Advani, Mehta up for fresh challenges
When Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta, the two Indian torchbearers on the green baize set off to compete in the demanding professional circuit yet again, they will need to be at their consistent best.
The two cueists face the challenging task of staying in the top-64 to avoid getting dropped for next season. The duo are not far off the mark with Mehta at 74 (13,920) and Advani at 75 (13,790) but the task has become difficult as for the first time ever — barring in just three tournaments — every player will participate in the first round including the top-64.
It allows new entrants to be aggressive right from the start. The rule change resulted in world no. 1 Mark Selby crashing out in the opening round of the Wuxi Classic qualifiers on just the first day of the new season. Advani too lost the plot after leading 4-1 against Ricky Walden.
“The second season is going to be very important. I had a great start last year but it now boils down to how you make it to the top-64,” said Advani, who became the first Indian player to reach the quarter-finals of a world-ranking event (the Welsh Open) last season. The Bengaluru cueist added that he had not set any particular goals.
“The season is always demanding for Asian players as you have to go there, get adjusted to travel and then play the world’s best. I am not looking to set any goals at this stage but having been there last season, I will look to do things in a certain way.”
He believed that being close to the top-64 early would be helpful. “We have the ability to make it into the 64. It is always good to be in the bracket early as you also play fewer qualification matches.”
Apart from the tour, the two will also travel to Columbia to take part in the World Games, an international multi-sport event, held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee for non-Olympic sports from July 25 to August 4. In a direct knockout format, 16 leading players will battle for the gold.
Reigning Asian champion Mehta, who recently a won bronze in the Asian Indoor Championship in China in singles snooker, said the World Games would provide another platform to showcase India’s growth in cue sports.
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