BANGALORE, May 3:
Pankaj Advani today became the only active cueist in the world to play on both the professional Billiards and Snooker tour after the seven-time world champion announced his entry into the Professional Snooker League.
Following his recent stellar performance at the Asian Snooker Championships in Doha, where he finished runner-up to compatriot and country’s current numero uno cueist in snooker, Aditya Mehta, Advani decided to turn pro after a decade-and-a- half of playing snooker.
Nominated by the Asian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker, the 26-year-old shall enter the league based on a wild card entry.
“I feel that there is a time and place for everything in life, and I feel that this is the right time to give this a shot,” said Advani about his decision.
“At the age of 18, when I was really keen to go and play the pro league I didn’t get an entry, and after 8 years, the desire has rekindled. It will be exciting to see what follows next,” said the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee.
With Advani’s decision to turn pro, he will be off the amateur circuit for the next two years.
Elaborating on his plans for the next two years, Advani said, “My focus is to become a better and stronger player by participating in the Pro Tour, while continuing to actively participate in international Billiards events.”
To compete in a gruelling 10-month-long Pro Snooker Tour, the national billiards champion will be splitting his time between Sheffield, UK and India. (PTI)
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