Disappointed at losing a close wild card round contest 4-3 to talented rookie Rhys Clark from Scotland in the Indian Open World Ranking Snooker Tournament, national champion and former pro Pankaj Advani praised his opponent's technical skills.
"I am obviously disappointed to lose in the first round. If I had lost 4-0 or 4-1 I would not have been as disappointed, but I came close to winning. My opponent showed lot of composure and matched me in technical play (safety play)," said Advani who lost in the semi finals to compatriot Aditya Mehta in the first edition of the tournament in 2013 in Delhi.
"He is very talented and will be a good player on the pro snooker tour (when he joins it). He will beat some top players. I had to use all my experience to contain him I have no qualms in saying he was the better player yesterday," the Bengaluru cue ace told reporters today.
Advani fought his way back from 2-3 with a half century break to draw level 3-3 in the best-of-seven-frame wild card round contest to decide who would reach the main 64-player draw.
In the deciding seventh frame Advani was trailing his rival but once again came back by potting the black ball to level the score at 58-all before losing the shoot-off on the black ball as his rival sunk it with a double-up shot into the centre pocket.
The Indian champion lost 8-72, 73-29, 83(83)-0, 54-55, 75(75)-0, 8-72, 65-58.
Advani also felt that his year-long absence from the tour, which he quit after being part of it for two years, was the reason he could not control the cue ball as well as he wanted.
"I found it a bit difficult to control the white ball. Not playing in England for more than one year made the difference. Both of us doubled up with the black ball once each. It was the toss of the coin," he said.
Though all six Indian wild cards lost yesterday and failed to make the main draw of 64, Advani felt this time's display was better than in the first edition of the tournament in 2013.
"I thought we had done better this time as I, Dharminder Lily and Faisal Khan came close to winning our matches. But the field last time was better though here too there are several good players," he said.
