Bangalore:Alok Kumar prevailed over three-times national champion Pankaj Advani to set up a title clash with Rupesh Shah of Gujarat in the 73rd Senior National Snooker tournament.

In an all-PSPB encounter at the KSBA Stadium here today, Alok Kumar tamed the Bangalore Sher in its own den with the scoreline reading 73-49, 84-51, 10-120, 10-60, 79-51, 74-52, 55-57, 82-0.

The 38-year-old Alok, who has to his credit winning both billiards and snooker Nationals in 2004, recorded three fine half century breaks en route to the final against an opponent almost half his age.

Alok started off well with a break of 52 in the first frame and quickly seized the initiative following it up with another 62 break in the second frame.

Pankaj, the 2002 IBSF World Snooker champion, appeared like making his presence felt in a slow encounter by recording a century (115) break in the third but could do very little as the match progressed.

When Alok sealed the match with a well-controlled break of 76 in the eighth frame Pankaj hogging glory in his hometown could not materialse. The Bangalore lad was again bugged by the Alok as he lost to the experienced cueist for the fourth successive time.

Earlier in the first semi-final which went into the wires Rupesh Shah stunned Asian Games gold medallist Yasin Merchant of Maharashtra 5-4.

Yasin lost hold on the match after winning three consecutive frames to lead 3-1 at the outset.