(MOREPIC3) (MOREPIC1) (MOREPIC2) Face2News/Ludhiana
Day 3 of the Manisha Constructions National Pool Championship 2026 (9-Ball & 10-Ball) delivered a compelling mix of dominance and drama as the Men’s 9-Ball double elimination stage intensified in Ludhiana.
With players battling in race-to-6 matches, the day was marked by a clear contrast—clinical whitewash victories on one side and high-pressure, hill-hill finishes on the other.
Several players stamped their authority with commanding performances, registering 6–0 whitewash wins: Dilip Kumar (RSPB) delivered one of the standout performances of the day, blanking Kushwant (Punjab) 6–0, Sukhpreet Singh (Punjab) cruised past Keshvinder Singh (Punjab) 6–0, Viren Sharma (Madhya Pradesh) dominated Alok Sharma (Rajasthan) 6–0. These results highlighted the sharp form and control exhibited by top contenders as the competition progressed.
Hill-Hill Battles Raise the Stakes
Equally gripping were the closely fought matches that went down to the wire: Ashutosh Padhy (Odisha) edged past Nitesh Madan (RSPB) 6–5 in a high-pressure finish, Alok Sharma (Rajasthan) earlier survived a tight contest against Prashanth R (Karnataka) 6–5. These encounters showcased the mental resilience required in the double elimination format, where a single frame often decides the outcome.
Key Performances of the Day
Among the standout results: S. Shrikrishna (Tamil Nadu) secured a strong 6–4 win over Ankit Rehani (Delhi), Shabaz Adil Khan (PSPB) defeated Sunil Auluck (Punjab) 6–2, Nitin Sharma (Chandigarh) got the better of Vinay Chawla (Punjab) 6–4, Robin Singh (Punjab) beat Arpit Seth (Delhi) 6–2, Harmeet Bhandari (Punjab) overcame Ankur Nanda (Haryana) 6–4, Deepanshu Rohilla (Chandigarh) defeated Chaitanya Parashar (Rajasthan) 6–2, Ravish Arora (Punjab) impressed with a 6–1 win over Navneet Malhotra (Punjab), Arun Chhabra (Punjab) continued his steady run, beating Rajat Kaura (Punjab) 6–4
Multiple Punjab players remained in strong contention, reflecting the state’s depth in cue sports.
Momentum Building
As the double elimination stage progresses, the field continues to tighten with each round. The balance between dominant wins and closely contested matches highlights the increasing pressure and quality of competition.With players now pushing toward qualification spots for the knockout rounds, every frame is becoming crucial.
Looking Ahead
With momentum building and stakes rising, the championship is set to deliver even more intense action in the coming days as players battle for national honors and international opportunities.
