BILLIARDS
Multiple-time world champion Pankaj Advani advanced to the final of the WBL World Matchplay Billiards Championship with a 7-5 victory over compatriot Shrikrishna Suri here on Thursday.
Advani, a 28-time world billiards and snooker champion, showcased his class and composure on way to a 100-0, 100-0, 100-6, 47-100, 100-4, 64-100, 81-100, 100-11, 12-100, 8-100, 100-7, 100-0 win over Suri in the semifinal.
He will meet David Causier of England in a best-of-15 final.
Starting strong with a 4-1 in the best-of-13 game semifinal, Advani looked like he was going to run away with the penultimate match of the world championship but the young Suri of Chennai made a spirited comeback to level the match at 5-5.
This is where the experience and mental resilience of Advani kicked in as he finished off the 100-up format semifinal with unfinished breaks of 91 and 93 respectively.
While Advani has had Causier’s number in recent times, including scoring a mammoth 800 break in last year’s CCI Invitational Billiards Tournament time format, the 100-up format is anybody’s game.
-PTI
TENNIS
Monte Carlo Masters: Bopanna-Shelton pair bows out in quarterfinal
Rohan Bopanna in partnership with Ben Shelton was beaten 6-2, 4-6, [10-7] by wild card entrants Romain Arneodo and Manuel Guinard in the doubles quarterfinals of the €6,128,940 ATP tennis tournament in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The Indo-American pair collected 180 ATP points and €47,810.
The results:
€6,128,940 ATP, Monte Carlo, Monaco Doubles (quarterfinals): Romain Arneodo (Mon) & Manuel Guinard (Fra) bt Rohan Bopanna & Ben Shelton (USA) 6-2, 4-6, [10-7].
$200,000 Challenger, Mexico Doubles (quarterfinals): Sriram Balaji & Miguel Reyes-Varela (Mex) bt Neil Oberleitner (Aut) & Matias Soto (Chi) 3-6, 6-3, [11-9]; Ryan Seggerman & Patrik Trhac (USA) bt Nicolas Barrientos (Col) & Rithvik Bollipalli 6-4, 7-6(5).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
India beats Pakistan in Asia-Oceania World Junior Tennis under-14 boys championship
India beat Pakistan 3-0 in its last league match of the Asia-Oceania World Junior Tennis under-14 boys championship in Kuching, Malaysia, on Friday.
Since India had earlier lost its matches against Korea and Australia, it failed to make the quarterfinals. India will play Singapore in the positional play-off match for the 9th to 16th places.
Korea, China, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Australia and Hong Kong qualified for the quarterfinals.
The results (league):
India bt Pakistan 3-0 (Kaustubh Singh bt Rashid Ali 6-0, 6-3; Paranjay Siwach bt Shayan Muhammad 6-3, 6-2; Viraj Choudhary & Kaustubh bt Rashid & Razik Sultan 6-2, 6-3).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
FOOTBALL
Jharkhand cruises to 3-0 win over Karnataka in DSC Football 2025 girls’ National Finals
Jharkhand was on a roll against Karnataka and continued its goal-scoring form as it clinched a 3-0 win in the Dream Sports Championship Football 2025 girls’ National Finals on Friday.
Anamika Sanga opened the scoring for Jharkhand with an early strike in the eighth minute. Later, Sanjna Oraon and Rashmi Minz got their names on the scoresheet as well in the second half.
In the morning’s second fixture, Assam made a solid comeback against Goa after conceding in the first half. Pearl Fernandes handed Goa a lead in the 39th minute. But Assam scored the equalizer after Karina Narah netted one in the 54th minute. The side then took the lead in the 71st minute, courtesy a strike from the skipper Rupi Barla to eventually win the match.
-Team Sportstar
E-SPORTS
S8UL, a global force in esports and gaming content, has officially announced its entry into Apex Legends with a new competitive roster. S8UL becomes one of the first Indian organisations to step into Apex Legends on the international stage.
Leading this charge is an all-Australian lineup, known for its impressive track record and proven success in global esports tournaments.
At the forefront of the lineup is Rick ‘Sharky’ Wirth, one of the most accomplished players in the Apex Legends scene. He gained international recognition after winning the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS): 2022 Championship with DarkZero Esports.
Joining Sharky are Benjamin ‘Jesko’ Spaseski and Tom ‘Legacy’ Canty, who previously played together under London-based Guild Esports. The duo has competed in several major tournaments, including the ALGS: 2024 Championship, and were part of the top 10 finishers at last year’s EWC.
Harrison ‘Rogers’ Rogers will serve as the team’s coach, bringing in his tactical expertise and strategic direction to guide this world-class lineup.
-Team Sportstar
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com