Time to head west is now: Advani

“I’d refused a wildcard a couple of years ago. I didn’t want to live with the regret that I didn’t try,” he says,adding that he heads to Sheffield this season with mixed emotions about getting onto the professional circuit. It’s the usual combination of nervousness and excitement,of pressure and a sense of adventure,but the 26-year-old’s convinced that he’s ready to fly the nest,leave comforts of India behind and battle it out in the tough pro world.

“I have to rise to the ocassion. It’ll be about getting used to the culture. Where I’ll be headed is a eat,breathe,sleep-snooker environment,with knockout matches day in,day out,” he says,determined to not look back now.

“There’s a time and place for everything,and I think this move couldn’t have come sooner or later,” says cue-sport’s most recognised current player.

He’s not quite sized up his potential competition,but the Asian Games gold medallist in billiards,believes he’s ready for anyone that the goblet throws up. The only player to cliam the amateur snooker and billiards world titles along with the WPBSA Billiards World title,he doesn’t mind the grind that’ll see more gritting than glory in his first few years.

“The Chinese are fierce,but Thais and English are formidable too,” he says.