Chetan Chhabra
Dhruv Varma
Day 2 of the Manisha Constructions National Pool Championship 2026 (9-Ball & 10-Ball) saw high-intensity action continue in Ludhiana, as the Men’s 9-Ball double elimination stage progressed with a mix of dominant victories and closely fought contests.
Matches began at 10:00 AM, with players competing in race-to-6 encounters, as the field steadily moved toward the knockout phase.
Whitewash Wins Highlight Day
Several players delivered commanding performances, headlined by Alok Kumar (PSPB), who produced a flawless 6–0 victory over Aryan Dube (Rajasthan).
Joining him with dominant wins were:
Chetan Chhabra (Telangana), who blanked Purushotam Gurjar (Rajasthan) 6–0
Ashutosh Padhy (Odisha), who defeated Neeraj Bagga (Punjab) 6–0
Gagandeep Makkar (Chandigarh), who overcame Mickey Grover (Punjab) 6–0
Divya Sharma (Haryana), who beat Manish Kumar Vyas (Rajasthan) 6–0
Abhijeet Ranade (Maharashtra), who shut out Abhinav Oswal (Punjab) 6–0
These performances underscored the sharp form of leading contenders early in the tournament.
Close Contests Add Drama
Day 2 also featured several nail-biting encounters:
Dilip Kumar (RSPB) edged past Harmeet Bhandari (Punjab) 6–5 in a hill-hill finish
Ankur Khullar (Himachal Pradesh) secured a narrow 6–5 win over Pramod Kumar (Delhi)
Rehaan Misra (Delhi) defeated Harshit Sharma (MP) 6–5
Ajay Galundia (HP) overcame Manmeet Bhatia (Delhi) 6–5
The tight margins reflected the pressure of the double elimination format, where consistency is key.
Key Performances Continue
Among other notable results:
Dhruv Varma (Punjab) beat Shivam Kesarwani (UP) 6–4 in a competitive contest
M.L. Laxman (Karnataka) comfortably defeated Shreyash Pednekar (Goa) 6–1
Nitesh Madan (RSPB) beat Kelvin Alfanso (MP) 6–2
Shobhit Sethi (Punjab) defeated Shokin Mohd (Haryana) 6–3
Ankit Rehani (Delhi) registered a convincing 6–1 win over Joy Mehra (Punjab)
Malkeet Singh (RSPB) advanced with a 6–1 victory over Jai Ganesh (Tamil Nadu)
E. Panduranghaiah (RSPB) defeated Abhishek Dutta (Punjab) 6–1
Tournament Progressing
With the double elimination stage still underway, players are now battling to secure qualification into the knockout rounds, where the competition is expected to intensify further.
Day 2 showcased both dominance and resilience, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of India’s cue sports talent pool.
Looking Ahead
As the championship progresses, the stakes continue to rise, with players aiming for national glory and the opportunity to represent India on the international stage.