Indian cue legend Pankaj Advani clinched his 29th career world title after defeating England’s Robert Hall 1906-1206 in the final of the WBL World Billiards Championship in Birmingham, producing a stunning 587 break to seal a memorable victory.The 41-year-old, the only Indian to reach the semifinals, showcased his experience and scoring prowess to overcome Hall in a gruelling five-hour final, extending his remarkable record in cue sports.
The title clash carried significance for both players, with Hall having reached the World Billiards Championship final five times previously without winning the title. Advani, meanwhile, was looking to add another crown to his unprecedented collection of world titles.
Advani began the contest with a 91 break before Hall responded with an impressive 203 run to take the lead. As the match approached the two-hour mark, the two finalists remained closely positioned on the scoreboard before Advani produced another century to move ahead.Hall then stepped up his game, compiling a mammoth 331 break in a high-quality spell of billiards to surge more than 300 points ahead of the multiple-time world champion.
With less than two hours remaining, Advani found himself under pressure as Hall continued to extend his advantage. At 697-1014, with 115 minutes left on the clock, the Englishman appeared well placed to secure his maiden world title.However, Advani responded with a fluent 210 break to reduce the deficit to around 100 points. An opportunity soon presented itself when Hall missed a regulation shot, bringing the Indian back to the table.
