Defending champion Manan Chandra of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board retained the men's crown, while Vidya Pillai of Tamil Nadu clinched the inaugural ladies title following contrasting victories, in the BPCL-ONGC National 9-Ball Pool Championship that concluded at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, in Mumbai [ Images ] on Sunday.

Continuing the devastating form that marked his journey to the championship round, men's top seed Chandra, playing his fourth National Pool final in a
row, swamped unseeded Sandeep Gulati of Delhi [ Images ] 11-5 to help himself to his fourth pool crown.

In a contest between quality players, Gulati ran Chandra close till the half-way stage before the latter broke away for a 7-4 and 10-5 lead to seal victory.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Chandra ousted Sumeet Talwar of Chandigarh 9-6, while Gulati shocked last year's runner-up and second seed Alok Kumar by the same margin.

Top seed Vidya Pillai crushed Meenal Thakur of Maharashtra [ Images ] 7-1 in a surprisingly one-sided women's final. Both players were in good form right through the competition but Pillai was the more consistent with positioning and potting skills.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Pillai overcame Chitra Magimairaj of KSBA 5-2, while Thakur ended T.V. Sridevi's [ Images ] winning streak with a 5-3 win.

Results:
Men (final): Manan Chandra (PSPB) bt Sandeep Gulati (Delhi) 11-5.
Semi-finals: Manan Chandra (PSPB) bt Sumeet Talwar (Chandigarh) 9-6; Sandeep Gulati (Del) bt Alok Kumar (PSPB) 9-6.

Women (final): Vidya Pillai (Tamil Nadu) bt Meenal Thakur (Maharashtra) 7-1.
Semi-finals: Vidya Pillai (TN) bt Chitra Magimairaj (KSBA) 5-2; Meenal Thakur (Mah) bt T. V. Sridevi (KSBA) 5-3.