Morgan claims Masters title in World Snooker

November 22nd, 2009 HYDERABAD - Kamal Chawla, the 30-year-old from Bhopal, emerged India's unlikeliest hero as he qualified for the quarter-finals in the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker championship here Sunday that witnessed the ouster of Pankaj Advani along with other home hopes Manan Chandra and Aditya Mehta besides Yasin Merchant. Chawla overcame Anthony Barbin of Cyprus who had broken the hearts of home fans by eliminating Advani in the round of 32 Sunday morning.

November 22nd, 2009 HYDERABAD - Unheralded 30-year old Greek Cypriot Anthony Brabin dealt Indian hopes a big blow when he knocked out National champion Pankaj Advani 5-3 en route to the pre-quarter-finals of the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker Championship here Sunday. However, bringing some cheer to the Indian camp were the Mumbai-based Yasin Merchant who overcame compatriot Alok Kumar 5-1 to advance to the round of 16.

November 21st, 2009 HYDERABAD - Over the next few days, the chaff will be separated from the grain and the men from the boys as the ONGC-IBSF World snooker championship flows into the business end Sunday. Although Saturday was designated as a rest day in the 10-day competition that attracted about 200 players from 60 countries, Friday nights postponed 7 pm session was played out this morning, leaving remainder of the day free.

November 20th, 2009 HYDERABAD - A rock concert in the neighbouring hall at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre caused the rescheduling of the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker championship as it would have unduely disturbed the players. The knock-out round matches scheduled for a 7 p.m.

November 19th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Some of the foreign players participating in the ongoing ONGC-IBSF World snooker championship here have been struck down by "Hyderabad belly", the latest being Thailand's Santhinee Jaisuekul who was admitted to a hospital Thursday afternoon, but was said to be recovering. Santhinee lost her match in the ladies section to Jaique Ip of Hong Kong 2-3.

November 18th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Pankaj Advani, the 24-year-old from Bangalore, lit up the rather damp day with two century breaks en route to a 4-1 win against Qatar's Ali Obaidly and qualify for the knock-out phase in the men's section at the 35th ONGC-IBSF World snooker championship here Wednesday. Title favourite Advani, the 2003 champion, was on a roll as he crafted a 100 in the third and 110 clearance in the fifth to take his tally of centuries to three in the current tournament while registering his fourth consecutive win.

November 18th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Alok Kumar continued his quiet and virtually unnoticed progress to the knock-out stage in the men's category as he wrapped up his fourth win in as many group matches of the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker championship here Wednesday. The 41-year-old five times national snooker champion and winner of the Asian title may not enjoy a high visibility or a profile that some of his contemporaries do, but his versatility has never been in doubt as could be gauged by the four national billiards title he has won.

November 14th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Andhra chief minister K. Rosaiah formally inaugurated the 35th IBSF world snooker tournament here Saturday at an hour-long function which was also attended by union Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni.

November 14th, 2009 HYDERABAD - The IBSF World Snooker Championship returns to India after 22 years as the 35th edition of the annual event commences here Sunday at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) where 20 spanking new tables are laid out in one hall. The 10-day cue sport extravaganza, that was last held in India at Bangalore in 1987, has fair representation from across the world, but the focus would be on the Indians among whom Pankaj Advani who had won the event in 2003, and billiards ace Geet Sethi, a finalist last year, are reckoned to be the best prospects to win titles in the Mens and Masters (Over 40) categories, respectively.

October 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - World Snooker Championship2009 logo was unveiled here on Monday. Reigning snooker world champion Pankaj Advani and veteran Geet Sethi graced the occasion.

September 15th, 2009 AGRA - World Champion Pankaj Advani is the star attraction in the 76th National snooker and billiards championship that got underway here Monday. Advani, Geet Sethi, Yasin Merchant, Aditya Mehta and Ashok Shandilya are among the more than 500 cueists participating in the tournament, the organisers said.

September 8th, 2009 BANGALORE - World Billiards champion Pankaj Advani arrived here on Tuesday morning after pulling off a surprise win over nine-time winner Mike Russell in the final of the world championships in Leeds, UK. On Sunday night, the 24-year-old Advani scripted a brilliant 2030-1253 win over Russell to win his maiden World Professional Billiards title at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

September 8th, 2009 BANGALORE - India's ace cueist Pankaj Advani Tuesday revealed his game-plan behind winning the World Professionals Championship by defeating title-holder Mike Russell of Qatar at Leeds. "My game-plan was to score heavily before Russell could get into the groove," a beaming Advani told reporters here on his return from London.

September 7th, 2009 LONDON - India's Pankaj Advani has won the world professional billiards title, stunning nine times champion Mike Russell 2030-1253 at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds. Advani, who also won the world amateur snooker championship in 2003 and two years later the world billiards title, Sunday became only the second Indian after Geet Sethi to win the World Professional Billiards title in its 139-year history.

September 7th, 2009 LONDON - India's Pankaj Advani won his maiden world professional billiards title when he vanquished defending champion Mike Russell 2030-1253 in a five-hour final at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds. Advani, who also won the world amateur snooker championship in 2003 and two years later the billiards title, Sunday became only the second Indian after Geet Sethi to win the World Professional Billiards title in its 139-year history.