Cueists offered incentive at Snooker Cup

The Snooker Cup 2010 gives cueists a chance to represent Pakistan in the World Championship in December.

KARACHI: The Snooker Cup 2010 starting on Tuesday in Karachi will give cueists a chance to represent Pakistan in the World Championship in December, according to the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Shiekh.

The six-day tournament will see Pakistan’s top 16 players in action with the winner pocketing Rs50,000 and the top three players, based on national rankings - updated after the tournament - will qualify for the World Amatuer Championship. Based on current rankings, Asjad Iqbal heads the list followed by Mohammad Sajjad and Mohammad Asif Toba with the trio hoping to carry their form into the tournament to confirm their presence at the global event.

“Players’ performance in this tournament will change the current rankings,” said Sheikh. “The top three will play the world amateur championship in Syria where Pakistan has a good chance of doing well. We’re Asia’s number two and the Asian Games will be a good preparation for it.”

Sajjad, the defending champion, is placed in Group B along with Toba, Pakistan’s number three Imran Qamar. Sajjad’s arch-rival, Iqbal, is the favourite in Group A that also includes Imran Shahzad and Sohail Shahzad, Pakistan’s number four and six respectively. The top two players from each group will qualify for the last-four.

Meanwhile, the PBSA president said that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports was presented with a Rs8 million budget which is yet to be approved.

Published in The Express Tribune September 24^th, 2010.