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Kolkata :: 16 January 2015
Sitwala, Advani set up
summit clash of national billiards
Pankaj Advani and Dhruv Sitwala registered contrasting wins to set stage
for final of BRC GLOSTER National Billiards Championship being played at
the Bengal Rowing Club, Kolkata.
12 time world champion, Advani had a minor jinx as he lost two games but
he held his composure right on track to register a 4-2 win over Siddharth
Parikh of Railways.
Leading 2-0, Advani was stunned in the third frame when Parikh crafted a
break of 107 points to snatch the game (150-114), but Advani bounced back
winning the fourth to make it 3-1. Advani lost the fifth game narrowly but
returned stronger to clinch the issue in the sixth.
"I was not playing at my best as it's difficult to
play at peak form every day. But I'm glad to make the final,"
said Advani.
The second semifinal went to the decider, as Mumbai based PSPB player,
Dhruv Sitwala, faced stiff resistance from the current World No.3, B.
Bhaskar of Karnataka.
It was a neck-and-neck tussle with Bhaskar playing the catching-up game
and holding Sitwala every time he took a lead. The two were locked 3-3 to
take the contest to the decider game.
Trailing 20-127 in the decider, Sitwala held his nerve and posted a
magnificent break of 127 to post a nerve-wracking 4-3 victory.
"I had lost all hope and told myself not to be too
ambitious and just tried to keep it simple,"
Sitwala said after the match.
This is Sitwala's third national final after his appearances in 2006 and
2003, where he emerged as Runner-up on both occasions.
Sitwala said that though he has more losses than wins against Pankaj
Advani, he would rather focus on improving his game.
"If I gave 75 per cent today, I will have to give at
least 95 per cent to stand a chance against him (Advani),"
he added.
Sitwala would look to take inspiration from his win against Advani in the
2010 World Championship on his way to the final.
Click to see
Results and Other Details
--
News Desk
Cue Sports India
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