There isn’t anything left for Pankaj Advani to achieve in world billiards. At 28, he is already an eight-time world billiards and snooker champion and has to his credit the prestigious Padma Shri Award as well as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna honour.
The fact that he became a snooker professional only last year though doesn’t deter him for “being confident” ahead of the Indian Open — the first-ever professional tournament that the country will host next month.
Advani, who is “very keen” to do well in front of the home crowd, said, “The format of best of seven frames, which is so, so short, makes it an open event for all. One cannot say that the world no. 1 would be a sure favourite in this format. And that may just work in our favour.”
Cueist Aditya Mehta, who won a gold at the World Games this year, said the event will provide the “spark that the game needs.”
“It is massive for India, especially with players like John Higgins and Neil Robertson playing here. It was a dream to see them in action till sometime ago. And now it will be a reality.”
Talking about his chances in the event, Mehta, who is ranked 73rd in the world, said, “Snooker is such a sport that you plan your targets by each frame and each shot. And that is what I will do.
“There will be players ranked much higher than us and it is clear we are not favourites.
“But in the recent past, we have shown what we are capable of. One should approach a tournament thinking that he has to win it, and we think anything less than that wouldn’t be fair.”
Reacting to the news of England’s Stephen Lee, former world no. 5, being found guilty of match-fixing, the 27-year-old Mehta said, “It is one of the things that happens in sport. If someone does something which is illegal or against the integrity of the game, they should pay for it.
“All of us should learn from it so that the game doesn’t suffer.”
Added Advani, “I think it serves a warning to other players saying, ‘you better be careful’. The world body is very strict and does not tolerate such incidents.”
The only two Indians on the professional circuit, Advani and Mehta, made it to the main draw via the qualifying competition at Doncaster, England, last month.
The Indian Open will be held in New Delhi from October 14 to 18.