Sweet November: India's Golden Boy Advani lifts title No. 18

Bengaluru, November 27: It's sweet November indeed for Bengaluru cueist Pankaj Advani. The champion added another world title on Monday (November 27) to take his title count to 18 and making it increasingly difficult to keep a count on the number of titles he's pocketing.

If there is a Superman in 🇮🇳, it has to be @PankajAdvani247. 18 World Titles @32 yrs Snooker World Champion #sport#india @baselineventure pic.twitter.com/NU8tezqayZ

— Tuhin Mishra (@tuhinmishra75) November 27, 2017

It was a walk in the park for the 32-year-old, as he brushed aside Iran's Amir Sarkhosh 8-2 to lift the IBSF Snooker World Championship in Doha on Monday (November 27).

IBSF World Snooker Champion 2017 😀🙌🏆🤘🏻💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/gRbvV02frb

— Pankaj Advani (@PankajAdvani247) November 27, 2017

Early in the month, Advani had lifted the IBSF World Billiards Championship (150up) for his 17th world title. And heading into the snooker championship, India's Golden Boy had been wary of his performance as he was playing two different formats at the World Championships, back-to-back, with hardly any gap between them. But the champ hardly broke any sweat as he romped to another world title to show nothing was impossible for the Bengaluru lad.

@PankajAdvani247 Congratulations on a winning your 18th World title! A superb display of snooker. Winning is fun! Bask in your moment of glory! pic.twitter.com/DvPGOqDVZm

— Shirin Advani (@AdvaniRajni) November 27, 2017

Kicking off the final, Advani got off on the wrong foot as he lost the opening frame, going down meekly to Sarkhosh 71-19 at the Al-Arabi Sports Complex in Doha. But from thereon, it was a completely different game as the Bengaluru lad stormed back to take the next four frames back-to-back to grab a 4-1 lead.

World Title no.18! This is epic @PankajAdvani247 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 this guy is a legend! Huge congratulations, you superstar! 🎱🎉😍🙌🏻🤘🏻👏🏻🏆🥇 #GoldenBoy #PankajAdvani #WorldChampion #worldsnookerchampion #legend

— Aditi Kirpekar (@ADTkirpekar) November 27, 2017

Sarkhosh, who had fought back from behind to enter the final, gave the Indian a scare just before break. He scripted a break of 134 to take the sixth frame. But Advani brought his experience to the fore and got back into the game, taking the next one 75-7.

Heading into the break, the Indian looked set for his 18th gold as he led the Iranian finalist 5-2. Returning from break, Advani looked like he was in a hurry as he won the next three frames effortlesstly to seal his victory.

Pankaj Advani wins 2017 World #Snooker Championship. This is 18th World title of his career. In final today he... https://t.co/TX7VyNbvYT

— IBSF (@ibsf) November 27, 2017

Advani scripted his highest breaks in the fourth frame, scoring 51 and in the ninth frame, scoring 77. Meanwhile, Sarkhosh, though on the losing end, scripted the highest break of the final with a break of 134 in the sixth frame.

Earlier in the semifinals, both the finalists notched up hard-fought wins to secure their final berth.

Advani fought back from behind to defeat 15-year-old Austrian Florian NuBle. The teenager gave the pro a run for his money, before the Indian rallied to down him 7-4.

Sarkhosh too was staring at a semifinal exit after performing poorly initially against Ehsan Heydari Nezhad. But the Iranian took control from the 10th frame to seal a final berth after ousting his compatriot 7-6.

Meanwhile, Wendy Jans lifted the women's title. This was Jane's seventh IBSF World Snooker title, and sixth one in a row. Jans defeated Waratthanun Sukritthanes 5-2 at the final in Doha.

Elsewhere in the Masters category, Welshman Darren Morgan ousted England’s Aidan Owens 6-3 to clinch the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship.