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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his heartfelt congratulations to legendary billiards player Pankaj Advani for his remarkable achievement of securing the 2024 World Billiards Championship. This triumph marks Advani's 28th world title, solidifying his status as one of the most decorated cueists in the sport's history.Advani's victory came at the IBSG World Billiards Championship held in Doha, Qatar, where he faced off against England's Robert Hall in the final. With his exceptional skills and unwavering determination, Advani emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline. This win also marks his seventh consecutive world title in billiards, a testament to his unparalleled dominance in the sport.In a tweet, PM Modi lauded Advani's "dedication, passion, and commitment," highlighting his unwavering pursuit of excellence. He further stated that Advani's success serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, encouraging them to strive for greatness.Advani's achievements extend beyond the World Billiards Championship. He has also secured two prestigious Asian Games gold medals in singles competition, at the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou editions of the event. His remarkable career has been marked by numerous accolades and recognition, including the Arjuna Award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2009.The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) announced Advani's victory on November 9, 2024. In a statement, the IBSF praised Advani's exceptional performance, noting that he had defeated Robert Hall in a thrilling final. Singapore's Peter Gilchrist and India's Sourav Kothari shared the joint bronze medal in the championship.Advani's triumph is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the sport and his relentless pursuit of excellence. His achievements have not only brought glory to India but have also inspired countless young athletes to follow in his footsteps.

Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani has etched his name in the annals of billiards history by clinching an unprecedented 28th world title, extending his remarkable winning streak to seven consecutive years. At the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Doha on Saturday, Advani outplayed England's Robert Hall 4-2 in a thrilling final.Advani's dominance was evident from the outset. Despite Hall's early lead in the opening frame, the Indian maestro rallied to reach the magic 150 first. In the second frame, he stunned the crowd with an astonishing unfinished 147 break, leaving Hall in awe.The third frame showcased the tactical brilliance of both finalists. Advani emerged victorious in this cerebral duel, positioning himself just one frame away from making history. However, Hall refused to surrender, crafting a flawless 151 break in the fourth frame to keep his hopes alive.The fifth frame saw Hall on fire once more, delivering another stunning 154 break to level the pressure on Advani. But the Bengaluru man elevated his game in the sixth frame with a crucial century break. After a series of strategic safety exchanges, the Indian maestro crossed the finish line."It feels amazing to be on a winning streak of world billiards titles," said Advani. "It wasn't easy though. The competition was tough."Advani credited his brother Shree, a sports psychologist, for helping him stay focused and motivated throughout the tournament. "When I was not in full flow, it was my brother who came to the rescue. He helped me stay in the present and kept the scoreboard ticking. This win is for my country and family," he added.Advani's historic triumph is a testament to his exceptional skill, unwavering determination, and the unwavering support of his family and team. His legacy as one of the greatest cueists of all time continues to grow with each passing victory.

Ace cueist Pankaj Advani of ONGC cemented his dominance in the Western India Billiards and Snooker Championships 2024 by securing a grand double. After triumphing in the billiards final earlier in the day, Advani showcased his unwavering resolve to overcome a formidable challenge from Railways' Kamal Chawla in the snooker final.The marathon final, which stretched over seven hours at the Khar Gymkhana billiards hall, witnessed a tense battle between the two seasoned cueists. Advani, a 27-time world champion, displayed his trademark composure to emerge victorious with a 6-4 scoreline. The frame scores stood at 11-72, 31-58, 95-40, 52-42, 69-43, 43-74, 22-59, 75-62, 84-58, and 58-10.Despite their reputation as top-class players, both Advani and Chawla exhibited a cautious approach, resulting in a lackluster performance that failed to ignite the enthusiasm of the spectators. The match was characterized by an abundance of safety play and a dearth of substantial breaks.Advani managed to produce only two breaks of note, a 69 in the third frame and a 55 in the eighth frame. Chawla, on the other hand, had breaks of 51 and 38 in the opening two frames, followed by efforts of 61 in the sixth frame and 40 in the eighth frame.In the semi-finals, Chawla defeated S Shrikrishna (BPCL) 5-2, while Advani eased past Faisal Khan (Railways) 5-1.Advani's victory marks his seventh consecutive title (4 snooker and 3 billiards) in Mumbai over the past two years, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest cueists of all time.

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.