Shandilya upsets Grech in quarter-finals

Joe Grech's run in the World Billiards Championship Time Format came to an end yesterday when the veteran Maltese player lost in the quarter-finals to India's Ashok Shandilya 931-874 at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, Qawra.

Grech, who had reached the last eight with a convincing 1,314-615 win over Freddie Soh of Singapore on Friday evening, seemed well on course to advance to the last four stage when establishing a seemingly-assuring 632-287 lead.

Shandilya hit back strongly, firing a series of century breaks to pull the game level on 824-all with just under 20 minutes left. It was anyone's game now but Shandilya pocketed a decisive half-century break to book his place in last night's semi-finals.

Shandilya's opponent was his compatriot Pankaj Advani, winner of the 150 Up World Championship held in Qawra last week, who beat Robby Foldvari of Australia 1,111-544. The other semi-final was played between two other Indian players Geeth Sethi and Devendra Joshi who eliminated Alok Kumar (India) and Matthew Bolton (Australia) respectively.