Ludhiana, Apr 4 (PTI) Ace cueist Pankaj Advani played the big points well under pressure to edge out a fighting Pushpender Singh for a memorable double in his maiden pool Nationals here on Saturday.
In the men’s final of the 10-ball pool event, PSPB’s Advani scored a come-from-behind 11-9 win over his RSPB rival.
Later, fellow Bengalurean Chitra Magimairaj rallied splendidly to overcome Neena Praveen of Tamil Nadu 6-4 in the women’s final to complete an impressive double.
The men’s final was a match of small margins. Although Pushpender got off the blocks in a rousing manner, Advani, who annexed the 9-ball title a few days ago, fought back in splendid fashion to draw level at 3-3 in the race-to-11 affair.
The title clash turned decisively in favour of Advani in the 16th rack.
Pushpender seemed on course to make a break, but missed a regulation pot of No. 8 to let Advani draw level.
Advani punished another error from Pushpender in the next rack to go up for the first time in the final at 9-8. A poor Pushpender break in the 18th rack allowed Advani to go up 10-8.
Pushpender then made a brilliant rack and run when Advani failed to pot a ball off his break in the next. In the 20th rack, the RSPB cueist made a couple of brilliant recovery shots before he snookered himself after taking No. 7 to the bottom right-hand pocket.
Advani then potted the remaining balls to walk away with the title.
In the women’s final, Chitra took a 5-3 lead in the race-to-6 title clash.
Neena reduced the margin by taking the ninth, and the Chennai cueist looked set to draw level.
But she missed a simple No. 8 pot to the centre pocket and covered her race in disappointment at frittering away a chance to take the match to the decider.
The composed Chitra closed out the rack and match without much ado. PTI UNG APS APS
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