Deng Haohui beats Pankaj Advani to win Asian Snooker final

Pankaj Advani lost 1-4 to China’s Deng Haohui in the Asian Snooker Championship final at Doha despite starting well with a 96 break. India’s Amee Kamani, Keerthana Pandian, Anupama Ramachandran and Aarav Sancheti advanced in their respective categories

Hyderabad: Pankaj Advani’s hopes of retaining the title hit a roadblock against China’s Deng Haohui in the final of the Asian Snooker Championships in Doha on Wednesday.

Despite getting off to a great start, the reigning champion came up short against the attacking Haohui, losing 1-4 in a high-quality final. Put under pressure, the three-time champion’s safety play, his forte, also faltered. The Chinese cueist did give a few chances, but Advani failed to capitalise.

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The Indian took the opening frame of the best-of-seven contest with a brilliant 96 break. Thereafter, it was Haohui — who had outclassed former pro Thor Chuan Leong 4-0 in the quarters — who dictated terms with some superb potting. He responded with a fine 68 in the second, beginning with a long red pot to the top left pocket off his rival’s break.

Advani had a chance to fight back but missed a blue to the centre pocket when on a break of 17. Haohui closed out the frame without hesitation. After a cat-and-mouse third frame, Advani, with the reds scattered, missed a long red. Haohui punished him with a silken 106 break to go up 2-1.

Advani was unlucky early in the fourth when he cannoned into the black while trying to position for a red. He resorted to safety but left one red open. Haohui made a gritty 35 break under pressure to inch closer to victory.

The champion returned after a short break and played attacking snooker, constructing a fine 60 break before losing position. After a few safety exchanges, Advani played a bit thick on the red while trying to reach the bottom cushion and left one open. Haohui took it nonchalantly to the top left pocket and came up with a brilliant 70 clearance to claim the trophy.

In the women’s section, a 10-red format, three Indians — Amee Kamani, Keerthana Pandian and Anupama Ramachandran — advanced to the last-eight stage. Amee and Keerthana finished their league engagements unbeaten, while Anupama qualified as No. 2 from her group.

In the Under-21 men’s category, Aarav Sancheti topped Group B to book his place in the knockout pre-quarterfinals. Rahul Williams and Jabez Naveen Kumar, the other two Indians in the fray, failed to make the cut.