The Hindu : Geet Sethi, the man to beat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Geet Sethi, the man to beat

By V. V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD NOV. 16. Will Pankaj Advani, create history again in the World billiards championship that starts on Monday evening at Taj Krishna Hotel here? This question is in a way a tribute to the way he has caught the imagination of and one all. It is indisputable fact that this 18-year-old youngster is widely believed to be the best bet for the host after the irrepressible and indefatigable Geet Sethi in the prestigious event.

And, that he means business in this event is pretty much evident by the way Pankaj Advani was training at the Jubilee Hills International Centre in the evening. Incidentally, this is the venue where he won the National-level snooker championship last February and the location when Geet Sethi predicted that it is going to be Advani who will be winning many world titles for the country. "Well, billiards is a totally different and difficult proposition. And it is coming too soon after the World snookers title-win. We have to re-adjust our technique and it is not going to be easy," Advani remarked. Advani is yet to win an international billiards title and the best performances being the second place in the 2002 Asian Championship and the third place in the Jammu senior Nationals early this year.

The fact that most of the competitors in the fray, without any hesitation, rate Geet Sethi, the top-seed, as the favourite is yet another indication of how highly he is rated in the circuit. A view endorsed by David Causier of England, himself, perhaps, one of the most exciting players.

A familiar face in the Hyderabad circles in view of his regular appearances in the Gold Flake Opens, Causier is, however, confident about his own chances. "This 150-up format is one which suits my style. And I am happy with the way the preparations went on for this event," he remarked. One thing is certain whether this 30-year-old wins the title or not, he is going to win the hearts of the fans. To put it simply, Causier is to billiards what Viv Richards was to cricket. Never one to waste time and always preferring the explosive stuff, Causier, World No. 3, said Geet Sethi would be the obvious option for the other players to look as the prime target. "The groupings are okay for me and the intensity will be much greater from the knock-out phase," he remarked.

The dark horse of the championship, according to experts, is the Australian Foldvari, winner of the Hyderabad Gold Flake Open a few years ago. A cool customer with the ability to fight back from adversity, this gentleman can be the real threat to the Indian challenge on his day.

Apparently, even as the focus is on the big guns and the latest sensations, the possibility of the likes of World billiards bronze medallist Devendra Joshi, ISBF World champion and Asian Games gold medallist Ashok Shandilya and Alok Kumar (all from India) and Nalin Patel cannot be ignored.

After the formal inauguration of the championship by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at 4.00 p.m., the solitary match scheduled for the evening will see Pankaj Advani take on John Hartley of England to set the ball rolling for a feast of billiards in the City.

The groupings (the first names in each group as per the seedings in the event): Group A: Geet Sethi (India), Mathew Bolton (Australia), Alexander Borg (Malta), U. Kuaw Oo (Myanmar), Peter Francisco (South Africa) and Huang Chul Ho (South Korea).

Group B: Praput Chaithanaskun (Thailand), B. Bhaskar (India), John McIntyre (Northern Ireland), Rishabh Thakkar (India), Hekta (Indonesia) and Eduaruo Guillem (Spain).

Group C: Devendra Joshi (India), Robby Foldvari (Australia), Wayne Carey (New Zealand), Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan), Mark Anthony (Scotland) and Hasan Manfaluti (Indonesia).

Group D: Dhruv Sitwala (India), David Causier (England), Roy Lattimer (Northern Ireland), Martin Spoormanns (Belgium), Tauriq Samsodien (South Africa) and Loon Hong Moh (Malaysia).

Group E: Nalin Patel (Pro), John Hartley (England), Eugene Hughes (Rep of Ireland), Pankaj Advani (India), Thawat Sujarijthurakaran (Thailand) and Hoon Do Kim (South Korea).

Group E: Joe Minici (Australia), Ian Williamson (England), James Moore (Rep of Ireland), Siddarth Parikh (India), U Aung San Do (Myanmar) and Glenn Yeo Teck Shin (Singapore).

Group G: Ashok Shandilya (India), Paul Bennet (England), Garry Oliver (New Zealand), Khurram Hussain Agha (Pakistan), Duncan Bezzina (Malta) and N.N.G.Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka).

Group H: Steve Misfud (Australia), Alok Kumar, Lee Lagan (England), Stephen Baillie (Scotland), K.H. Sirisoma (Sri Lanka) and Friddie Soh Chye Hian (Singapore).

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