Sourav Kothari defeated compatriot Pankaj Advani in a one-sided final to successfully defend his IBSF World Billiards Championship title in Carlow. The Kolkata cueist dominated the contest, beating the 19-time world champion Advani 1133-477 in a three-hour final that turned increasingly one-sided as the match progressed.
After a slow start, the 41-year-old found his rhythm and produced a series of remarkable breaks to overwhelm his opponent. His impressive contributions included runs of 485, 121, 90, 241, and an unfinished 155.
“I wanted to do it again for my father. This one was for you, Dad,” Kothari said after the victory, dedicating the title to his father, Manoj Kothari, who passed away earlier this year.
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“Obviously, it feels incredible to win the World title, and defending it makes it even more special,” he added. A stunning break of 485 in response to Advani’s early 141 proved to be a decisive turning point in the match. That effort, which ended with a missed red to the centre pocket, shifted momentum firmly in Kothari’s favour.
He followed it up with quick-fire breaks of 121 and 90, effectively taking control of the contest and leaving Advani struggling to keep pace. Trailing 224-700 with just over an hour remaining, the Bengaluru-based Advani managed a break of 64 but faltered soon after, rushing an in-off to the top left pocket.
Kothari capitalised on the error with a fluent 241 break, extending his lead to a commanding 941-288. Under pressure, Advani responded with a 119 break before missing a thin in-off to the centre pocket, narrowing the gap slightly.
However, Kothari remained in complete control and capped off his dominant performance with a smooth, unfinished 155 break before the final bell, sealing a comprehensive victory.
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