Cue Sports 2017: The World of Green Baize

Bengaluru, December 16: Fourteen years ago he won his first World Title. And since then there has been no turning back for India’s 'Golden Boy’ Pankaj Advani. The champion cueist has many firsts to his name, but still Advani never stops surprising both his fans and contenders.

This year was no different for the Bengaluru lad. Having ended 2016 on the back of two world titles, the world champ got right back into business to keep his medal meter ticking, winning four international titles and two national titles.

Keeping his medal tally in mind it would be safe to assume that the rising cue sports fraternity of the country draws inspiration from the champ and is making their mark all over the world.

While the importance of sport grows in the country, cue sports is becoming more and more popular, with youngsters willing to take up the sport as a career option in current times. And no points for guessing, but the reins of the sport remain solely in the hands of Advani, who has a staggering 18 world titles to his name. But while Advani holds the reins, he has apt support from his fraternity, as a lot of cueists, both men and women, are winning titles galore and putting India on the world map. You don't have to look too far behind.. let's just take a look at the current year.

Almost ready to ring in the next year, the Indian cueists have seven international medals to their name, which includes two world titles won by Advani.

The 32-year-old started the year on a winning note, clinching the senior billiards in Pune in January, followed by another gold medal in the national snooker championship. But what made the titles more special was that not only was it his 29th overall national title, he also became the only Indian men’s cueist to be the holder of all national billiards and snooker title (billiards, 6-red snooker & 15-red snooker) at the same time.

Having started his year of on a winning note, Advani was then crowned the Asian Billiards championship for the sixth time, with the previous one coming way back in 2012. It surely did come as a relief to the Indian who lifted the title after a gap of five years. It was Advani’s seventh Asian title, including six billiards and one 6-red snooker title. Advani lifted the Asian trophy after defeating compatriot Sourav Kothari in the final in Chandigarh.

After the win Advani who lifted his seventh Asian title had said, “I’m on seventh heaven since it’s my seventh Asia Championship. This is a comeback title for me. I’ve come back to win this after five years.”

Having already pocketed three titles in the year, Advani then headed to Doha for the Asian Snooker Championship. It is the only title the Indian has failed to lay his hand on. And his bad luck seemed to continue as Advani had to settle for silver, when he fell 3-6 to China’s Lv Haotian.

Though returning disappointing, Advani was yet to add another Asian title in the year. Teaming up with Laxman Rawat, Advani effortlessly picked up his 8th overall Asian title, after defeating Pakistan in the final. While it was Advani’s 2nd Asian title of the year, it was Rawat’s maiden Asian title.

Having pocketed the national and asian titles for the year, the champ then turned his attention to the world championships. In a twist to the tale both formats of the world championships were to be held at the same venue with just a couple of days gap. Changing from snooker to billiards and vice versa is a tough ask and to do it at the world stage had the cuesists on their toes.

Heading into the tournament Advani had said that this would be a new experience and it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. But while playing the tournaments it definitely did look like cakewalk for the Indian, as he lifted both the billiards (150up) title as well as the snooker title. In the time format of billiards Advani failed to reach the final and had to settle with bronze. But to walk away with three medals at the world stage withing a few weeks is something that would garner a lot of applause indeed.

Not only did he take his count to 18 world titles, Advani also became the only cueist ever to win three IBSF World Snooker Championships. Now if that’s not the cherry on the cake, then what will be.

The Arjuna awardee walked away from Doha a true champion, and has surely set a tough path for his contenders to tread on.

After the stellar run at Doha, Advani had said, “This has to rank as my biggest achievement. To win three medals back-to-back is special. I’ve never played for three weeks in a row. I had a match almost everyday. It was a challenge to maintain the hunger, intensity and freshness required to succeed.”

Though Advani has taken the country to the top with his medal haul, several other Indian cueists also had a memorable run this year. India had an overall medal haul of 22 international medals in the current year, including six gold medals, four silver and twelve bronze medals. Now that’s what makes it a successful year.

Vidya Pillai set the ball rolling, as the Bengaluru cueist picked up the first international medal for the country in 2017. Vidya potted silver in the World Women’s Snooker Championship on March in Singapore. Vidya went down fighting to Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee. Vidya also reached the quarters of the world snooker championship in Doha.

Another notable cueist of the year was world under-16 girls champion Anupama Ramachandra. Anupama was crowned the world open under-16 girls champion in St. Petersburg. The Indian beat compatriot Keerthana Pandian 3-1 in the final. Thus India walked away with the gold and silver medal from the tournament.

Meanwhile, Anupama also created history by winning all six categories of the Tamil Nadu State Billiards and snooker titles.

Elsewhere Sourav Kothari picked up gold at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Kothari lifted the trophy after defeating Praprut Chaithanasakun of Thailand in the title match.

Amongst other notable outcomes, Kothari and Rupesh Shah made it to the semis of the Long-up format of the WBL Billiards Championship. In the shorter format Kothari clinched silver, while Rupesh and Siddharth Parikh picked up bronze. Apart from these Indian cueists have had several noteworthy performances throughout the world, making India a force to reckon with in the world of cue sports.

Before wrapping up the year, it would be worthwhile to mention the inaugural edition of the Cue Slam, India’s own cue sports league. Keeping in mind the rising league-culture in the country, India witnessed its first-ever cue sports league, which emerged as a huge success. The second edition is set to be held in March next year and will see the sport become an even more powerful one.

With that the curtain can be brought down on the sport this year, which has seen the Indian cueists make a mark all over the world.