13 June 2025 Written By CSI News Desk
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India’s Dhvaj Haria scripted history by winning the prestigious Walter Lindrum Australian Open Billiards Championship 2025, marking his first-ever World Billiards (WBL) title with a series of commanding performances throughout the tournament.
Haria topped his group to qualify for the knockout stage, where he consistently displayed world-class skill and composure.
In the Round of 16 (2.5-hour format), he defeated Todd Hayward with a resounding score of 996–439, followed by a powerful Quarterfinal victory over Rodney Nelson 1129–393.
The Semifinal against seasoned cueist Robert Hall was a standout performance, where Dhvaj surged ahead with a remarkable opening break of 313, followed by impressive breaks of 118 and 200. The rhythm and flow of the match were clearly in his favor, eventually securing a 990–456 win.
In the Final (3-hour format), Dhvaj faced the legendary Peter Gilchrist, a multiple-time world champion known for his remarkable comebacks. Haria, however, showed nerves of steel, launching the final with a break of 196, and followed it up with 87, 101, and 189, keeping Gilchrist scoreless for a large portion of the match. Playing tight and tactically sound billiards, Dhvaj never allowed Peter to find his rhythm, ultimately sealing a convincing 1035–597 win.
Speaking after his win, Haria shared,
“The semifinal against Rob Hall gave me great momentum. The flow was perfect and the early big breaks gave me the cushion to play freely. In the final, I knew Peter is dangerous from behind, so the plan was to not give him chances—and it worked perfectly.”
This win not only marks a major milestone in Dhvaj Haria’s career but also adds another proud chapter to Indian cue sports on the global stage.
