Third Indian cueist to record max 147 break
Mumbai-based snooker Pro Ishpreet Singh Chadha (PSPB) uncorked champagne stuff constructing a maximum break of 147 during his 5-0 win against Dilip Kumar (Railways) in a quarter-final match of the Rs 13.5 lakh CCI Snooker Classic 2025, an all-India tournament, played at the CCI’s Wilson Jones billiards hall on Friday.
Snooker pro Ishpreet Singh Chadha (PSPB) of Mumbai uncorked champagne stuff and created history of sorts making a maximum 147-break during his 5-0 victory against Dilip Kumar of Railways in a best-of-9-frame quarter-final match of the Rs 13.5 lakh CCI Snooker Classic 2025, an all-India tournament, played at the CCI’s Wilson Jones billiards hall on Friday.
The stupendous effort was Mumbai-based Ishpreet’s maiden maximum in an open tournament and is the third Indian after legendary cueist Geet Sethi (Gujarat) and Aditya Mehta (Mumbai) to construct 147 breaks. Sethi, winner of multiple National titles had achieved the mark during the 1988 Guntur Nationals. Mehta, a former National champ representing PSPB constructed a 147 during the Asian Games selection tournament in Bangalore in 2013 and in a tournament in Germany on the pro circuit.
28-year-old Ishpreet who participates in the World Snooker Tour is coached by legendary two-time Asian snooker champion Yasin Merchant at the Khar Gymkhana.
The modest Ishpreet gave a fine exhibition of his brilliance and the few die-hard cue sports enthusiasts were fortunate to witness the historic moment. Ishpreet displayed solid composure and poise and played confidently. He showed impeccable touch and control and struck the balls with precision to get into perfect positions to play his shots. He played some astonishing pots before he polished the balls from the table to complete his remarkable feat.
“Oh wow! Exclaimed Sethi over the phone from Ahmedabad. “This is wonderful news for Indian snooker. It’s moving in the right direction. It’s almost 40 years after I had made the maximum. I congratulate Ishpreet on his magnificent effort,” he further said.
Coach Merchant was excited but not surprised. “Yes. This is his (Ishpreet’s) first maximum. This is just the start and we will get to witness many, many more to come,” a delighted Merchant said.
On an adjacent table, current Asian snooker and National snooker champion Pankaj Advani also showed his class defeating Malkeet Singh of Railways 5-1.
Earlier, qualifier Faisal Khan of Railways continued with his outstanding run of form as he churned out another sparkling performance to inflict a crushing 5-0 defeat on National runner-up and India No. 2 Brijesh Damani (PSPB) in a lop-sided quarter-final match.
On the side table, former National champion Kamal Chawla put up a steading display and dashed the hopes of CCI member Hasan Badami romping to a 5-1 (76-77, 63-49, 62-27, 56-8, 66-7, and 71-51) victory.
In the last 16 match which finished late Thursday night, Badami played with plenty of grit and determination to send Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjeang crashing out by recording a deserving 4-3 (77-15, 85-43, 8-63, 50-40, 25-74, 60-65, and 84-23) victory.
Results – Quarter-finals: Faisal Khan (Rlys) beat Brijesh Damani (PSPB) 5-0 (58-49, 63-9, 117(60)-9, 77-56, 98(97)-0);
Kamal Chawla beat Hasan Badami 5-1 (76-77, 63-49, 62-27, 56-8, 66-7, 71(53)-51);
Pankaj Advani (PSPB) beat Malkeet Singh (Rlys) 5-1 (61-8, 85(85)-0, 76(63)-23, 33-77, 61-7, 84(84)-0.
Ishpreet Singh (PSPB) beat Dilip Kumar (Rlys) 5-0 (70-36, 83(69)-47), 92(92)-1, 147(147)-0, 83-2).
Round 16: Hasan Badami (Mah) beat Dechawat Poomjeang (Thai) 4-3 (77-15, 85-43, 8-63(60), 50-40, 25-74, 60-65, 84-23);
Pankaj Advani (PSPB) beat Nikhil Saigal (Mah) 74-10, 28-43 (forfeit), 87(79)-0, 89(83)-9);
Kamal Chawla (Rlys) beat Md. Hussain Khan (Rlys) 4-0 (72-1, 82(66)-19, 76-10, 98(93)-0);
Dilip Kumar beat Pushpender Singh 4-1 (67-38, 47-11, 16-67, 70-33, 72(63)-0).