I can now play in peace

After winning the only trophy that was missing in his cupboard,newly crowned world professional billiard champion...

After winning the only trophy that was missing in his cupboard,newly crowned world professional billiard champion Pankaj Advani says he can now play in peace. Its always tough winning any world championship,simply because you have to beat the best in the business, he said,as he prepared to leave for India.

Its a great feeling and I can now play in peace because nobody would come and tell me that I have not won a professional billiard title, the soft-spoken cueist said. Records are meant to be broken but when you think that you are only the second Indian to achieve it,it makes the feeling all the more special, he said.

Words of praise

Meanwhile,praise for the 24-year-old poured in from the countrys cue sport fraternity,with former world amateur champion Michael Ferreira saying Advanis victory was special because it established Indian domination on the professional circuit as well. I cannot describe how delighted I am. Three Indians in the semi-finals of pro-billiards is a big achievement and Advanis win was the icing on the cake, said the billiards legend. We must acknowledge now that we have a truly great player in our midst. He is the best in the world at present, felt Fereira.

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Indias national coach Subhash Agarwal said he always thought Advani was a rare player. I have worked with him during camps. He is very focused and never lets his position slip, observed the former national champion. Agarwal added that the time format at the championships also helped Advani. He has this amazing ability of playing with same fluency for hours. I think that really came in handy for him. Once he took a huge lead in the first session against Russell,I knew it was only a matter of time before he decimated him, felt Agarwal.

Two-time Asian snooker champion Yasin Merchant hailed Advani as one of the greatest of all time. He is a fabulous player. To win the world championships in both the amateur and the professional circuits is a big achievement. Players of his calibre dont come often, said Merchant.

This is his biggest achievement. He had beaten top three players,including compatriot Geet Sethi and Mike Russell in his last three games. He was due for it,” said Ashok Shandilya,1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medallist. A lot of players are there in his age group,but no one is as promising. No one is there in the future who could beat him. For the next few years,its difficult to have another player like Advani, Shandilya added.