New Delhi: India’s most celebrated cueist, Pankaj Advani, who pocketed his 15th world title on Saturday, derives a lot of satisfaction from the fact that he has successfully managed the tough balancing act of playing snooker and billiards at such a high level.

Advani clinched the IBSF World Snooker Championship, after battling past 18-year-old Chinese cueist Zhua Xintong in Egypt to pocket his fourth snooker title. He has 11 world billiards titles to his name, and he admits that juggling between the two is not an easy task.

“I am playing competitive cue sport throughout the year. Extremely happy to be playing billiards and snooker and winning in both. People who follow the game will know how tough it is to win in both billiards and snooker at a very high level,” Advani said.

“I believe that whenever you go out there, you have to prepare for the best possible outcome. So yes, it just feels on top of the world right now that I can actually win gold medals for the country in cue sports,” he added.

The champion was also magnanimous in his praise for the teenage sensation Xintong, who nearly cornered him, before Advani used his experience to outwit him 8-6 in the final in Hurghada.

“For those who follow snooker, understand the game and realise how the game has changed over the years — it has become more aggressive and attacking — this guy is just phenomenal, when comes to the attacking department. His offence is so strong that defence was tested. I was cruising at a point and he came back with a big break and I had no answers,” said Advani.

Advani also becomes the first player in cue sport history to pocket the long (15-Red) and the short (6-Red) format — he won the title in Karachi in August — in the same calendar year. “It was great to win the 15-Red World Snooker after 12 years, since I won it in 2003 in China. Winning my third title this year was a wonderful way to end this season,” he said.
For his fans, Advani may have achieved a lot in his career so far, but the cueist is still looking to improve his game. “I am just 30 now, and I feel as young as when I was 21 or 18. I am right in the middle of my career and I am enjoying it thoroughly. The main thing is that I am comfortable in my own skin. 

“Yes, people have been talking about my slightly unorthodox technique and the whole question of billiards over snooker and playing in England and all of that. I am also trying to develop new dimensions, adding new things to my game which will ultimately contribute to my development as a player and improve further.”