World Snooker Championship qualifiers: Advani, Mehta in third round

Sheffield: India’s Pankaj Advani came up with a typical late fightback to snatch a dramatic 10-9 win over Chinese Li Hang and join compatriot Aditya Mehta in the third round of the Professional World Snooker Championship qualifying tournament here. The 28-year-old won five of the last six frames Friday to oust Hang and set up a third round clash with Robbie Williams, the winner of which will advance to the 32-man main draw which will be played at the Crucible. [caption id=“attachment_1477567” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Pankaj Advani. PTI[/caption] Bangalore’s Advani survived Hang’s early assault that saw the Chinese put in breaks of 63, 116, 67, 52, 120, 61 and 85 to lead 8-5 in the best-of-19 frames encounter. Facing certain defeat, Advani kept his composure under tremendous pressure and clawed his way back by winning three frames on the trot to make it 8-all. Hang, however, took the 19th frame for a 9-8 lead but Advani scrambled home, pouching the 18th and 19th frames. Earlier, Mumbai-based 28-year-old Mehta, aided by breaks of 53, 70, 81 and 72, defeated Christopher Keogan 10-4 and will clash with Jamie Jones for a main draw berth. IANS