An evening with snooker stars at the Cricket Club of India and the tale of a special World Champion

By K.R. Nayar
From the Cricket Club of India

Mumbai.  Snooker in a historic cricket venue like the Cricket Club of India at the Brabourne Stadium was exciting. Having reported only cricket from this venue over the years, the CCI Snooker Classic tournament 2026 being held there, with the best of snooker artistry on display, created a refreshingly different feeling. The fact that this tournament has been held for nearly 60 years and that this venue, known more for cricketing legends, had opened its doors for this elegant sport, shows the magnanimity of the members here in encouraging other sports too. For an event to be staged for nearly six decades demands not just passion, but unwavering commitment from its dedicated members.

A get-together of all the snooker stars during the CCI Snooker Classic 2026. Photo by K.R. Nayar

A warm get-together of snooker lovers and journalists was then held at the CK Nayudu Hall, where nostalgia mingled with admiration. I was fortunate to meet the world champion Sourav Kothari, son of the late legenadary world champion Manoj Kothari—a name that still echoes with reverence in cue sports. What makes Sourav special is that he belongs to a rare sporting lineage where both father and son have scaled the summit to become world champions, a distinction that carries both pride and legacy in equal measure.

Yours sincerely with Sourav Kothari

This led to a short yet deeply engaging conversation with him. When  I asked him if I could pose a personal question, he readily agreed. Since he has followed his father’s path to become a world champion, I wanted to know the finest piece of advice his father had given him. “My father has given me a lot of advice, and every nugget of that advice is priceless. In particular, there is one instance that I will never forget. I had just returned home after winning a tournament, and that very night he asked me what time I was going for practice the next day. I mentioned that I was not practising the next day. It was then he told me that it does not matter whether you have won a tournament or not; just like brushing your teeth, taking a bath, or eating food—practising every day is important. There should be no off day and no leave from practice. So its truly special how the importance of hard work, the ethos- all of these have been instilled in me. He ensured I don’t get complacent and my head remains steady on my shoulders. And of course, that moment when I too became a world champion like him, I cannot explain my feelings.”

Sourav Kothari addressess the gathering after being conferred a CCI membership 

It has been only two months since Manoj Kothari passed away, yet his presence lingers strongly in every recollection. On January 5, 2026, Manoj, at the age of 67, died following a massive cardiac arrest at a hospital in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. He had undergone a successful liver transplant just 10 days earlier, but fate had other plans as he developed a lung infection which led to his demise. 

The legendary Wilson Jones billiards hall at the CCI 

Manoj had carved a glittering career, winning the world billiards championship title in 1990 and securing the State Champion title 16 times. In 2005, he was conferred with the Dhyan Chand Award, India’s highest honour for lifetime achievement in sports and games—a fitting tribute to a life devoted to excellence.

The CCI Snooker poster at the entrance to the hall

Sourav won the world championship in 2025, exactly 35 years after his father had claimed the world title. During the snooker function at the C K Nayudu Hall, he was conferred a CCI membership, a moment that seemed to bridge generations and honour legacy.

Before the dinner meet, a long and insightful chat with Nikhil Ootam, a champion snooker player who has worn many hats at the CCI Snooker Classic and has painstakingly staged this tournament for years, brought alive the glorious journey of this event.

 “The CCI Snooker Classic is held around February–March every year. We’ve also had international players and legends like Jimmy White and Stephen Lee who have graced this event,” he said, underlining its stature.

Pankaj Advani, the three times champion of CCI Snooker Classic 

Ootam firmly believes that the heartbeat of this tournament lies in the members of the club, whose unwavering support has fuelled its rise. “The club sponsors the entire tournament. The total prize money is Rs 13.5 lakhs, while the winner can pocket Rs 3.5 lakh and the runner-up Rs 1.75 lakhs. What is also special is that this tournament is being held in the billiards hall named after the legendary Wilson Jones,” he added, pointing to a legacy that continues to inspire.

Pankaj Advani, the undisputed modern master who has won the CCI Snooker Classic in each of the last three editions, was also present at the function, exuding quiet confidence. With history within touching distance, he now sets his sights on a fourth consecutive title—another chapter waiting to be written in an already illustrious career.  Aditya Mehta, another strong contender for the title, said that “we will try to dethrone Pankaj. There are a bunch of players who are after him. So he better be careful.”