Leeds:
It was his maiden appearance in World Professional Championship finals but Indian billiards player Dhruv Sitwala reckons defeating legendary cueist and compatriot Geet Sethi in the semifinals as more satisfying than reaching the summit clash.
Sitwala, who made it to the finals of the World Pro championship for the first time in his career, said the five-day-long event has helped him to develop into more "mature, complete and pressure-seeking competitor".
"Defeating defending champion Pankaj Advani in the quarterfinal was great achievement for me but I would rather like to conclude that pipping legendary Geet Sethi by just one point in the semifinal was the most memorable and celebrated moment for me in the event," Sitwala, who lost in the final to nine-time champion Mike Russell of Qatar, said.
"It was a major victory for me. I was just praying that the final bell rings because the match was going neck and neck. Both victories will always remain with me as they have helped me develop as more mature player and bring more positivity in my approach," Sitwala, the 2007 IBSF World Billiards runner-up, said.
In the semifinal between nine-time World Billiards champion Sethi and Mumbaikar Sitwala, played at the Northern Snooker Centre here, a massive miscalculation in the end moments of the game cost Sethi the match by a solitary point 980-979, when it could easily have been a tie.
Sitwala had registered a hard fought 723-608 victory over Advani in the last-eight stage of the event on October 30.
On the final match against Russell, where he lost 1204-1738, Sitwala said the century break of 450 constructed by the nine-time Pro Championship winner put paid to his chances of succeeding against the green baize maestro.
"I am disappointed at failing to clinch my maiden World Pro title but at the same time feeling good the way I carried my form throughout the tournament. Russell played really well and helped his cause with some quick century breaks. He is one of the toughest opponent to beat.
"I constructed four century breaks against Russell, including one accounting for 281 but that did not help me in the end," said Sitwala.
Commenting on his performance at the tournament, the Mumbaikar said, "I am fortunate to reach the finals of the event where the line-up comprises of Pankaj, Geet, Russell and Gilchrist. I had lost my first match of the championship to compatriot Ashok Shandilya but managed to win all other group matches. Happy to reach the finals," he summarised.