Advani To Make Decision On Future

Pankaj Advani will make a decision this week on whether to remain a professional snooker player.

Advani played on the World Snooker Tour in 2012/13 and 2013/14 and became the first Indian player to reach the quarter-finals of a world ranking event at the 2013 Welsh Open. The 29-year-old reached the same stage of the inaugural Indian Open last year, though he lost to eventual runner-up and World Games Gold Medalist Aditya Mehta.

The ace cueman, who has won multiple World Billiards titles, has not played on snooker’s pro circuit this season and must now decide whether to retain his WPBSA membership and play in the Indian Open, with the entry deadline on Wednesday September 10.

Alternatively he could resign his membership and attempt to gain a place in the tournament as a wild card, but would have to win through qualifying rounds in India. This route would also allow Advani to play in the IBSF World Amateur Championship in Bangalore in November.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “This is a huge decision for Pankaj. His resignation as a professional player would take away his World Snooker Tour place and remove him from the World Rankings. Along with fellow countrymen Aditya Mehta, Pankaj is a model pro and we have always been very proud of his participation. Whatever he decides, we all hope to see more of him in the future.”