Updated on: Dec 01, 2025 10:36 pm IST
Along with table-toppers Lucknow and Chennai, Hyderabad Royals also registered a decisive win to set the tone for a competitive week ahead.
Lucknow Leopards opened their campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Bengaluru Blasters. India’s top-ranked player Aditya Ruhela led the charge, outclassing Vietnamese international Phuc Huynh 15-10 in a commanding season starter. After Ruhela set the tempo with Huynh’s takedown, Bengaluru briefly clawed back in men’s doubles.
However, Shelby Bates tore through women’s singles 15-5, then paired with Pearl Amalsadiwala for a well-fought 15-13 doubles win. The 21–17 Grand Rally sealed the tie with Ryler Deheart and Bates being awarded the best players of the tie.
In Tie-2, Hyderabad Royals secured a composed 4–2 win over Capital Warriors Gurgaon, taking all four early matches before Warriors clawed back with a spirited Grand Rally finish.
Ben Newell’s gritty 15-13 opener established early dominance, followed by a strong men’s doubles performance alongside Divyanshu Kataria. The seasoned Megan Fudge delivered the day’s closest contest, a thrilling 15-14 singles win, before teaming up with Snehal Patil to claim the women’s doubles 15-10. Newell and Fudge were awarded the best players of the tie.
Later in the evening for the last tie of the day, Chennai Super Warriors bounced back from a match down to sweep their tie against Mumbai Smashers 5-1. DUPR Men’s Singles World No. 3 Quang Duong set the Smashers up with the perfect start, defeating Mitchell Hargreaves 15-12.
However, Hargreaves partnered with Harsh Mehta to sweep the men’s doubles 15-9. With momentum on the side, Chennai raced to a 4-1 with Roos van Reek winning the women’s singles, while the van Reek-Aaliya Ebrahim duo claimed victory in women’s doubles. With a 21-18 victory in the Grand Rally, Chennai capped off their night with van Reek and Mehta claiming the players of the tie honours.
