Pankaj Advani speaks to Cue Sports India after winning double crown

How strong competition in cue sports in India can be gauged from the fact that while Khel Ratna Pankaj Advani did the world double of titles in billiards in snooker in 2005 it took him another two years to do the feat in his own country. Advani joined the ranks of Wilson Jones and Geet Sethi in winning the National billiards and snooker titles in the same year when claiming the snooker title today at Hyderabad beating Aditya Mehta. He had won the billiards crown earlier beating Ashok Shandilya in the final on 14th of this month.

The last time the double was performed it was by the legendary Geet Sethi an four years in a row from 1985-1988. By a coincidence Sethi's saga also began at Hyderabad in 1985. Advani says the adjustment from billiards to snooker took a toll of his game. He says the pockets were tight. Other players complained of dampness of the table cloth because they used air-coolers not air-conditioners.

Excerpts from the interview:

You put the cart before the horse. Snooker and billiards titles in the same year at world level before doing it at national level ?

Yes it was special. It took a lot of adjustment.

The switch from one to the other must be deja vu for you ?

But it takes toll of your game at all possible levels.

What was  special about these twin titles ?

The fact that I withstood the pressure at all levels.

Which was the toughest match of all ?

In snooker it was the semi-final against Yasin Merchant which I won 5-3. The matches against Aditya Mehta and Sourav Kothari could have gone either way.

And in billiards ?

The semi-final against Sethi. I was down by 200 points with two hours to go. But I fought my way back. The conditions were not easy, especially the pockets.

You must be happy to face a new rival in the final, Aditya. He had a quiet year and has come back.

Indeed it is good that has happened, also that Sourav Kothari also came to the semis and Manan Chandra. All of us were there in the junior ranks not long ago.

Cue sport has such a classy field, anyone one of the top eight can beat  the other on his day. So what makes you stand out like a beacon ?

I guess it is my temperament, technique and not a little luck.

How will you celebrate ?

Let me get back to Bangalore and we will do it there.

And in the new year ?

The Islam Gymkhana doubles in Mumbai should be a fun event.

Hyderabad - India :: 24th December 2007