Pankaj Advani has been crowned World Billiards Champion after defeating England’s Robert Hall 1,906-1,206 in the final at Landywood Snooker Club.
The 41-year-old Indian star returned to the top of the world game for the first time since 2014, completing an outstanding week which included ending defending champion David Causier’s remarkable unbeaten run in the competition.
A world-class 60-player field assembled at Landywood, featuring six former World Champions and all of the world’s top 10 players, but it was Advani who emerged victorious to once again lift one of the most prestigious trophies in cue sports.
Advani Makes Perfect Start
Advani began his campaign in impressive fashion, progressing through the group stage with a perfect record to secure his place in the knockout rounds.
His title challenge was given a major test in the last 16 by Northern Ireland’s Christian Kirk.
Kirk produced a top break of 200 during their 150-minute encounter, but Advani held his nerve to edge through by just 15 points.
The Indian then produced a much more commanding performance against compatriot Sourav Kothari, recording a 1,134-575 victory to reach the semi-finals.
That set up one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the championship against defending champion David Causier.
Advani Ends Causier’s Unbeaten Run
Causier arrived at the semi-final having not lost a match at the World Billiards Championship since his defeat to Peter Gilchrist in the 2023 final.
Advani, however, made his intentions clear early in the contest.
An outstanding break of 285 gave him the platform to take control, and he went on to secure a 1,607-1,271 victory to end Causier’s reign and book his place in the final.
Waiting for him was Robert Hall, who was chasing the biggest title of his career.
Hall Reaches Second World Final in Three Years
Hall secured his second World Billiards Championship final appearance in three years following a 1,029-887 semi-final victory over former World Champion Peter Gilchrist.
The Englishman carried that form into the five-hour final and made the stronger start.
At the halfway stage, Hall held a 773-667 advantage, putting himself in an excellent position to challenge for his maiden world crown.
But the momentum of the match was about to change dramatically.
Advani Takes Control
Advani produced a superb response during the second half of the final.
Over the following 90 minutes, the Indian turned a 106-point deficit into an advantage of more than 350 points as he began to take control of the contest.
With the title moving within reach, Advani refused to allow Hall an opportunity to mount a comeback.
He eventually completed a comprehensive 1,906-1,206 victory, sealing his return to the top of World Billiards.
The triumph came 12 years after Advani last lifted the title in 2014 – when, remarkably, Robert Hall was also his opponent in the final.
Back on Top of the World
Advani’s victory completes a memorable championship and once again underlines his status as one of the outstanding figures in international cue sports.
Having survived a huge test against Kirk, defeated compatriot Kothari and ended Causier’s long unbeaten run before overcoming Hall in the final, the Indian produced when it mattered throughout the knockout stages.
Hall can also reflect on another excellent World Championship campaign, reaching the final for the second time in three years and coming within one victory of securing his first world crown.
For Advani, however, the wait is over.
Twelve years after his previous triumph, Pankaj Advani is once again the World Billiards Champion.
Congratulations to Pankaj on an outstanding achievement and to all of the players who contributed to a fantastic championship at Landywood Snooker Club.
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