Pankaj Advani fears me: Andrew Pagett

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Kings icon player Andrew Pagett gave a pleasant surprise to home fans by outclassing 16-time Billiards and Snooker World champion Pankaj Advani on the inaugural day of the Indian Cue Masters League (Cue Slam) on Saturday.

But Pagett wasn’t surprised with his win and revealed he was a huge favourite going into the clash against Advani of Chennai Strikers.

“We are both professionals of same age and grew up together. I played him many times but never lost. I was a massive favourite going into the match. I had beaten him 7-2 in the semi-final of Amateur World Championship last November.
“He has never beaten me and he fears me. He is in my pocket and I am not going to let him go,” he said to this newspaper on Sunday.

The 35-year-old revealed he loves mind games and bringing something extra on the table. “It is brilliant, I love playing mind games with Pankaj all the time. People treat snooker seriously but when you get this type of format you got to enjoy it and get the crowd going. It is a new concept and if you are boring it won’t take off. It was a perfect start for whole event you need people like me to get the crowd going. I just think it is going be great success,” he added.
The Welshman is looking forward to play each game in Cue Slam.

“I want to play every game and get the crowd going by punishing my opponents. I want to beat every single person I play. They will be worried more about playing me than I will be about playing them. I hope that positivity rubs off on my teammates as well,” he said.

Pagett who may next be seen in action in the Amateur World Championship in November wants to return to professional field. “I was at the professional circuit for 10 years but I gave up because of travelling. Now I seem to be doing more travelling.

“I am thinking going back to professional circuit in about two years time, accept that travelling is going to be part of my life and have another crack,” revealed Pagett.