thrilling encounter, 18-year-old Pankaj Advani rose from a two-frame deficit to win the third frame in the best of seven frame format against U Kyaw Oo of Myanmar .


Kyaw, the Busan Asian Games silver medallist, kept the pot boiling with his pace but young Pankaj had displayed controlled aggression to level the score at 3-3. The decider had seen tense moments for the players but finally the Myanmar cueist made it to the last-eight stage with a 115-113, 151-115, 81-152, 152-77, 37-150, 109-150, 152-135 verdict.

In the other top table, Geeth had struggled to defeat compatriot Alok Kumar who gave a splendid display of copybook billiards against the champion. After winning the first frame, Geet had no chance to reach the table as Alok went on a start to finish mission taking an unfinished break of 151 and went on to win the third frame while Geet managed the next two frames, Alok levelled it by winning the sixth frame.
Amidst anxiety running high, Geet kept his cool and took the game and the match with conviction and authority.
Bureau Report