Advani, Sethi in World Billiards C'ship semis

Defending champion Pankaj Advani and veteran Geet Sethi reigned supreme at the green baize to enter the semi-finals in the Point-format of IBSF World Billiards Championship in Pune on Sunday.

While Advani edged Myanmar's Kyaw Oo's challenge 4-2 in the quarter-finals, Sethi prevailed over compatriot Dhruv Sitawala with an identical scorline.

Advani defeated Kyaw Oo 150(100)-18, 1529114)-80, 42-151(85), 117(95)-151(89), 150(82)-118(113), 152(110)-05), while eight-time world champion Sethi went past Sitwala 152(106)-24, 150(95)-04, 22-152(85), 151(78)-146(91), 97(88)-152(92), 150(141)-89(85).

Advani will take on Singapore's Peter Gilchrist in the semi-finals, while Sethi will be up against nine-time world champion Mike Russell of England in the last four stage.

Gilchrist and Russell beat India's Rupesh Shah and B Bhaskar (4-0) 151(100)-99, 152(101)-52, 152-56, 150-121 and (4-1) 151(76,75)-23, 100-150(119), 150-85, 150(148)-12, 150(121)-141(120) respectively in their last-eight stage matches.

Earlier in the day, Advani defeated Kiwi Gary Oliver 4-1 in the pre-quarters while eight-time world champion Sethi registered a facile 4-0 win over Praput C of Thailand at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana Centre.

Advani defeated Oliver 128-152 151-63 150(85)-73 152(99)-05 150(123)-36) while Sethi, who regained his form with back-to-back victories on Saturday, tamed Praput 151(107)-47 150(150)-29 151-128 150(97)-137) in straight frames.