--- title: "Ahmedabad Hosts 144 Players Across Five Cue Sports" url: https://ncuemedia.com/ahmedabad-hosts-144-players-across-five-cue-sports published: 2026-10-10T08:14:54Z updated: 2026-10-10T08:14:54Z summary: "The 2026 Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships bring 144 athletes from 42 nations to Ahmedabad for 10 medal events across five disciplines." author: "NCue Media" categories: ["Pool"] tags: ["Ahmedabad", "Commonwealth Cue Sports", "Cue Sports", "India", "WPA"] lang: en --- # Ahmedabad Hosts 144 Players Across Five Cue Sports *India's first edition of the multi-discipline championship pairs an equal 72-player men's field with 72 women across a compact three-day program.* Ahmedabad welcomed 144 athletes from 42 nations for a Commonwealth championship that puts five different cue sports under one roof. The 2026 event is the second edition of the competition and the first to be staged in India. Competition at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex began on October 8 after the opening ceremony one day earlier. The field is split evenly between 72 men and 72 women, with 10 medal events contested across English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Blackball. | Event detail | 2026 championship figure | |---|---:| | Athletes | 144 | | Participating nations | 42 | | Men | 72 | | Women | 72 | | Medal events | 10 | | Cue sports disciplines | 5 | | Competition dates | October 8-10 | ## Why is the Ahmedabad championship different from a normal pool event? Most international tournaments ask players and spectators to focus on one discipline. Ahmedabad does the opposite. A snooker match may be followed by a 10-ball session, while Heyball, Blackball and English Billiards bring their own equipment, scoring systems and tactical demands. That variety gives the championship a broader purpose than deciding a single title. It places separate cue sports communities on the same program and gives each discipline access to an audience that may usually follow only one part of the game. The event also creates a rare comparison of competitive styles. Snooker rewards patient break-building and detailed safety exchanges. English Billiards asks players to combine cannons, winning hazards and losing hazards. Pool and Heyball move at a different pace, with pattern play, breaking and short-rack pressure shaping matches. Ten medal events allow the men's and women's fields to compete separately in all five main disciplines. The equal 72-player allocation is one of the clearest features of the 2026 edition. ## Why does the first Indian edition carry extra weight? India has a long cue sports history, particularly in billiards and snooker, but this is the first time the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships have been held in the country. The competition also forms part of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India's centenary celebrations. That timing turns the tournament into more than a hosting assignment. It connects a 100-year national federation milestone with a young international championship still establishing its identity. The inaugural edition was held in Mauritius in 2025. India won five medals there, creating expectations for the home team before the first ball was struck in Ahmedabad. A home championship offers practical benefits as well. Indian players compete without long international travel, local supporters can see several cue sports in one venue, and the national federation gains a chance to present its athletes alongside established names from across the Commonwealth. ## Which players give the home team its strongest chances? India's returning medalists provide the clearest starting point. Vidya Pillai arrived as the defending Commonwealth women's Heyball champion. Shivam Arora won silver in men's Heyball at the 2025 edition, while Chitra Magimairaj took silver in women's 10-ball. Their previous results matter because this championship moves quickly. With competition compressed into three days, players have little time to recover from a poor opening session or adjust slowly to the venue. Pillai carries the pressure of defending a title. Arora and Magimairaj have a different target: turning last year's runner-up finishes into gold on home soil. The international field prevents India from treating the event as a ceremonial celebration. England's Kelly Fisher and Rebecca Kenna bring extensive experience. South Africa's Craig Bouwer, Malaysia's Lim Kok Leong and Wales' Darren Morgan add strength across the program. ## What does a 42-nation field say about the event's growth? The second edition has attracted players from 42 Commonwealth nations. For a championship covering several disciplines, that number is significant because participation depends on national federations finding qualified players across different forms of cue sports. The field also shows why a multi-discipline structure can work. Some countries have deep snooker traditions. Others are stronger in pool, Blackball, Heyball or English Billiards. Bringing those groups together creates a larger international meeting point than any one discipline might produce alone. There is a trade-off. A broad program can be harder for casual viewers to follow, especially when rules and table conditions change from one event to another. Clear scheduling and accessible broadcasts become essential. The organizers have kept the central numbers easy to understand: five disciplines, two gender divisions per discipline and 10 medal events. That structure gives the championship variety without losing its basic shape. ## Who is responsible for staging the championships? Apex Sports Promotion organized the event, with the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India serving as host. The World Confederation of Billiards Sports and Commonwealth Sport endorsed the championship. Those organizations represent different layers of the project. The local host manages the Indian setting, the promoter handles event delivery, and the international bodies connect the competition to the wider Commonwealth and cue sports systems. WCBS vice president Mubarak Al-Khayarin described the championship as a platform for high-level competition and closer international sporting links. WCBS board member Grieta Steenkamp also pointed to the opportunities created when athletes from across the Commonwealth meet at one event. ## How can supporters follow the action from Ahmedabad? The championship schedule runs from October 7 to 10, including the opening ceremony, with competitive play taking place from October 8 to 10 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Live coverage is available through WPA Live TV. Because five disciplines share the program, viewers should check the official daily schedule to identify tables, sessions and medal matches. :::faq ### How many players entered the 2026 Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships? The field contains 144 athletes from 42 Commonwealth nations, divided evenly between 72 men and 72 women. ### Which cue sports are included in the championship? The five medal disciplines are English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Blackball. ### Where is the 2026 championship being held? The event is taking place at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, India. ### Where can the championship be watched live? Official live coverage is available through WPA Live TV, with schedules and session information provided by the organizers. :::