Mumbai, Oct 17 (NationPress) Encountering defeat at the final stage on four occasions could leave many feeling utterly disheartened, perhaps even thinking 'maybe it’s just not in my fate'. However, athletes typically have a different mindset and continue to strive for success.

In the latest World Billiards Championship, Sitwala faced his fourth disappointment last Thursday, yet he remains passionate about the journey of preparation and competition, eagerly anticipating the challenge at the upcoming World Billiards Championship in Cairo in April 2026.

Having narrowly edged past Martin Goodwill in the quarterfinals and decisively defeating Darren Clark with a lead of over 1,000 points in the semifinals, India’s Dhruv Sitwala felt confident heading into the final against England’s David Causier, held at the Landywood Snooker Club in Walsall, England.

As a former champion of the Auckland Open and New Zealand Open, Sitwala arrived prepared and motivated to win the title, having previously fallen short in 2007, 2010, and 2016. Aware that age was becoming a factor, he recognized that reaching the final again in 2025 was a significant opportunity.

Unfortunately, the three-time Asian billiards champion faced a tough loss against the dominant Causier, the defending champion, ending the match 2948-677.

"I was adequately prepared for the final. However, after reaching a tie of 225, the match began to slip away from me. I succumbed to the pressure and was overwhelmed by Causier's prowess," Sitwala shared upon returning to India.

Throughout the final, the left-handed Sitwala struggled to find his form, while Causier was in top shape, achieving five century breaks of 167, 120, 168, 100, and 114, alongside impressive double-century efforts.

Retaining his title, Causier concluded the match with a staggering break of 699 against Sitwala, who had previously triumphed over Darren Clark in the semifinals.

Despite only registering three notable breaks of 98, 92, and 115 during the final, Sitwala acknowledged the pressure of competing in his first World Championship final under the timed format since 2010.

"My goal has always been to win the World title at least once. Since losing to Pankaj Advani in 2007, and again to Mike Russell in 2010 and Causier in 2016, I have made it to the final four times in three decades. This time, I was more eager to win, especially with time running out to achieve my dream of being World No. 1," Sitwala explained.

"The journey to the final was thrilling. In the quarterfinals, I narrowly defeated Martin Goodwill by just one point. I was down by 200 points with only 20 minutes remaining, but I managed to score a breakthrough. Winning by only a point at the end was quite intense," he added.

Although Sitwala feels disappointed with the result, he is looking forward to the next edition to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in April 2026.

"The next championship is set for Cairo in April 2026. I have six months to return to the fundamentals and refine my skills. I cherish this process and enjoy going back home to practice. The lessons learned from this tournament remain fresh in my mind, and I aim to reconcile my mistakes. This journey is both introspective and meditative for me. Let’s see how it unfolds," Sitwala concluded.