Psychology plays a great part in modern sport: Advani

He has made winning 12 World titles look like a stroll in the park, but if India's poster boy of cue sports was able to deal with the pressure that came with success, it was mainly because of his elder brother, Shree.

"Shree (a celebrity sports psychologist) has helped me a lot with his inputs and guidance. It is very difficult to handle anxiety, stress and emotions while you are playing. These are the few things that I have been working on and I think it has helped me achieve what I have," Advani, who is in game-switch mode with a one-week stay in Sheffield, ahead of the World Snooker Championship, told PTI.

"Sports Psychology plays a great part in modern sports because everybody has the skill and ability and the confidence to pull it off. Sometimes it's just about taking that opportunity at the right time. Taking your chances at a time when nobody will think of, to do something different, approach it differently from what the others are doing, even if it is just the sharpness of mind, Shree has really helped me out in these aspects," he added.

The Bangalore billiards and snooker ace humbled England's Robert Hall in the five-hour World Billiards Championship Time format final to pocket his third grand double post his 150-up short format triumph last week.

While statisticians are going bananas counting Advani's plethora of records, the 29-year-old champion is just happy to enjoy success.

"Of course, there have been numbers, a lot of records that have been broken, history been rewritten, this win being unprecedented and the statistics. That's for everyone else to discuss; the statisticians and followers and the ones who love sports, who love digging out records. As a player I am very, very fulfilled at the moment, very pleased that I have been continuously evolving and growing," said Advani.

Handing his mother Kajal a perfect birthday gift on October 29 with the Time format triumph, Advani said making occasions count is satisfying.

"It definitely plays a very significant role and I do remember the first World Championship -- the IBSF World Snooker in 2003. It happened on Diwali; even the IBSF 6-Red was during Ramzan. So there are very very significant days and they mean a lot to people. If I can contribute and add to the happiness or occasion it just feels great." 

Advani is a rare all-rounder in cue sports, having won 12 titles spaced between billiards, snooker and 6-Red snooker to the short and long formats as well.

But he insists he is still the same player, with just more numbers.

"As a player I felt different playing this tournament. I don't think it has changed after winning. I am still the same player, the same human being. But I think the player that played this tournament compared to 2008 and 2005 is a lot different, because I have come to England to play snooker as well. It has taught me a lot of things," said Advani.

"A more professional approach to the game. It made me more positive, aggressive and that is how you should be in sport. There are times when you need to hold back and be defensive for which I have been able to understand and I have been able to assess the situation at the right time at any given state of the tournament. So, in terms of that, I have been a completely different player in this tournament," he added.