Five cue sports disciplines, 10 medal events and the Commonwealth’s leading players headline the Championships’ India debut
Ahmedabad, India — 7 October 2026: The Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026 officially got underway today in Ahmedabad, bringing together 144 athletes from 42 Commonwealth nations for four days of elite cue sports competition at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
The second edition of the Championships marks the first time the multi-discipline event is being staged in India, with 72 men and 72 women set to compete across English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Blackball.
The Championships will feature 10 medal events, with competition beginning on October 8 following the official opening ceremony on October 7.
Organised by Apex Sports Promotion and hosted by the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), the Championships are endorsed by the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) and Commonwealth Sport, bringing together the Commonwealth’s cue sports community on one stage.
The event also forms a centrepiece of BSFI’s centenary celebrations, adding further significance to a landmark occasion for Indian cue sports.
India Ready for Home Challenge
India enters the Championships with confidence following a strong performance at the inaugural edition in Mauritius in 2025, where the nation claimed five medals.
Leading the home challenge are Vidya Pillai, the defending Commonwealth Women’s Heyball champion; Shivam Arora, the Men’s Heyball silver medallist; and Chitra Magimairaj, the Women’s 10-Ball Pool silver medallist. All three return with ambitions of adding further Commonwealth honours on home soil.
They will face a strong international field featuring established champions and world-class performers, including Kelly Fisher and Rebecca Kenna of England, Craig Bouwer of South Africa, Lim Kok Leong of Malaysia and Darren Morgan of Wales.
A Major Moment for Cue Sports
Speaking at the pre-event press conference, Mubarak Al-Khayarin, Vice President of WCBS, welcomed the Championships to India:
“The Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships represent an important occasion for the sport, and we are delighted to see this year’s edition take place in Ahmedabad, India. Bringing leading cue sports athletes from across the Commonwealth together provides a valuable platform for high-level competition and further strengthens the connections that unite our sport globally.”
Grieta Steenkamp, Board Member of WCBS, added:
“We are delighted to welcome the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships to India and to support an event that brings together players from across the Commonwealth. Championships such as these play an important role in creating opportunities for athletes, strengthening international sporting relationships and continuing to grow the global reach of cue sports.”
The press conference brought together representatives from the international and Indian cue sports community, including Mubarak Al-Khayarin, Grieta Steenkamp, James Leacy, S. Balasubramaniam, Sunil Bajaj, Abhishek Shah and Shivam Arora, alongside other distinguished guests and stakeholders.
Four Days. Five Disciplines. One Commonwealth Stage.
With the opening ceremony now complete, attention turns to the tables as competition begins on October 8.
Across four days, the Championships will showcase the breadth of cue sports — from the tactical demands of English Billiards and Snooker to the intensity of 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Blackball.
Watch the Championships Live
Follow the action from Ahmedabad as the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026 unfold across four days of competition.
📺 Live streaming: wpalive.tv
For media enquiries, interviews, accreditation and additional information:
Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026
📍 Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, India
📅 7–10 October 2026
🎱 5 Cue Sports Disciplines
🌍 42 Commonwealth Nations
🏆 10 Medal Events
👥 144 Athletes
The Commonwealth’s cue sports elite are ready. Ahmedabad is the stage.
