Manisha National Pool Championship 2026 to Bring India’s Top Cueists to Ludhiana

Ludhiana, March 23, 2026: The Punjab Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) will host the Manisha National Pool Championship 2026 (9-Ball & 10-Ball) from March 24 to April 4, in Ludhiana. Organized under the aegis of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), the championship will feature the country’s finest cueists competing across Men, Women, and Under-21 Boys & Girls categories. With a total prize pool of ₹6,00,000, the tournament stands as one of India’s premier national-level pool events and will serve as a key selection platform for international representation.

The Championship will be inaugurated tomorrow evening March 24th at 5 pm, by Shri. Rajan Khinvasara, CMD of Manisha Group and Ex-President, BSFI, in the presence of Shri. Sunil Bajaj, General Secretary of BSFI, and Smt. Ashwini Puranik, Vice-President  BSFI, Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Pankaj Advani 28 Times World Champion

According to Sandeep Jalota, Treasurer of PBSA, the championship will witness participation from over 20 states, with over 300 players expected to participate, bringing together a high-caliber field of established champions and emerging talent. Key players expected to compete include: 

28-time World Champion Pankaj Advani Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Awardee Alok Kumar, Reigning 10-Ball Champion Shivam Arora, Kamal Chawla, Dhruv Varma, Ayush Kumar, Sumit Talwar, Malkeet Singh, Shabaaz Adil Khan, Anurag Giri, Kushal Chandrashekhar. 

In the women’s division: Chitra Magimairaj, Pooja Galundia, Natasha Chethan former World no 1. Junior Snooker, Neena Praveen

The event is expected to deliver elite-level competition while highlighting the depth of talent across India’s cue sports ecosystem.

The Organization said, "The National Pool Championship represents the pinnacle of domestic competition in cue sports. Hosting this prestigious event in Ludhiana reinforces our commitment to developing world-class infrastructure and competitive opportunities for Indian players. With top talent from across the country, this championship will play a vital role in shaping India’s international success in pool."

According to Alok Kumar Arjuna Awardee, General Secretary of PBSA, Tournament Schedule & Categories and format are Men’s 9-Ball from March 24 – March 30, Under-21 Boys & Girls (9-Ball): March 29 – March 31, , Men’s 10-Ball: March 28 – April 4, Women’s 9-Ball & 10-Ball: March 31 – April 4. The format of play will be Double Elimination in initial group stage followed by Knockouts to the title. The championship will be played under official World Pool Billiard Association rules. The venue for the championship is Rotary Club, Near Deepak Hospital, Sarabha Nagar. 

The Punjab Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) is a leading state body committed to the development and promotion of cue sports in India. Through consistent hosting of major championships and grassroots initiatives, PBSA plays a pivotal role in nurturing talent and expanding the sport’s reach in the leadership of Shri D S Bains (IAS, Retd.). In the past PBSA has successfully hosted 3 Asian Championships in Billiards, U21 Snooker and Women’s Snooker, 1 India-Pakistan Snooker Test Series and 4 times Nationals Pool Championships here to date with this being the 5th National Pool Championship under their guidance.

With a strong blend of legacy, elite competition, and national representation, the Manisha National Pool Championship 2026 is set to be a landmark event in India’s cue sports calendar, further strengthening the pathway from national excellence to global success.