NATIONAL POOL CHAMPIONSHIP 2026
Face2News/Ludhiana
It was a day of high drama, comebacks, and championship pedigree at the Manisha Constructions National Pool Championship 2026, as Pankaj Advani and Chitra Magimairaj delivered defining performances to claim double crowns in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively.
Advani Scripts Historic Double in Men’s 10-Ball today.
In a gripping Men’s 10-Ball final, Pankaj Advani (PSPB) showcased his class and composure to defeat Pushpender Singh (RSPB) in a thrilling 11–9 encounter, securing his second national title of the week after already winning the 9-Ball Championship.
The final was a rollercoaster contest;
Pushpender Singh stormed ahead with a 3–0 lead Advani responded to level the match at 3–3. Pushpender regained control, extending his lead to 8–4
In a dramatic shift, Advani mounted a stunning comeback, winning 6 consecutive racks to go 10–8 ahead
With momentum firmly on his side, Advani capitalized on crucial errors, including a missed positional shot and a decisive foul from Pushpender in the closing stages, to seal the match 11–9.
A landmark achievement;
Advani, a 28-time world champion in billiards and snooker, now adds both 9-Ball and 10-Ball National titles—marking a rare and historic double crown in pool. In only other occasion in the past Mralok Kumar of Punjab (PSPB) has taken a double crown in the year 2011 winning the national 8 ball and 9 ball championships.
Men’s 10-Ball Podium
Pankaj Advani (PSPB),
Pushpender Singh (RSPB),
Shahbaz Adil Khan (PSPB),
Aayush Kumar (PUN), 5th to 8th places are Divya Sharma (HAR), Sumesh Jhangra (PUN), Chetan Chhabra (TLGN), Shivam Arora (MAH)
3rd/4th Place:
Shahbaz Adil Khan bt Aayush Kumar 5–4
Road to the Final
In the semi-finals:
Pankaj Advani bt Shahbaz Adil Khan 9–4
Pushpender Singh bt Aayush Kumar 9–5
Earlier in the quarterfinals, standout results included:
Pushpender Singh bt Divya Sharma 8–6
Pankaj Advani bt Shivam Arora 8–2
Shahbaz Adil Khan bt Sumesh Jangra 8–2
Aayush Kumar edged Chetan Chhabra 8–7
Chitra Magimairaj Dominates Women’s Field
In the Women’s 10-Ball final, Chitra Magimairaj (Karnataka) capped off a sensational run by defeating Neena Praveen (Tamil Nadu) 6–4, securing her second title of the championship after winning the 9-Ball crown earlier.
The final saw:
Neena Praveen take an early 3–1 lead
Chitra respond with authority to move ahead 5–3
Neena fight back to 5–4
Chitra close out the match with composure to win 6–4, With this victory, Chitra completes a double title sweep in Women’s Pool (9-Ball & 10-Ball).
Women’s 10-Ball Podium
Chitra Magimairaj (KAR),
Neena Praveen (TN),
Natasha Chethan (KAR),
Anupama Ramachandran (TN)
3rd/4th Place:
Natasha Chethan bt Anupama Ramachandran 4–3
Semi-Finals Recap (Women)
Chitra Magimairaj bt Natasha Chethan 6–3
Neena Praveen bt Anupama Ramachandran 6–5
Championship
The 2026 edition of the National Pool Championship will be remembered for:
Pankaj Advani’s historic double in Men’s Pool
Chitra Magimairaj’s dominance across Women’s categories
A blend of elite champions and rising stars across disciplines
High-pressure finishes, comebacks, and breakthrough performances
From commanding victories to dramatic turnarounds, the championship showcased the very best of Indian cue sports, reaffirming the country’s depth and excellence on the national stage.