In the Rs 12.5 lakh prizemoney CCI Snooker Classic 2024, Pankaj Advani, the reigning champion, showed off his return to form and held onto his title with an impressive display of skill as he defeated challenger Kamal Chawla 8-3 in the best-of-15 frame final on Sunday.
The final of the tournament, which was held in the Sir Wilson Jones Billiards Hall of the Cricket Club of India, was won by Advani easily by scores of 75-12, 1-58, 64-39, 63-29, 7-75, 66-64, 94-5, 0-81, 64-47, 122-8, and 72-9 against Kamal Chawla. Accurate and consistent potter, Advani is the most decorated sportsman in India. He demonstrated his skill on the green baize.
The tall and lanky Chawla made a valiant effort to equal the elegant Advani, the cueist from Bengaluru, who didn’t seem to be in the mood to take it easy. However, Advani prevailed thanks to some deft tactical play.
“Kamal (Chawla), my opponent, deserves a lot of respect for his outstanding snooker play in this competition. I believe that his draw was somewhat more difficult, so perhaps I was simply a bit more rested and in the mood before the final. However, up to the final, he faced some incredible players. After receiving his crystal “Champions’ trophy” and the Rs. 3 lakh winner’s check, a humble Advani stated, “So congratulations, Kamal.”
Along with a check for Rs 1.5 lakh, Chawla received the runners-up trophy.
Advani, who also won the CCI Classic Billiards last year, commented after keeping his trophy and winning his third CCI championship: “It’s never easy to defend a title because everybody is gunning to get the better of you.” I have to admit, I feel really at ease playing at CCI, and I think that’s what brings out the best in me. Above all, I love playing my game.
“This time it was a little bit difficult as I had to dig deeper as some of the youngsters put me under pressure, in the initial rounds I was down 2-0, 3-1, but somehow I managed to find a way to get back,” he explained.
Advani made it apparent right away that he meant business as he won the opening session with a 76-point break. Chawla then leveled the score with a 50-point performance. Advani opened up a 3-1 lead by grabbing the following two with fluid play. But a resolute Chawla won the fifth and several solid pots to reduce the deficit to 3-2 before the intermission.Following the interval, Advani fought back to steal the frame and increase the advantage 4-2. Chawla had a fantastic chance to win the sixth, but he blew a big 49-point lead. Advani then recorded a break of 66 to bag the next, increasing the advantage to 5-2. However, Chawla trimmed the lead in half with a clean break of 71 in the eighth set. Advani came close to winning the tenth, but he ended the match with two outstanding performances of 122 clearance and a cunning 72 to crush Chawla’s chances of rallying.
lead 4-2, extending the frame. The following frame was pocketed by Advani with a break of 66, extending the advantage to 5-2, but Chawla trimmed the deficit with a clean break of 71 to take the eighth. While Advani won the tenth by a small margin, he ended the match with two outstanding performances of 122 clearance and a cunning 72 to crush Chawla’s chances of comeback.
In the end, Kamal Chawla lost to Pankaj Advani. Eight three (75(67)-12, 1-58(50), 64-39, 63-29, 7-75, 66-64, 94(66)-5, 0-81(71), 64-47, 122(122)-8, 72(72)-9).
