Asked about being the only Indian in the elite top-32

stages, Pankaj said, "I'm glad to have contributed to making a representation of our country in the main event. It just reconfirms our prominence in global professional snooker and wins like these will hopefully get sponsors for its performers as well as a pro event to India soon." Advani gave the ongoing national billiards and snooker championship a miss for the first time in his 15-year long career to focus on the professsional snooker tour. Advani may have missed the nationals this year but he will get a direct entry into the Asian and the World billiards championship as the defending champion. Pankaj will now head to the main venue in Newport, Wales which begins tomorrow.