Pankaj Advani of India faced stiff competition against Pauk Sa of Myanmar in the semi-final match for the Asian Billiards Championship 2022 here in Doha, Qatar. Despite being an underachiever, Pauk Sa had cleared his intentions that it is not going to be an easy walk for Pankaj to the final. In the first game Pankaj missed after scoring 18 points, Pauk Sa imposed a well-crafted break of 71 points. Though Pankaj secured the first game having a counter break of 82 points. In the second game, Pankaj sent a century break to obtain a 2-0 lead. He was moving ahead with 30 points in the third frame when Pauk Sa took all control and crafted a break of 70 points and then in next visit the balance points to cut the deficit. That win had put him in a commanding position and in the next game, he made an uninterrupted century break to level the match. However, Pankaj countered him with the break of 101 to lead but Pauk Sa made another strong comeback but before he could level again, he missed on 97 and Pankaj recovered to obtain a 4-2 lead. In the next two games, Pauk Sa made decent breaks of 61 and 67 points to level the match to pull Pankaj into the decider. The deciding game was a crucial one for Pankaj when Pauk Sa was in all control but when he missed after 48 points, Pankaj showed his class and returned with an uninterrupted break of 100 points to secure his final berth for the Asian Billiards 2022. On the next TV table, the other high profile semi-final was on between two-time Asian champion Dhruv Sitwala from India and former World Champion Praput Chaithanasukan from Thailand. Both the experience players of Billiards sport gave a tough fight to each other till the last moments of play.
Praput broke the game by crafting a break of 81 and winning the first game. Instantly, Dhruv replied to him with a break of 97 points and thereafter both countered each other to secure alternate frames and stepped into the decider.
The decider had made both nervous. In those tense moments, Dhruv initiated and made the first break of 64 points when he went out of position. Although Praput got a couple of chances he failed to capitalize them and Dhruv continued with the small addition of points during his visits to finally reach the position where he potted the yellow to see his compatriot Pankaj Advani in the final.
