Pankaj Advani prepares for World Title defence; Stars in Myanmar Open from today

09 September 2019, Mandalay (Myanmar): India’s 21-time World Billiards and Snooker Champion, Pankaj Advani, will kick-start the business end of the cue sport season with the Myanmar Open on Monday. The three-day tournament is a prelude to the main event, the IBSF World Billiards Championship, both of which will be held here in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Pankaj will be on a mission to retain his Billiards World title after having won it last year. The Myanmar Open will be just what the doctor ordered to warm up and get acclimatized to the foreign playing conditions.

Billiards, a sport of endurance and millimeters, requiring hair’s breadth precision, will be on full display with the world’s best competing over the next one week. “This tournament leading up to the world championship is pivotal. Getting settled in and used to the conditions is what the Myanmar Open will help me with. I’m looking forward to a week of Billiards and excited to defend my world title,” said Advani ahead of the tournament.

Both the tournaments will be played in the short format of 150-up. This format requires the cueist to score 150 points before his opponent to win a frame. The matches will be ranging from a best-of-5 to 11, depending on the stage of the tournament.