Pankaj Advani interview - January 2016
Billiards Australia: How old were you when you first started playing? Where was the billiard room?
Pankaj: I was 10 years old when I took my first shot in the game. My older brother Shree Advani introduced me to the sport in a snooker parlour two blocks away from my house.
Billiards Australia: Did you start with billiards or snooker? (If snooker, how long until you began playing billiards)?
Pankaj: I started with snooker but the moment I went to the Karnataka State Billiards Association for formal coaching, I played both games at the basic level.
Billiards Australia: Who was your first coach (or who first showed you the basic billiard shots)?
Pankaj: Mr. Sunder Jairaj was my first coach. He taught me the basics of the game, worked on my technique and honed my billiards skills at the start of my career.
Billiards Australia: How long before you made your first 100 break at billiards? Do you still remember that day?
Pankaj: My first 100 break came in a tournament! I was 13 at that time and it was against a very senior player Sanjay Dugar. Yes, I clearly remember that day and how excited I was to score my maiden century.
Billiards Australia: When you were a young man improving, before you won your first major event, how many hours a week did you practice?
Pankaj: During school days, I would finish my homework and head to the club for 2-3 hours of practice. During holidays, I would be there from morning till late evening. 7-8 hours of snooker/billiards.
Billiards Australia: If you watch sport on TV (not billiards and snooker) – what do you watch?
Pankaj: Tennis. As I write to you, I'm extremely excited and looking forward to the Federer-Djokovic clash at the Australian Open tomorrow. Wish I could have watched it live!
Billiards Australia: As you probably know, you have a distinctive cue action. Over the years have coaches tried to get you to change it?
Pankaj: I have a cue action which I feel holds me in good stead in both snooker and billiards. It may seem unconventional to people but hey I'm comfy with it.
Billiards Australia: Do you still have a coach?
Pankaj: From the age of 12, Mr Arvind Savur has been my coach,philosopher and guide. If I have any doubts, whether they are tactical or technical, I go to his house where he coaches. He has never charged me a penny till date and treats me as his son.
Billiards Australia: How many different cues have you used in competition over the years?
Pankaj: I've had 3 cues so far in my career. I don't like switching cues too often.
Billiards Australia: Tell us about your current cue.
Pankaj: Currently using a Master Cue, Pro Butt, 56 inches which weighs 17 ounces. Ash. I use a 10mm ElkMaster tip.
Billiards Australia: Which of the formats do you prefer (150 up, long up, timed)? Why?
Pankaj: I prefer the time format as you get to make big breaks which billiards is all about. At the same time, if we want to popularise the game, I feel the 150/100 up format works better for television/spectators.
Billiards Australia: Do you think your time on the professional snooker tour has made you a better billiard player? If so, why, or in what way?
Pankaj: I feel there is never an end to learning and improving yourself. The stint on the snooker pro tour has made me feel like a more complete player, be it in snooker or billiards. In fact, many top players like John Higgins, Ricky Walden and Marco Fu felt that my billiards knowledge helped me a great deal on the Main Tour.
Billiards Australia: Of all the billiard players you have seen play, who do you admire the most and why?
Pankaj: I have seen and played against many great billiards players like Mike Russell, Geet Sethi, David Causier and Peter Gilchrist. Mike Russell has the best touch and scoring ability in the game and is a treat to watch.
Billiards Australia: Of leading players of other sports, who do you most admire and why?
Pankaj: Roger Federer. The epitome of 3G- grace, guile and greatness!
Billiards Australia: In the lead-up to a billiards world championship, what sort of practice routine do you have?
Pankaj: I do solo practice for a couple of hours and also play a 2 hour game with my sparring partner B Bhaskar.
Billiards Australia: The day you arrive at a tournament, to get the feel of the tables, do you like to have a set routine or are you happy to just knock the balls around with another player?
Pankaj: I prefer playing a game with another player to test the tables and get into tournament mode.
Billiards Australia: How did you enjoy your time in Australia in September? What did you think of the new venue? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about coming to Australia.
Pankaj: I had a great time in Adelaide in September as did all the other Indian players. The playing conditions were top-class though I wish there was more space for spectators. I love Australia. The Aussies are really warm, friendly and hospitable.
Billiards Australia: Do you think there is any particular weakness in your game – anything you would like to do better (technical or mental).
Pankaj: I wish I could make bigger breaks and possess better cue ball control. To achieve that, I need to attain a Zen type calmness and focus.
Billiards Australia: What is your proudest achievement in billiards?
Pankaj: My first double title (point and time format) at the IBSF World Billiards Championship (2005) in Malta at the age of 19. This was a year after I won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in China.
Billiards Australia: What is your next goal in billiards? More championships? A 1000 break in competition? Something else?
Pankaj: A 1000 break in competition would be really nice! I'm a constant work-in-progress.
Billiards Australia: Do you have a view on the recent split between IBSF and WBL? Is there an outcome you would like to see?
Pankaj: I hope the 2 World bodies reconcile their differences and work towards globalising billiards and having one official World Championship.
Billiards Australia: Any chance we will see you at the Australian Open billiards this year?
