Bengaluru, August 14: India had plenty to rejoice at the IBSF World 6-Reds Snooker Championship which concluded at the Egyptian city of Hurghada last week.
Though ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani lost to Pakistan's Babar Masih in the pre-quarterfinal stage in the singles events, his compatriot Kamal Chawla reached the final where he went down to Wales' defending champion Darren Morgan.
Pankaj looks to bounce back in team event
Indian women also did the country proud with Amee Kamani and Varshaa Sanjeev clinching a bronze in the team event.
Meanwhile, India's Vidya Pillai registered the highest break in the women's section.
All the top cueists will now their attention on the franchise-based inaugural Indian Cue Masters League to be played in Ahmedabad from August 19 to 25.
The event will be played in a round robin-cum-knockout format and will have five teams -- Gujarat Kings, Chennai Strikers, Hyderabad Hustlers, Bengaluru Buddies and Delhi Dons. Each tie will consist of five matches with three 6-Red snooker and two 9-Ball pool matches per tie. Each franchise will have five players (1 icon, 1 woman and 3 men players) with a stipulation that a minimum of three Indians will be in the team.
Vidya, who, will turn out for Chennai Strikers said this would be a wonderful opportunity for every cueist, and more so for the women players.
"I am optimistic of, at some point of time, having a separate league for women on these lines. It is so exciting!" she said while also tweeting the same later.
So excited that our Premier League called Cue Slam has been launched 😀 Can't wait for the action to begin - Aug 19-25, 2017! pic.twitter.com/AGIFtJgrhr
— Pankaj Advani (@PankajAdvani247) July 27, 2017