KARACHI: Indian celebrity Pankaj Advani successfully retained world men’s 6-Reds snooker crown, overall 13th world title of his career in cue sports, when he ruthlessly beat reigning world champion of another format of the game (15-Reds) China’s Yan Bingtao 6-2 in the final at hotel Movenpick on Tuesday.

Pankaj, 30, won the duel against his opponent who is half of his age 37-21, 57-0, 32-29, 0-66, 6-38, 48-0, 75-0, 40-28.

“I’m extremely happy to live up to my top billing by retaining the title,” Pankaj, who is on his first visit to Pakistan, told Dawn.

Talking to interpreter, 15-year-old Chinese sensation Bingtao, who clinched the world title (15-Reds) at Bangalore last year, applauded his opponent’s performance.

Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee became the new women’s world 6-Reds champion when she brushed aside Indian Vidya Pillai in the final that lasted for two hours and 15 minutes. Yee was home 44-0, 36-2, 37-7, 46-11, 7-39, 1-38, 37-6.

Pankaj enjoyed a firm grip on the match taking 3-0 lead winning the frames 37-21, 57-0, 32-29, before Yan retaliated and brought some life in the otherwise one-sided game grabbing the fourth and fifth (66-0 and 38-6).

But it was the end for the Chinese as Pankaj displaying quality pot ting didn’t give further chance to his opponent while winning the next three frames 48-0, 75-0, 40-28 to make it two on the trot.

He hammered an elegant break of 71 in the seventh frame.

Like men’s, the women’s final also fell short of expectations as Lee won in convincing style.

Earlier, Yee and Vidya qualified to clash each other for the title battle by getting the better of Amee Kamani (India) and Denise Santos (Philippines), respectively.

The former won 4-1 (18-61, 36-17, 42-8, 39-0, 50-0) while the latter emerge 4-2 (47-13, 41-9, 24-28, 62-5, 21-31, 47-4) victorious.

A delighted Pankaj received a winning purse of US $ 3,000 while Yan got US $ 1500. The losing semi-finalists were awarded US $ 750 apiece at the presentation ceremony that followed the final.

Hong Kong’s Yee fetched US $ 1000 while Vidya earned US $ 500.

Top executives of Jubilee Insurance Tahir Ahmed and Javed Ahmed, IBSF vice-president Maxime Cassis, tournament director Joseph Lo, IBSF former president Jim Leacy, PBSF officials Alamgir Shaikh, Jawaid Karim, Munawwar Shaikh were among others who were present on the occasion.

Results:

Men’s 6-Reds:

Final: Pankaj Advani (India) bt Yan Bingtao (China) 6-2 (37-21, 57-0, 32-29, 0-66, 6-38, 48-0, 75-0, 40-28).

Semi-finals: Yan Bingtao (China) bt Mohammad Asif (Pakistan) 5-4 (3-51, 0-71, 0-46, 48-0, 13-48, 33-20, 67-30, 68-40, 47-7); Pankaj Advani (India) bt Asjad Iqbal (Pakistan) 5-4 (4-51, 7-56, 46-0, 36-1, 40-14, 10-53, 39-17, 0=51, 52-14).

Women’s 6-Reds:

Final: Ng On Yee (Hong Kong) bt Vidya Pillai (India) 5-2 (44-0, 36-2, 37-7, 46-11, 7-39, 1-38, 37-6).

Semi-finals: Ng On Yee (Hong Kong) bt Amee Kamani (India) 4-1 (18-61, 36-17, 42-8, 39-0, 50-0); Vidya Pillai (India) bt Denis Santos (Philippines) 4-2 (47-13, 41-9, 24-28, 62-5, 21-31, 47-4).

Wednesday’s fixtures:

Men team event and master’s team event at 10am.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2015

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