Pankaj Advani: Victorious and hungry for more

February has been a busy month for Pankaj Advani.

At Indore, he secured two national titles: his 36th title in Billiards and a 10th in Snooker. He then landed in Bengaluru, only to find that the airline had misplaced his coveted cue, a mere two days before his scheduled departure to Doha for the Asian Snooker Championships.

Undeterred, he got to Qatar, swept the competition and pocketed his third Asian Snooker title, all while sporting his trademark smile.

Having been on the competition circuit for over two decades and after having won innumerable titles, this writer couldn’t resist the temptation of asking how many of those triumphs he still recalled.

Advani is quick to reply - “Every single one of them.”

Keeping the flag flying

Having last won the Asian Snooker Championships in 2021, Advani is understandably elated.

“It feels great to lift an international title for India,” he tells The Bridge via telephone.

Representing the country has always been paramount for the Bengaluru-based professional.

So much so that when a fan on social media asked him if there was anything that he had not won yet, Advani’s response was cryptic – “The heart of all Indian fans.”

It was a subtle reminder for the sporting fraternity that he wasn’t done just yet.

In a country where the following for cue-sports pales in comparison to some of the other popular and obvious choices, Advani continues to keep the flag flying.

“I never play to make a statement,” he says, while issuing a reminder of just how hard it is to specialize in two forms of the game.

Billiards and snooker are different in more ways than one. The number of balls on the table aren’t the same and the scoring pattern varies as well.

So, what then is the recipe for Advani’s success and longevity?

Union of mind and body

Unlike other disciplines, cue sport is a game of fine margins where a millimeter is often the difference between a title won and lost.

And that is where Advani’s dedication to the craft comes to the fore.

“I analyze my game and my achievements,” he says.

In addition to technical practice on the table and studying the game itself, he works on his body as well.

Billiards and snooker games can sometimes last for a few hours and with players crouched over the table for the entire duration, success is dependent on the synchronization of mind and body.

“This morning, I went to the gym to activate my core and then my back,” he says.

And these are finer aspects of training, the behind-the-scenes moments that fans do not witness and are therefore oblivious to the efforts of a world champion.

Such preparation, however, is vital. After all, the game itself has evolved.

'Touch and finesse'

Like most sports, cue sport has had its fair share of transformation as well. In 2021, the Asian format was longer with a best-of-11 system. This has now turned into a best-of-7.

Additionally, the youngsters of today display a fearless outlook and predicting winners of the circuit is thus a tough ask.

“The game has become more attacking, and people are willing to take chances,” explains Advani.

And there is another element of the change to the sport – faster tables.

Back in the 70s and the 80s, the cloth on the table was a lot thicker and the balls a lot more different. Now, according to Advani, the cloth is thinner and the balls - bearing a crystal-like exterior - move rapidly on the table.

“Touch and finesse are now needed to succeed in the game today,” he adds.

Fortunately for Advani, these changes suit his game and with a wealth of experience behind him, he adapts with aplomb.

With the national title in the bag, a host of tournaments have now opened for the remainder of the year. This only means more training hours and several more on the road.

But the 39-year-old isn’t complaining one bit about the hard yards.

“I love doing this, so it doesn't feel like it,” he concludes.