Former IBSF World champion Pankaj Advani came up with a dazzling display to rout Yasin Merchant 5-0 and storm into the final of the LIC-BSNL Senior National Snooker Championship in Chennai on Wednesday.
In the best-of-nine frames semi-final, the teenage star from Karnataka proved that he is a cut above the rest as he walloped the seasoned campaigner from Maharashtra, winning 73-15, 68-19, 49-16, 87-2, 65-54.
In the final, Pankaj will take on Delhi's Manan Chandra, who put paid to the hopes of qualifier and former winner Sarang Shroff of Maharashtra 5-1.
Manan won 75-13, 107-26, 92-9, 69-35, 67-69, 72-23.
It was vintage Advani at the Vijay Mahal Hall, as he hardly gave his senior opponent any chance to make a match of it. With short breaks he shut Merchant out of the contest.
The game was not all about big breaks, but free-flowing potting from Advani, who played the long shots with a touch of assurance that drew applause from the crowd.
The big break of the contest was a fine 62 by Advani in the fourth frame.
Perturbed by his loss in the billiards tournament, where he made the astounding break of 867, Advani is now more focussed on the snooker event. His confidence was sky high after he eclipsed two big names -- Geet Sethi and defending champion Alok Kumar -- in the pre-quarter and quarter-finals en route to the last four stage.
In the other semi-final, Chandra came close to repeating Advani's act, but missed a sitter in the fifth frame before sewing up the contest by winning the sixth with ease.
Both Manan and Sarang are known for their fast-paced game. Manan proved a notch higher today. He compiled a break of 59 in the first frame, 69 in the second, 64 in the third to gain control over the proceedings.
Sarang was in for a whitewash as Manan pocketed the fourth and was all set to wrap up the contest in the fifth before a crucial miss helped Sarang win the frame by a narrow two-point margin.
But Manan came back well to win the next and enter the summit clash.
Later, in a play off match for the third and fourth place, Yasin Merchant defeated Sarang 4-2 (74-8, 64-38, 35-67, 109-1, 34-60, 71-8).
Results:
Senior snooker (semi-finals): Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Yasin Merchant (Maha) 73-15, 68-19, 49-16, 87-2, 65-54; Manan Chandra (PSPB) bt Sarang Shroff (Maha) 75-13, 107-26, 92-9, 69-35, 67-69, 72-23.
3/4 placings: Yasin Merchant (Maha) bt Sarang Shroff (Maha) 74-8, 64-38, 35-67, 109-1, 34-60, 71-8.
