Advani, Chandra bow out

Manan Chandra's joy of making it to the quarter-finals of the 21st Asian Snooker Championships was short-lived as he lost to China's Jin Long in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday.

Chandra, who had overcome the challenge of eighth seed Chan Kwok Ming of Hong Kong to emerge the only Indian to reach the quarter-finals, went down to the talented Jin Long, the runner-up in 2001, 5-3 in an evening match.

Chandra lost 97-13, 41-54, 43-101, 50-72, 74-31, 16-66, 135-0, 0-137.

Earlier in the day, last year's finalist and second seeded Pankaj Advani's dream of capturing the only title missing in his profile was dashed when he was knocked out in the pre-quarter-finals.

Advani, a former world champion, was upset by fourth seed Mohammad Saleh of Pakistan 3-4.

The Indian ace, who faired reasonably well in the group stage apart from a shock defeat against local rookie Pramual Janthad on the second day, was expecting a quarter-final berth by maintaining his all-win record against Saleh.

The 20-year-old Advani conceded first frame 58-66 but roared back to win the next two frames 64-3, 85-23. The Indian's tendency to miss out on points cost him dearly as the seasoned Pakistani responded by clinching the fourth and fifth frames, 72-31 and 85-5.

The battle intensified in the sixth frame when Advani levelled the score at 3-3 edging out Saleh, a former world champion, by a whisker 65-63 and reviving his hopes of advancing to next round. But he lost the affair in the last of the best-of-seven frames match, going down 33-68.

Manan Chandra, however, proved to be the dark horse as he defeated eighth seed Chan Kwok Ming of China Hong Kong 4-3 to enter the quarter-finals.

The talented Indian, who is seeded 12th, stunned his opponent winning the first two frames 65-8, 77-71. He lost the third frame 60-64 but bounced back to take the next 67-6. After giving away his lead with poor scores of 7-68 and 24-71, the 24-year-old Indian sealed the match by winning the next 74-52.

Chandra, who is yet to win an international title, next faces a tough challenge in Jin Long of China, who defeated local hero Nittiwat Kanjanasri, in the first match tomorrow for a berth in the semis.

Defending champion and top seed Alok Kumar crashed out in the group phase earlier.