ONGC-IBSF World Billiards Championship 2008 :: Bangalore - India

01 - 10 September 2008

after Second Semi Final

The darling cueist of Bangalore, the wonder boy of billiards, Pankaj Advani has done it once again. Fifth of September will see a repeat of the National billiards championship held in Bangalore in 2006 when it was a Geet Sethi vs. Pankaj Advani dream match. Although that match was won by Geet this time the chances of Pankaj cannot be disclaimed because on a given day in this format it could be anybody's title. However, one thing is clear that Pankaj will have to shrug off his hesitancy but that is another matter. A pressure situation can often change the course of the result and whatever the result may be, Unlike 2006 this one is sure going to be one hell of a cracker of a match.

The Pankaj-Rupesh second semifinal on this fateful evening of the fourth of September was contest between two master cueists with contrasting styles. For when in form, Pankaj borders on the sublime while Rupesh is like a potter moulding the three balls of clay like a craftsman. If Pankaj is quick footed and sure about his strokes which are replete with the coordination of the eye, mind and muscle, Rupesh is methodical and astute in planning out the game strategy. Pankaj is almost pure in his stroking whereas Rupesh is diligent to the point of exasperation.

Having won the first game of this long drawn out affair the second one saw Pankaj miss out on a simple one cushion cannon due to lack of fluency in his stroke, paying the price to leave an opening for Rupesh who capitalized on the opportunity to gather the balls on the top of the table and mount a counter offensive. While compiling the winning break of 85 at 50, Rupesh played a good recovery shot to construct a follow cannon which fetched him the game to make it 1-1.

Losing the third before the break, Rupesh struck back strongly to wrest the fourth and fifth games to gain a lead by 3-2 for the first time in the match. The sixth was claimed by Pankaj making it 3-3 but not before a great amount of trepidation. When he scored the winning stroke in the sixth game, a red in-off into the top pocket there was a sigh of relief among his fans thronging the " green baize arena " to boost the morale of their young hero.

The seventh saw Pankaj striking a purple patch to carve out an unfinished 131 which gave him not only the game but more importantly a 4-3 lead. Yet the game was not over as Rupesh again gained the momentum when he piled up a break of 88 in the eighth but with his score reading 93 and him needing another 57 to gain the crucial game he missed.

Pankaj seizing the chance came up with a 105 to pip him at the post taking the vital game to win the match and set up a summit clash with Geet Sethi in the final on the morrow. Had Rupesh not goofed up on his assiduously built up break the story could have been different But it was not to be. At this high level of competition one small mistake can ruin your chances and that is exactly what had the defending champion ruing his lapse in concentration for allowing Pankaj to wrap up the marathon tie by 150-115, 91-152, 150-142, 49-151, 98-152,151-118, 151-11 and 150-93 points

CSI Correspondent - I S Malik