Dhruv Sitwala Denies Pankaj Advani Asian Billiards Championship Hat-Trick

Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani's quest for a hat-trick of Asian Billiards Championship titles was halted in the final by compatriot Dhruv Sitwala, who emerged victorious with a 5-2 scoreline in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The match commenced with Dhruv setting the pace, scoring an impressive 103 points in the opening frame while Advani struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with no points. Advani improved in the second frame, scoring 36 points, but Dhruv maintained his dominance with another 100.

Advani finally found his groove in the third frame, outplaying Dhruv with a remarkable 101. Dhruv, however, had an off-frame, scoring only two points. Advani continued his momentum in the fourth frame, scoring a perfect 100, while Dhruv managed only 11 points.

Dhruv's consistency shone through as he scored 100 again in the fifth frame. His rival, unable to keep up, ended the frame with 64. In the final two frames, Dhruv continued his streak with 101 and a 100, while Advani managed to score 23 and 0 as Dhruv lifted the trophy.

"It was a thrilling match against a good friend of mine. Dhruv played the game really well and didn't give any gap to recover. However, it was good to be here in Saudi for the first time and I hope to come back again soon and hopefully lift the title," Advani said in a release.

"I have always said that I understand the unpredictable nature of the sport and the competition was packed with some very formidable opponents. It was a fiercely contested championship and I am glad that I was in the final with a highly-competitive opponent, where I fell short. Nevertheless, I am taking all the learnings as a lesson for my future tournaments," he added.

Tags: #AsianBilliardsChampionship, #PankajAdvani, #DhruvSitwala, #Billiards, #CueSports