The Hindu : Sport : Eighth win for Pankaj Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 29, 2004

Sport

Sport

Eighth win for Pankaj Advani

By Michael Ferreira

EINDHOVEN (HOLLAND), NOV. 28. Defending World champion Pankaj Advani made it eight wins out of eight when he beat Yannick Poulain (France) 4-2 to maintain his stranglehold in Group `B' of the 2005 IBSF World snooker championship on Saturday. Advani opened with a wonderfully smooth 98 to take the first frame 102-8, won the second 74-0 with the help of 26, 22 and 26, and fired in contributions of 36, 24 and 30 to securethe third 89-4. The apparently shell-shocked Frenchman might well have chosen the moment to re-group by taking advantage of the optional interval, but he signalled to the referee that he was ready to carry on. His strategy certainly appeared to work as he sped to 47-0 with the aid of 25 and 22 studded with some crisp potting.

However, a terrible safety shot by Yannick spread the balls wide open to give Advani a fine opportunity, butthe champion squandered the chance by missing the black off the spot after scoring 29, allowing Yannick to lead 63-29 on the colours and eventually win the fourth frame 81-31.

Advani had the first chance in the fourth, but at 16 missed an easy red. Yannick responded with consecutive breaks of 22 and a brilliant 73 to take the frame 95-20 and close to 2-3. Advani committed a shocking safety error to allow Yannick to take an early lead. But at 48-21 and the knowledge that he was within touching distance of restoring parity caused Yannick to twitch on the last red.

Advani regained his touch and a fine 25 clearance to pink took him across the finishing line.

Five tables away, compatriot Rafath Habib was not as fortunate, losing 2-4 to Costas Konnaris (Cyprus) in a crucial Group `E' match.

Bad day for Manan

Manan Chandra had a stroke of bad luck against Brynjar Valdimarsson (Iceland) after he fought his way back to level terms from 2-3 down in a Group C match. He was looking composed in the series of safety exchanges in the decider, when an attempted safety shot saw a red cannon into the brown and send the ball into the pocket. Full marks however to his opponent who seized the opportunity to construct a magnificent 102 clearance. Valdimarsson now clearly leads the field in his group with David Lilley

(Eng) as the number two. The good news from the Indian standpoint, is that Roy Stolk, who is Manan's other rival for top honours in the group, was upset 1-4 by Ben Farnworth of New Zealand.

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