Elvin’s a snooker champ again after 19 years!

Elvin Lian with his trophy after emerging victorious in the National Snooker Championship on Friday

KUALA LUMPUR: Elvin Lian shoots his way to the top again after a lapse of 19 years.

The 52-year-old Penangite, a former international, prevailed in a 5½ hour battle to oust Saiful Bahari to reclaim the national snooker title he last won in 1996.

Elvin won 6-4 (59-14, 78-52, 57-45, 58-65, 71-57, 10-84, 66-0, 45-67, 50-52, 74-58) in a best-of-11 encounter en route to becoming the oldest winner in the 27-year tournament’s history.

The previous record was held by three-time national champion Ng Ann Seng, who was 47 when he won his last title in 2005.

“I’m really happy. There’s no words to describe my feeling,” said Elvin on Friday.

“After my last victory in 1996, I believe that I could do it again. That’s why I kept taking part in the nationals every year.

“I’m proud to be a champion once more.”

Elvin, who won the billiards doubles gold medal at the 1995 Chiang-mai SEA Games with Moh Loon Hong, was also a runner-up in 1990.

Three-time winner and current national No. 1 Thor Chuan Leong skipped this year’s competition to concentrate on his professional career in Europe.