Just 19, Advani has the world at his feet

Earlier, young Advani struggled against the experienced Australian Robby Foldvari before the Indian struck rhythm to stage a comeback win. With Foldvari taking the opener with a 78 despite a 93 from his opponent. He then doubled his lead with a 104 in the second game while Advani struggled to find any rhythm and it was the Australian who held the table in the third frame with a superb 129 to move 3-0 ahead. The match seemed to be virtually over when Foldvari moved to 4-0 but Advani had other ideas and managed to win the next game 150-31, with a top break of just 50 for 4-1 and followed with the sixth this time 42 being the highest break for 4-2.

In the other semifinal, Devendra Joshi was up against local favourite Joe Grech, winner of the 1997 IBSF World Billiards held in Malta, with Grech struggling to find any form in front of his local supporters and only managing a top break of 50 in the whole match. Joshi made a 147 in the second game and ran out an easy 5-0 winner in just under two hours, putting him into the final without losing a single game all week.