Calcutta/ Doha: Seven-time world champion Pankaj Advani overwhelmed Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham 6-4, while India’s No.1 snooker player Aditya Mehta prevailed over Hossain Vafaei of Iran 6-3 to set up the title clash in the 28th Asian Snooker Championships, in Doha.

On Saturday, Aditya started the semi-final confidently though despite playing against current world snooker and Asian Under-21 snooker champion Hossein.

Quickly Aditya took a 2-0 lead over Hossein. The third frame went much tighter but at the stage where it was suppose to go in favour of Aditya, the last black ball wobbled and Hossein got his first frame.

Soon, Hossein took next two to go one-frame up. Those were the only frames Hossein grabbed as Aditya broke with 75 to level the match 3-all. Shifting the gear, Aditya thereafter kept wrapping frame after frame and sealed the match 6-3 leaving no option for Hossein.

In the other semi-final, Advani started 1-1 against Noppon and went down 1-2 as Noppon was playing exceptionally well. The Thai cueist controlled the fourth frame too and had a good start to gain the lead but he missed on 47 and the Indian without wasting time sealed the frame with a clearance of 49 points to level it at 2-all.

Again Noppon troubled Advani by winning the next but Advani came back strongly with a 60+ break.

In the 10th frame, Advani showed his class. Noppon took the lead but Advani was not ready to give up. He played brilliantly to seal the match.