Pankaj stuns defending champion Mike Russell in Leeds to clinch his 7th World Billiards title
India’s Pankaj Advani won his seventh World Championship title beating defending champion and seasoned English cueist Mike Russell 1895-1216 yesterday.
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Fresh from his resounding 881-281 victory over compatriot Dhruv Sitwala in the semi-finals, Pankaj raced into a lead with a century break of 147 and a double century break of 298 within the first hour of the five-hour encounter in the finals of the timed format of the World Blliards Championship in Leeds. A seasoned campaigner, Mike then scored a break of 397 to equalise, but Pankaj fought back strongly with breaks of 131 and 92 to take the lead in the first half of the match.
Pankaj started the second half with another century break of 128 and followed this with breaks of 94 and 108 to cement his lead over Mike. With a final century break of 119, Pankaj beat 11-time champion Russell 1895-1216 to win his seventh World Billiards title, and his fourth in the timed format.u00a0
Ahmedabad’s Rupesh Shah on top of the world too
Rupesh Shah (39) from Ahmedabad, became the fifth Indian to lift world billiards title twice as he beat Australian Matthew Bolton 6-2 in the final (point frame) here on Saturday. Shah, who won his first World title in 2007, and Bolton traded the opening four frames, but thereafter the Indian won the next four to emerge champion.