China’s Deng Haohui scuttled Pankaj Advani’s plans of retaining the Asian Snooker Championship title as he thumped the Indian 4-1 in the final of the Asian Snooker Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.
Despite getting off to a great start, reigning champion Advani came up short against the demon potter, losing 1-4 in a high-quality final. Put under pressure by the attacking Haohui, the three-time champion’s safety, his forte, too took a hit. The Chinese cueist did give a few chances, but Advani failed to take them on the day.
The Indian took the opening frame of the best-of-seven-frame contest with a brilliant 96 break. Thereafter, it was Haohui, who had outclassed former pro Thor Chuan Leong 4-0 in the quarters, who began to dictate terms with some amazing potting. He responded with a fine 68 in the second, beginning with a long red pot to the top left-hand pocket off his rival’s break.
Advani had a chance to force his way back but missed a blue to the centre pocket when on a break of 17. Needing no second invitation, the challenger closed out the frame. After a bit of a cat-and-mouse game in the third frame, Advani, with the reds scattered on the table, missed a long red. Haohui punished the Indian with a silken-smooth 106 break to go up 2-1.
Advani was a trifle unlucky early on in the fourth, he got a cannon on the black when he tried to position for a red pot. He resorted to safety but left one red on. Haohui made a gritty 35 break under pressure to inch closer to victory.
The champion returned after a short break and played an attacking game, constructing a fine 60 break before losing position. After a few safety exchanges, Advani played a wee bit thick on the red while trying to go to the bottom cushion and left one red open. Haohui took that nonchalantly to the top left-hand pocket and came up with a brilliant 70 clearance to lay his hands on the trophy.
Three Indian women in quarters
In the women’s section, a 10-red affair, three Indians, Amee Kamani, Keerthana Pandian and Anupama Ramachandran, advanced to the last-eight stage. While Amee and Keerthana finished their league engagements with an all-win record, Anupama qualified as No. 2 from the group.
In the Under-21 category for men, Aarav Sancheti topped Group ‘B’ to book his place in the knockout pre-quarterfinals. Rahul Williams and Jabez Naveen Kumar, the other two Indians in the fray, failed to make the cut.
Results (Indians unless mentioned): Men (final): Deng Haohui (Chn) beat Pankaj Advani 4-1 (0-126 (96), 101 (68) -17, 114 (106) -8, 65-22, 70 (70) -61 (60). Semifinals: Haohui beat Amir Sarkhosh (Irn) 4-3 (73 (55) -53, 117 (96) -0, 39-66, 43-84 (79), 54-66, 62-33, 60-41).
U-21: Group B: Aarav Sancheti beat Shahin Sabzi (Irn) 3-2 (8-73, 5-69, 69 (51) -33, 56-31, 69 (57) -20).
Group F: Jabez Naveen Kumar beat Abdulla Al Musleh (Qat) 3-0 (67-51, 63-28, 73-15).
Group H: Lomnaw Issarangkun Na Ayuttaya (Thai) beat Rahul Williams 3-0 (63-20, 69-50, 82 (74) -13).
Women: Group A: Ho Yee Ki (HK) beat Aanya Patel 2-1 (39-22, 26-62 (30), 60-26).
Group C: Amee Kamani beat Chu Pui Ying (HK) 2-0 (49-18, 52-11); Ying beat Ishika Shah 2-0 (47-43, 67-33).
Group D: Keerthana Pandian beat So Man Yan (HK) 2-0 (51-31, 36-16); Wan Ka Kai (HK) beat Snenthra Babu 2-0 (51-29, 53-31).
