World Professional Billiards Championship 2010

 

 

News & Updates

 

Highlights - Day Five

Mike Russell wins 10th World Professional Title

 

Final: Mike Russell, finally get back his world title which he lost last year to India's Pankaj Advani. This is his 10th Professional title. In the final played today, he defeated India's Dhruv Sitwala 534 points. Dhruv who made a surprise entry into the final by defeating two compatriots; the last year winner Pankaj Advani in Quarter Final and Billiards maestro Geet Sethi by one point in Semi Final, played well the final and throughout the championship. He lost the first match of the championship to compatriot Ashok Shandilya but managed to win all group matches, even qualifying match against Mark Hirst he also won by one point only.

 

On the other hand, Mike continued his form from Amateur's two world titles he won two months back and won his 0th Professional title. He lost one match in league stage by Robert Marshall only.

 


 

Highlights - Day Four

Dhruv Sitwala pips Geet Sethi by 1 point!!

 

Semi Final:What a fantastic advert for the game of billiards! Geet came to the table with a little over 4 minutes remaining, following a missed square middle bag loser from Sitwala. Racing around the table and fighting to get position Geet pulled off some huge pressure shots, only to miss count the number of red's from the spot right at the death to trail by 3 points with seconds remaining. A terrific screw loser from Dhruv's cue ball into the green side top bag kept him at the table to the sound of applause for the shot and then the sound of the clock having expired. A massive miscalculation therefore cost Geet the match by the solitary point, when it could quite easily have been a tie.

 

In second Semi Final, Mike Russell outplayed his opponent David Causier by 246 points to meet Dhruv Sitwala in the Final as another major final awaits Dhruv, and maybe he can now go on and lift the title he so badly deserves after having been the bridesmaid no fewer than 14 times in major events worldwide.

 

First Sessions of Semi Finals: First Session of first semi final went in favour of Dhruv Sitwala over billiards maestro Geet Sethi. Though Dhruv enjoying the lead but margin is very less and Geet on strike with 41 on board. Hence the final score at the end of first session is Dhruv Sitwala (536) and Geet Sethi (375 + 41 unfinished).

 

The first session of Second Semi final dominated by Mike Russell. When clock stops, Russell was on an unfinished break of 271 and enjoying a margin of 273 points. The final score at the end of first session is Mike Russell (551 + 271 unfinished) and David Causier (549).

 


 

Highlights - Day Three

Quarter Finals: After Qualifying for knockout stage from Group C as No.2, Dhruv played against defending champion Pankaj Advani. Brilliantly crafted three century breaks of 118, 109, 161 and a worthy 81 helped Dhruv to defeat Pankaj Advani and move into Semi Final stage. Dhruv played very confidently and with consistency. He went ahead 360 points when only 30 minutes left in clock. Pankaj always known as for his strong comeback tried hard to cover the lead but fall short on a break of 184 and lost by 115 points when clock alarmed and failed to defend his title.

 

In second quarter final, Geet Sethi defeated Peter Gilchrist by 524 points. During his game, Geet smashed 272 and 122 break while Peter was not able to cross even 100 mark break.

 

Third Quarter final saw maximum number of century breaks  so far. David Causier while playing against Sourav Kothari crafted 6 century breaks i.e. 112, 195, 125, 170, 178, 185. Sourav also smashed 115 though in vain.

 

Mike Russell played against Rupesh Shah in fourth Quarter Final where he crafted a break of 589 and surpassed so far highest break of the tourney 517 crafted by Geet Sethi.

 


 

League Stage: First session had to confirm the top slot for Group A and the contenders were Pankaj Advani and Sourav Kothari from India where Pankaj sealed the top slot for him crafting 255, 128, 103 break. Sourav just managed a single century break before bowing down to Pankaj.

 

In a match of the championship so far, Dhruv Sitwala (India) beat Mark Hirst by just one point before the clock stopped the game. Dhruv had to win the match to qualify for knockout and he did the same by one point in Group C.

 

After second session of day three, top eight cueists for knockout stage got cleared and they are:

In Group A: Pankaj Advani, Sourav Kothari (both from India)

In Group B: Geet Sethi, Rupesh Shah (both from India)

In Group C: David Causier, Dhruv Sitwala (from England and India respectively)

In Group D: Mike Russell, Peter Gilchrist (from Qatar and Singapore respectively)

 

Hence five Indians confirmed their berth in top eight position, one entry each for England, Qatar and Singapore.

 


 

Highlights - Day One

First two sessions were smooth and streamlined where we saw highest break of 354 by Mike Russell against Ian Williamson. In an interesting match, Ashok Shandilya defeated compatriot Dhruv Sitwala and Sourav Kothari defeated Devendra Joshi.

 

The third session remain very interesting where Double Crown holder of IBSF championship, Mike Russell lost to Robert Marshall of England by 201 points. Robert Marshall made 308 (break) to defeat Mike Russell. This 308 is his highest break in Match.

 

In an another match of Session 3, Martin was 256 behind with around 30 minutes remaining (Pankaj on 659 at the time), when Martin made a break of 141 to reduce the deficit to just 115 points. Pankaj then scored 9 and broke down, followed by Martin scoring 2 (pot white and double baulk). Martin then (with about 9 minutes remaining), being 120 behind (miss 2 by Pankaj), made a break of 86 before sinking Pankaj’s cue ball accidentally during a drop cannon. Pankaj then came to the table with 2 minutes left and made 13unf.

 

Last session had seen two big breaks. One side David Causier compiled 340 against Ashok Shandilya and on the other hand, Geet Sethi was first to cross 400 mark as he scored a break of 452 against Bem French.