Joshi downs IBSF Champion Rupesh Shah

Bangalore, Sep 1 (UNI) Defending Champion Rupesh Shah tasted a defeat, while world Billiards Champion Pankaj Advani clinched his berth in the pre-quarterfinals with a second successive win in the ONGC IBSF World Billiards Championship (Point Format) being played at the KSBA hall here today.

Shah, who had an easy win against Sri Lanka cueist S M Shaharwardi in the first round, failed to maintain the tempo and went down to former Asian champion Devender Joshi 3-1 in the second match. However, Shah's advance into last 16 as he is expected to put it across Dronacharya award winner Arvind Savur in the third and final league match tomorrow.

In the match that lasted more than 105 minutes Joshi had to sweat it out as Shah was not easy to give up. Joshi had break at 91 in the first frame and at 101 in the second, while Shah had break in the third frame at 83. Joshi defeated Shah 151-141, 151-74, 2-150, 150-2.

The 23 year-old Bangalore lad Pankaj, maintaining his superb touch, earned a straight win against Suriya Suwannasingh of Thailand 3-0 to take his pre-quarter final berth with two successive wins.

(Eds: pick up from earlier series).

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