Pankaj Advani’s remarkable journey in billiards began when his elder brother introduced him to the sport. With innate talent, he quickly joined a coaching camp, honing his skills from a young age. His debut in a challenging handicap tournament led to an unexpected triumph, defeating his brother in an unforgettable final.
Recalling how his journey in billiards began, Pankaj Advani spoke exclusively to Bombay Times , saying, “My elder brother Shree was the one who introduced me to the game in 1995 and taught me how to play. And then, I was this 10-year-old who ended up beating my elder brother — the very person who had introduced me to the game and taught me how to play! After attending the camps, they too saw potential in me and offered us membership so that young players could use the facilities, practise and improve.
Soon after, a handicap tournament was announced – in this players who were not as experienced as the seniors or better players were given an advantage in terms of points.
Pankaj added, “Soon, we were told that there was some promise in my game and that I should join the coaching camp at the Karnataka State Billiards Association. He used to go with his friends after school, and I would keep wondering where he was going. One day, he asked me to come along and watch them play. A couple of weeks later, I mustered the courage to ask if I could play a shot. My very first shot went in, somehow, I just got it. And, as they say, the rest is history. With that membership, we started playing there. They entered the tournament just for fun, never imagining that they would turn out to be two giant-killers who would eventually meet in the final. “It was a dream debut tournament for both of us. It was such a memorable moment for both of us. I feel I just never stopped winning after that,” adds Pankaj.
What began with a curious 10-year-old asking to play a single shot would go on to become one of the most decorated careers in cue sports, with Advani continuing to set benchmarks for Indian billiards and inspire a new generation of players. In many ways, that tournament marked the beginning of Pankaj’s remarkable journey and his stamping of authority on the game.