Indian Sporting Heroes: What Makes Pankaj Advani World Champion in Snooker and Billiards?
There are some athletes who grace this sporting world are beyond exceptional, unfortunately less media coverage, non fans involvement makes their performance went unnoticed one such name in our Sporting arena is Pankaj Advani.
The man of few words, class personified have done so much for the world of Snooker, that his excellence should be celebrated by Indian Sporting Fans in time to come.
Here in this article we will dive deep into what makes Pankaj Advani the most special and World Champion player in the world of Snooker to be shared in the below format:
1. His unparalleled Achievements makes him an invincible player in the world of Snooker where he won 28 World Titles across various formats of Snooker and Billiards where you dissect in detail: 18 in Billiards and 10 in Snooker.
2. As of 2025, the ace player have clinched 36 National Titles, with his 10th championship win came in Yashwant club which reinstated his legendary status as player.
3. In 2003, At the age of 18 years, Advani attains a unique feat where he became youngest player to win IBSF World Snooker Championship which marked a significant milestone in Indian Cue sports.
4. .For his brilliant contribution in the sport of billiards and snooker he is awarded with India’s Prestigious award to be shared in the below format:
Arjuna Award in the year 2004
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2006
Padma Shri Award in 2009
Padma Bhushan in 2018
5. His versatility and consistency where he can play both games with ease make him standout players for sure.
6. His International success in both Billiards and Snookers makes him standout player for sure, massively placed on Global snooker map which should be cherished at all.
7. The man have been replicating success one after the other speaks a volume about the Kind of player he has been for India and the way he has renovated all those skills with time makes him another standout performer for sure.
8. His mental strength and fortitude is certainly one of the most talked about success factor in his sport where his ability to stay calm under pressure where he edge over his competitors when it was needed the most.
9. His prolonged success in Snooker and Billiard community is certainly most talked about thing in Sporting fraternity as he has maintained the same consistency, grit and determination right from playing this sport from 2000 to 2018.
10. He is more than just a player- where he teaches students, mentor them and speak on how we can make this sport more popular in India.
In other words he is perfect inspiration for next generation of cue players in the world.
Very few players in the world have won all five regional, national, world billiards tournaments in single season a feat which he achieved by winning Junior and Senior Championship.
In April 2012, Advani won Asian Billiards Championship held in Goa India.
Let’s decode his achievements and technicalities even further to be shared in the below format:
a- He has been champion in these style too: IBSF World Billiards Championships (point and time format)
IBSF World Snooker Championship
6 Red Snooker Tournament
Team Championships.
All these decisions in Indian cue sports is not easy to handle considering it is precision based sport.
b- He is the only cueist globally to win both formats which include: Billiards: Time and Point
Snooker- Standard, 6- Red and Team
This achievements speaks a volume about his technical and anticipation skills as they require different mental and physical skills sets.
c- Before Advani there were players including the likes of- Geeth Sethi. He brought new global respect for India at International level.
He has also competed and won in tournaments held in UK, Thailand and China.
d- He has been perfect brand ambassador for this sport where he keeps on advocating on issues, mentor young players in order to inspire next generation of players to take up this sport professionally.
e- He is making proper use of Social Media to promote this sport and explain the ecosystem surrounding this sport in detail so that many fans can take active involvement in It. As any Sport could be propelled to larger extent when there is a involvement of fans without their active interest you can’t take any sport reach at distinct scenarios.
f- His name should have been skyrocketed the same way, someone advocate about Sachin Tendulkar as the guy with his humble nature and ummatched consistency should be kept and talk in the same pinnacle especially what he has done for Indian Cue sports.
More Details about Pankaj Advani:
He was born on 24th July 1985 in Pune Maharastra India in a Sindhi Family.
He spent his initial years in Kuwait before he move to Bangalore India.
He completed his schooling and college from Bangalore.
He received training in Snooker, from Arvind Savur(Former National Snooker Champion)
His brother Dr Shree Advani is noted Sport and Performance Psychologist who introduced him to Coach Arvind when Pankaj was only 10 years old.
At the tender age of 11 years old, he won his first title and subsequently went on to break records at state and national levels.
In 2003 he became Junior Snooker and Billiards Champion.
at the age of 17 years old he became Senior Snooker Champion which made things easier for him.
His Competitive International debut came in the year 1999 world billiards Championship.
He also went on to win IBSF World Billiards Championship in the year 2005 at Qawra, Malta Europe.
He became the first to achieve “Grand Double” titles to win both Point and Time formats which makes him another star performer to watch out for sure.
He subsequently went on to win Three Grand double titles in the year- 2008 in Bangalore, 2014 in England and 2018 in Mynammar respectively.
Very few people would know this fact, Advani became first player to win 5 Asian Championship titles.
In 2012, Advani won his seventh World Billiard Championship title, in 2014 he went on to win World Team Billiards Championship title in Glasgow scotland along with Rupesh Shah.
On 2nd February 2017, Advani went on to lift his 29th National Championship title with this amazing victory he went on to establish his 39 unbeaten winning streak.
When it comes to his Snooker Career, he won IBSF World Snooker Championships, on 25th October 2003 in China.
At the tender age of 18 years old, he won title which makes him one of the best future players to watch out for sure.
He won IBSF- World-6 Red Snooker Championship in Egypt in 2015 in the same year he repeated the same feat when he successfully defended his title in Karachi Pakistan.
As a new player on the tour, he was suppose to win all 4 matches which he did it in style, he successfully went on to defeat Craig Steadman 6-1 and Steve Davis by 6-5(after trailing behind by 1-4).
At the 2013, Welsh Open he became the first Indian player to reach at the Quarter final stage of ranking event with a 4-1 win over Graeme Dott in the last 16 but he lost against Judd Trump by 2-5.
After his first snooker tour, he was ranked world number 74 which in itself talks about how fastly he stride on to the ladder of success.
Pankaj Adani is once in a generational player, and players like him needs to celebrated as they come once in every 10 year.
Advani impact is not limited to his performance only but it is extended beyond his tendency to absorb pressure, and inspire next generation of players to pick up this sport.
The man who is playing this sport from 25 days and still maintain to become equally good in both snookers and billiards should be cherished and celebrated for sure.
Pankaj Advani contribution in Indian sport is unparalleled and that should be celebrated at mammoth stage for sure.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q-1: How Many World Championship Title Pankaj Advani won so far?
Answer: 28
Q-2: Which year he is playing this sport professionally?
Answer: 2000
Q-3: What does Pankaj do apart from Playing this Cue Sport?
Answer: He mentor young players to develop interest in this sport
