Shoaib Khan captured the 15-Red Snooker title at the 49th Delhi State Championship on October 29, defeating Divyanshu Sharma 4-2 in the final. Held in memory of former IOA President Raja Randhir Singh, the victory secured a double crown for Khan, who had already claimed the 6-Red trophy earlier in the tournament.
The final unfolded as a tactical battle of safety play and intricate snookers in each frame. The high-pressure duel repeatedly triggered the ‘foul and a miss’ rule, requiring the referee to restore the cue ball to its original spot. Mentors on the sidelines noted that when pupils fail to decode tight snookers, tactical advantage vanishes into thin air
, highlighting a strategic approach that served as a blueprint for players and coaches. Ultimately, Khan’s composure under pressure tipped the scales.
Path to the Final and National Qualification
On his route to the championship match, Khan outplayed former state champion Anuj Uppal 4-1 in the first semi-final with set scores of 79-13, 41-60, 76-30, 85-09, and 62-25. In the second semi-final, Divyanshu Sharma defeated Lalit Dahiya 4-2 with scores of 64-37, 35-61, 76-19, 48-72, 60-16, and 65-40.
Delhi: On the 49th Delhi State Billiards and Snooker Championship 2026, Winner Shoaib Khan says, "My feeling is very good. For the first time, I have won two titles, so I am quite nervous… So, it was a good experience for me; the table condition was very good… The final was a… pic.twitter.com/O41cAn8512″
The final match concluded with set scores of 44-56, 78-16, 15-68, 84-60, 87-20, and 76-57 in favor of Khan. As a result of their performances, both finalists will represent Delhi at the forthcoming National Snooker Championship in Bangalore.
Association Golden Jubilee and Prize Purse
Coinciding with the conclusion of the tournament, the Delhi Billiards & Snooker Association (DBSA) announced plans for its golden jubilee celebrations. Marking 50 years of the association, DBSA instituted an enhanced total prize purse of Rs 5 lakh for its next state tournament.