Smooth sailing for Advani, Sethi, Merchant

Pankaj Advani and Geet Sethi hardly broke a sweat but compatriot Yasin Merchant had to toil for his win in the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Hyderabad.

In the men's round of 64 match, Advani virtually toyed with Bobby Cruickshanks of Scotland before carving out a facile 4-0 win.

Advani won the first three frames with consummate ease before his opponent put up an improved show but it was too little, too late as the Indian wrapped up the issue 102-08, 74-27, 50-37, 59-56.

In the Master's section, Geet Sethi blanked compatriot Kamaraj 4-0 in the round of 32 match. Sethi's wealth of huge experience stood him in good stead as the cueist thumped Kamaraj 66-16, 68-1, 64-6, 52-42.

In the men's section, Yasin Merchant, however, found going tough against New Zealander Chris Maltby even though the Indian eventually prevailed 4-3.

Mechant won the first two frames before losing the third. He pocketed the next to go 3-1 up but Maltby clinched the next to reduce the margin.

Merchant raised his game in the seventh frame and sealed it to clinch the match 98-21, 66-45, 30-54, 68-26, 54-66, 16-51, 67-25.