BANGALORE: Fifty years after India won its first World billiards championship title (IBSF) through the late Wilson Jones, podium finishes by Indian cueists have become a routine affair. Pankaj Advani added yet another title when he pocketed the Australian Open billiards (points format - 150 up) championship at Melbourne on June 29.

On his return to Bangalore the Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) felicitated and honoured him with a ‘Honorary Membership', the youngest player to be thus accorded.

Pankaj overcame two Australians — Steve Mifsud 4-0 in the quarterfinals and Mathew Bolton 5-4 in the semifinals before accounting for fellow countryman Dhruv Sitwala in the final rather easily at 6-1.

"In the best of 11 frames and more so in the points format it was necessary to start well… and finish quickly. Though Dhruv made it 1-1, I switched gears and cruised through in the next five frames to win rather comfortably," said Advani.

He now heads to Leeds later this month for a shot at the World billiards title to be held from July 23 to 27.

Incidentally, the Indians have won 19 World billiards championship titles in the men's section and three in the women's; besides two world snooker; five Asian billiards, three Asian snooker; along with four gold, four silver, four bronze in the past 50 years since Jones's maiden triumph.