Pankaj: I might just make it for the Australian Open this year though there may be other international snooker tournaments at that time.
Pankaj: I was 10 years old when I took my first shot in the game. My older brother Shree Advani introduced me to the sport in a snooker parlour two blocks away from my house.
Billiards Australia: Did you start with billiards or snooker? (If snooker, how long until you began playing billiards)?
Pankaj: I started with snooker but the moment I went to the Karnataka State Billiards Association for formal coaching, I played both games at the basic level.
Billiards Australia: Who was your first coach (or who first showed you the basic billiard shots)?
Pankaj: Mr. Sunder Jairaj was my first coach. He taught me the basics of the game, worked on my technique and honed my billiards skills at the start of my career.
Billiards Australia: How long before you made your first 100 break at billiards? Do you still remember that day?
Pankaj: My first 100 break came in a tournament! I was 13 at that time and it was against a very senior player Sanjay Dugar. Yes, I clearly remember that day and how excited I was to score my maiden century.
Billiards Australia: When you were a young man improving, before you won your first major event, how many hours a week did you practice?
Pankaj: During school days, I would finish my homework and head to the club for 2-3 hours of practice. During holidays, I would be there from morning till late evening. 7-8 hours of snooker/billiards.
Billiards Australia: If you watch sport on TV (not billiards and snooker) – what do you watch?
Pankaj: Tennis. As I write to you, I'm extremely excited and looking forward to the Federer-Djokovic clash at the Australian Open tomorrow. Wish I could have watched it live!
Billiards Australia: As you probably know, you have a distinctive cue action. Over the years have coaches tried to get you to change it?
Pankaj: I have a cue action which I feel holds me in good stead in both snooker and billiards. It may seem unconventional to people but hey I'm comfy with it.
Billiards Australia: Do you still have a coach?
Pankaj: From the age of 12, Mr Arvind Savur has been my coach,philosopher and guide. If I have any doubts, whether they are tactical or technical, I go to his house where he coaches. He has never charged me a penny till date and treats me as his son.
Billiards Australia: How many different cues have you used in competition over the years?
Pankaj: I've had 3 cues so far in my career. I don't like switching cues too often.
Billiards Australia: Tell us about your current cue.
Pankaj: Currently using a Master Cue, Pro Butt, 56 inches which weighs 17 ounces. Ash. I use a 10mm ElkMaster tip.
Billiards Australia: Which of the formats do you prefer (150 up, long up, timed)? Why?
Pankaj: I prefer the time format as you get to make big breaks which billiards is all about. At the same time, if we want to popularise the game, I feel the 150/100 up format works better for television/spectators.
Billiards Australia: Do you think your time on the professional snooker tour has made you a better billiard player? If so, why, or in what way?
Pankaj: I feel there is never an end to learning and improving yourself. The stint on the snooker pro tour has made me feel like a more complete player, be it in snooker or billiards. In fact, many top players like John Higgins, Ricky Walden and Marco Fu felt that my billiards knowledge helped me a great deal on the Main Tour.
Billiards Australia: Of all the billiard players you have seen play, who do you admire the most and why?
Pankaj: I have seen and played against many great billiards players like Mike Russell, Geet Sethi, David Causier and Peter Gilchrist. Mike Russell has the best touch and scoring ability in the game and is a treat to watch.
Billiards Australia: Of leading players of other sports, who do you most admire and why?
Pankaj: Roger Federer. The epitome of 3G- grace, guile and greatness!
Billiards Australia: In the lead-up to a billiards world championship, what sort of practice routine do you have?
Pankaj: I do solo practice for a couple of hours and also play a 2 hour game with my sparring partner B Bhaskar.
Billiards Australia: The day you arrive at a tournament, to get the feel of the tables, do you like to have a set routine or are you happy to just knock the balls around with another player?
Pankaj: I prefer playing a game with another player to test the tables and get into tournament mode.
Billiards Australia: How did you enjoy your time in Australia in September? What did you think of the new venue? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about coming to Australia.
Pankaj: I had a great time in Adelaide in September as did all the other Indian players. The playing conditions were top-class though I wish there was more space for spectators. I love Australia. The Aussies are really warm, friendly and hospitable.
Billiards Australia: Do you think there is any particular weakness in your game – anything you would like to do better (technical or mental).
Pankaj: I wish I could make bigger breaks and possess better cue ball control. To achieve that, I need to attain a Zen type calmness and focus.
Billiards Australia: What is your proudest achievement in billiards?
Pankaj: My first double title (point and time format) at the IBSF World Billiards Championship (2005) in Malta at the age of 19. This was a year after I won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in China.
Billiards Australia: What is your next goal in billiards? More championships? A 1000 break in competition? Something else?
Pankaj: A 1000 break in competition would be really nice! I'm a constant work-in-progress.
Billiards Australia: Do you have a view on the recent split between IBSF and WBL? Is there an outcome you would like to see?
Pankaj: I hope the 2 World bodies reconcile their differences and work towards globalising billiards and having one official World Championship.
Billiards Australia: Any chance we will see you at the Australian Open billiards this year?
Pankaj: I might just make it for the Australian Open this year though there may be other international snooker tournaments at that time.