Aditya Mehta, Pankaj Advani confirm participation in CCI Open Snooker

The biggest guns in Indian snooker, Aditya Mehta, and Pankaj Advani, have confirmed their participation in the ₹12.25 lakh prize-money CCI Open Snooker Championship 2018, which is scheduled to commence at the CCI’s Wilson Jones Billiards Room, from February 1, 2018. The tournament termed as ‘The Clash of Tytans’ offers the highest prize-money event in the country.

The top eight ranked Indians, including newly crowned National champion Sumit Talwar of Chandigarh and runner-up Malkeet Singh of Railways, and eight other leading cueists, who will receive wild cards, will be the star attractions and the main challengers for the winners’ top prize of ₹2 lakh. 

The other major names include veteran cueists Yasin Merchant, a former two-time Asian Snooker Champion and Sonic Multani, a former National Champion who has also played on the pro circuit for a couple of years before taking time out from the sport.

The Mumbai-based cueist Aditya Mehta, who is currently playing on the professional circuit, will return to the city to specially participate in this event. Advani, the recent recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and a multiple champion in snooker and billiards at the Nationals, World and Asian championships, will be a major contender to emerge champion.

The runner-up will be richer by ₹1.30 lakhs, the losing semi-finalists will receive ₹75,000 each, and the losing quarter-finalists will get ₹40,000 each. Players reaching the round of 16 and round of 32 would also receive cash prizes of ₹25,000 and ₹12,000 each respectively. To bring out the best from the players and ensure some absorbing contests, the organising committee has decided to offer a special cash award of ₹1.47 lakh for the maximum 147 break compiled during the tournament. Meanwhile, a cash award of ₹25,000 is at stake for the highest break, the qualification is a break of 130 and over.

With the cream of Indian players, including a galaxy of stars, cue sports aficionados can look forward to some fascinating and exciting competition throughout the entire duration of the tournament.