Ahmedabad, 07 October (H.S.): The second edition of the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championship got underway in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, bringing together 144 players from 42 Commonwealth nations. The tournament’s competitive action will be held from October 8 to 10 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, following the opening ceremony on October 7. The prestigious multi-discipline championship is being staged in India for the first time.

Over the next three days, seasoned champions, emerging talents and India’s leading cue-sports players will battle for Commonwealth honours in Ahmedabad. The championship features 72 men and 72 women competing across five disciplines — English billiards, snooker, 10-ball pool, heyball and blackball — with 10 medal events scheduled over the four-day competition. The event also forms a major part of the centenary celebrations of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI).

India won five medals at the inaugural championship in Mauritius in 2025. On home soil this year, the Indian challenge will be led by reigning Commonwealth women’s heyball champion Vidya Pillai, men’s heyball silver medallist Shivam Arora and women’s 10-ball pool silver medallist Chitra Magimairaj, with all three aiming to add to their medal tallies. WCBS records confirm Pillai’s 2025 heyball triumph, while Chitra finished runner-up in the women’s 10-ball final and Arora took silver in the men’s heyball event.

The Indian contingent will face a formidable international field featuring prominent names such as England’s Kelly Fisher and Rebecca Kenna, South Africa’s Craig Bouwer, Malaysia’s Lim Kok Leong and Wales’ Darren Morgan. These names are also recorded in established cue-sports databases and records.

World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) Vice-President Mubarak Al-Khayarin said the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championship represented an important opportunity for the sport and expressed his delight at Ahmedabad hosting this year’s edition.

“The Commonwealth Cue Sports Championship is an important opportunity for the sport, and we are delighted that this year’s edition is being held in Ahmedabad, India. Bringing together leading cue-sports players from across the Commonwealth provides an important platform for high-level competition and further strengthens the ties that connect our sport around the world. We look forward to an exciting championship and to seeing the players produce their best performances in Ahmedabad,” he said.

WCBS Board Member Greta Steenkamp said the organisation was pleased to welcome the championship to India and support an event that brings players together from across the Commonwealth.

“We are delighted to welcome the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championship to India and pleased to support an event that brings together players from different parts of the Commonwealth. Championships such as this play an important role in creating opportunities for athletes, strengthening international sporting relationships and expanding the global reach of cue sports. We look forward to a wonderful competition in Ahmedabad and wish all the players the very best for the upcoming matches,” she said.

At a press conference held ahead of the championship, WCBS Vice-President Mubarak Al-Khayarin, WCBS Board Member Greta Steenkamp, Anti-Doping Director James Leacy, BSFI President S. Balasubramaniam, Secretary General Sunil Bajaj, Gujarat Snooker and Billiards Association President Abhishek Shah, and Apex Sports Chief Executive Officer and founder and Indian cue-sports player Shivam Arora, among other officials, were present.

The Ahmedabad championship marks a significant milestone for Indian cue sports, with the country hosting the Commonwealth event for the first time as the BSFI celebrates a century of organised cue-sports activity.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar