Pankaj Advani, Snooker and Billiards Player
Snooker and Billiards Player

Pankaj Advani

Born 24 July 1985 · Maharashtra

Winning 27 IBSF world championships in billiards and snooker.

Pankaj Arjan Advani is an Indian billiards and professional snooker player. He is a 27-time International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world champion. He has won 20 billiards world titles, the IBSF World Billiards Championship on 17 occasions and the World Team Billiards Championship once. In snooker, he won the IBSF World Snooker Championship three times, IBSF World six-red championship twice and the IBSF World Team Cup and IBSF World Team Championship one time each.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

In 2014, Pankaj Advani set a world record by winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship 'Grand Double' (both time and points formats) for the third time, a feat unmatched in cue sports history.

The Story

1
🎱 In 2003, at the tender age of 17, Pankaj Advani won his first World Title, setting the stage for a career that would rack up 27 IBSF world championships across snooker and billiards.
2
🌍 Advani achieved the 'Grand Double' in 2005 at Qawra, Malta by winning both the time and point formats of the IBSF World Billiards Championship, a feat he later repeated in 2008 in Bangalore and 2014 in Leeds, UK.
3🏆 By 2018, he had claimed 20 billiards world titles and 7 snooker world titles, including 3 IBSF World Snooker Championships and 2 IBSF World six-red championships, marking him as a dominant force in cue sports.
4In 2012, Pankaj became the only person globally to compete professionally in both snooker and billiards, a rare dual pursuit that highlighted his versatile mastery over cue sports.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2009
Padma Shri
2018
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2005, Advani became the first cueist to win both the time and point formats of the IBSF World Billiards Championship in the same year, a milestone known as the 'Grand Double'.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Pankaj Advani in New Delhi (2006).
The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Pankaj Advani in New Delhi (2006).
2006
Pankaj Advani competing at the Paul Hunter Classic snooker tournament (2012).
Pankaj Advani calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi (2015).
Pankaj Advani meeting Minister Vijay Goel in New Delhi during a sports event (2017).
The President Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Pankaj Advani in New Delhi (2018).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Pune, Maharashtra
Pankaj Advani was born in Pune, Maharashtra, India, setting the geographic starting point of his journey in cue sports.
1985
⚡
Career
International debut at World Billiards
Advani made his international competitive debut at the World Billiards Championship held in England.
1999
⚡
Career
First World Title at 17
At age 17, Pankaj won his first World Championship title, marking his emergence on the global cue sports scene.
2003
⚡
Career
Grand Double win in Malta
Advani won both the time and point formats of the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Qawra, Malta, a landmark 'Grand Double' achievement.
2005
🏅
Award
Asian Games Gold in Doha
He claimed the gold medal in English billiards singles at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
2006
🏅
Award
Asian Games Gold in Guangzhou
Advani won another gold medal in English billiards singles at the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou.
2010
⚡
Career
Turns professional in both sports
Pankaj became the only player globally to compete professionally in both snooker and billiards starting the 2012/2013 season.
2012
⚡
Career
Third Grand Double in Leeds
He set a world record by winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship Grand Double for the third time in Leeds, UK.
2014
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Pankaj Advani began playing billiards at age 10 after observing his older brother for three weeks straight, practicing his first successful shot which fueled his passion for the game.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Advani won gold medals in English billiards singles at two separate Asian Games: 2006 in Doha and 2010 in Guangzhou.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 2011, the World Economic Forum recognized Advani as a Global Shaper, highlighting his influence beyond sports.

No quote recorded for Pankaj Advani yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Travelling With The Pros - THE PRODIGY (Pankaj Advani - About Damascus & World Championship)
More from this archive
Travelling With The Pros - THE PRODIGY (Pankaj Advani - About Damascus & World Championship)
01
Travelling With The Pros - THE PRODIGY (Pankaj Advani - About Damascus & World Championship)
Celebrity Speak: Pankaj Advani
02
Celebrity Speak: Pankaj Advani
Padma Award Has to Be Earned, Says Pankaj Advani - TOI
03
Padma Award Has to Be Earned, Says Pankaj Advani - TOI
Nao Niyapo one & only Snooker & billiard champion Pankaj Advani interview by Veena Shringi
04
Nao Niyapo one & only Snooker & billiard champion Pankaj Advani interview by Veena Shringi
Pankaj Advani wins World Billiard Championship
05
Pankaj Advani wins World Billiard Championship
Chitter Chatter With Pankaj Advani
06
Chitter Chatter With Pankaj Advani
Pankaj advani - mb.Inspired! Series powered by Young Turks
07
Pankaj advani - mb.Inspired! Series powered by Young Turks
Pankaj Advani Relives World 6-Red Snooker Triumph
08
Pankaj Advani Relives World 6-Red Snooker Triumph
Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani has ambitions of making a movie - Sixer
09
Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani has ambitions of making a movie - Sixer
Pankaj Advani
10
Pankaj Advani

🌱 What changed because of them

Pankaj Advani’s multiple world titles and pioneering 'Grand Double' victories elevated the profile of Indian cue sports on the global stage, inspiring national sports bodies to recognize billiards and snooker more seriously. His success helped secure prestigious awards like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Bhushan, encouraging wider institutional support and youth participation in these niche sports.

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