BENGALURU: After failing to go beyond the semifinals in the last two IBSF World Billiards Championships, National champion Sourav Kothari had the best chance to convert it to gold in Bengaluru. But it was not meant for the 32-yearold.
He succumbed to a 617-1500 defeat in the long-up format to defending champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore at the Karnataka State Billiards Association here on Thursday. Sourav entered his first World Billiard final with a comprehensive 1250-816 victory over Dhvaj Haria in the semifinals, after upsetting tournament favourite Pank a j Adv ani in the quarterfinals.
After slipping up in the previous edition, Kothari wanted to make the most of it. According to his father and the National coach Manoj Kothari, he needed to focus on either billiards or snooker that he failed to do so far. “I told him if he wants to play billiards, he has to play the game more. Both snooker and billiards cannot be played together. To win a World Championship, I told him to play billiards more. He is still in the process,” said Manoj.
krishnendu@newindianexpress.com