Reigning champion Pankaj Advani scored a hard-fought victory over Rupesh Shah to set up a title clash with veteran Geet Sethi in the points format of the ONGC IBSF World Billiards Championship in Bangalore on Thursday.
In the first semi-final, Sethi staged a remarkable recovery to beat Devendra Joshi. Sethi trailed by three frames before bouncing back in a tremendous show of grit and determination at the Karnataka State Billiards Association Hall.
Digging deep into his wealth of experience, Sethi eventually won 102-151, 95-151, 2-151, 150-126, 152-57, 152-16, 152-112, 150-0.
It was a tremendous turnaround as Sethi raised his game after losing the first three frames.
Winning the fourth boosted his confidence and there was no looking back thereafter. Joshi tried hard to get back into the reckoning in the best-of-nine games' encounter, but by then Sethi was home.
Advani, who is the reigning champion in the time format, lost the second, fourth and fifth games in a see-saw battle against Rupesh before clinching the next three to emerge victorious.
Advani won 150-115, 91-152, 150-142, 49-151, 98-152, 151-118, 151-16, 150-93.