Dubbed as the biggest event in the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association’s calendar, this year’s edition of the tournament will feature a total of 43 contenders. PHOTO: FILE
Top cueists from across the country will face-off at the Jubilee Insurance 39th National Snooker Championship starting Saturday at the Karachi Gymkhana.
Dubbed as the biggest event in the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association’s calendar, this year’s edition of the tournament will feature a total of 43 contenders.
Seasoned cueist Imran Shahzad is the top seed in the 10-day championship, with IBSF world snooker champion Mohammad Asif seeded second.
The 20-year old Hamza Akbar, who became the youngest cueist to win the National Snooker Championship after defeating Shahzad in the final last year, is set to defend his title.
The event carries a total prize purse of Rs252, 000, with Rs 80,000 promised for the winner. The runner-up will get richer by Rs 50,000, according to the organisers who revealed details of the championship at a press conference at the Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.
Apart from the cash reward, the two finalists will also earn berths to represent Pakistan at the Asian Championship which is scheduled for April in the UAE.
The participating cueists have been divided into eight groups. After completing the league stage, top two cueists from each group will advance into the pre-quarter finals.
Former world champion Mohammad Yousuf along with former title-holder Mohammad Sajjad, