Chitra Magimairaj

The Manisha Constructions National Pool Championship 2026 witnessed a day of decisive action as the Women’s 9-Ball Championship concluded with a high-quality final, while the Men’s 10-Ball event completed its double elimination stage, setting up the Last 32 knockout round.

Chitra Magimairaj Crowned Champion

In the Women’s 9-Ball final, Chitra Magimairaj (Karnataka) delivered a composed and commanding performance to defeat Ishika Shah (Madhya Pradesh) 7–4, clinching the national title.

The match began as a closely fought contest, with both players going head-to-head early on. With the score poised at 5–4, Chitra raised her level, taking control of the match and closing it out confidently to secure the championship.

Semi-Finals Recap

Both finalists had earlier progressed through their semi-final matches with authority:

Chitra Magimairaj (KAR) bt Natasha Chethan (KAR) 6–2
Ishika Shah (MP) bt Jiya Sehgal (PUN) 6–3

Their dominant semi-final performances set the stage for a high-quality final between two of India’s top female cueists.

Men’s 10-Ball: Knockout Stage Confirmed

The Men’s 10-Ball Championship moved into its next phase as the double elimination rounds concluded, finalizing the lineup for the Last 32 knockout stage.

The day featured a mix of dominant wins and close encounters:

Shivam Arora (MAH) delivered a strong statement with a 6–0 win
Harshit Sharma (MP) and Rajesh Kumar (Assam) also registered 6–0 victories
Adarsh Verma (WB) edged a close 6–5 win over Laksh Sharma (KAR)
Gaurav Deshmukh (MAH) secured a narrow 6–5 win in an all-Maharashtra clash
Gautam Verma (PUN) and Joy Mehra (PUN) held their nerve in tight finishes
Among the top performers advancing through the winners’ side:
Pankaj Advani (PSPB)
Nitin Sharma (CHG)
Kushal Chandrashekhar (KAR)
Saqlain Mushtaque (WB)
Shivam Arora (MAH)

Top Seeds Emerge

Following the completion of the double elimination stage:

Abhinav Dhiman (Chandigarh) secured the top seed heading into the knockout rounds
Anurag Giri (MP), last year’s runner-up, claimed the second seed
Both players will be key contenders as the tournament enters its decisive phase.
With the field now narrowed, the Last 32 knockout stage promises high-intensity matchups, as players compete for the national title in the 10-Ball discipline.
From Chitra Magimairaj’s title-winning performance to the emergence of strong contenders in the Men’s 10-Ball event, the championship continues to showcase the depth, competitiveness, and growing stature of cue sports in India.