Umadevi clinches world billiards title

BANGALORE: Revanna Umadevi defeated seven-time champion Emma Bonney of England 201-143 (31) to win the WLBSA world billiards title at the Cambridge Snooker Centre.

Karnataka’s Umadevi, 47, who had won the senior snooker title defeating world No 13 Eva Palmius 2-0 in the Seniors final but lost the Plate final 0-3, it was double delight for the national champion.

“I beat all my opponents in the round robin league. The top four made the semis and I, unfortunately, had to clash with Chitra (Magimairaj). I won and met and beat Emma in the final,” Uma, who was on her way to Heathrow to board her flight back to Bangalore, said. “I’m feeling so excited, I don’t even remember the scores,” she added.

“I am absolutely delighted to have won my first world title.

I was really very nervous going into the final as I was playing Emma, the 7-time world champion. But once the match started, I forgot about everything and concentrated on my game and was able to win it,” said Uma, who is employed with the state government’s Horticulture Department.

“This was my 3rd world championships.

I was determined to do well and after I won the senior snooker event, my confidence was really boosted.

Yet, playing Emma in the billiards final is an entirely different prospect. I potted consistently all along and that in the end helped me to build up useful breaks which enabled me to triumph. The final was played over one hour while all other matches were about 45-minutes,” Uma added.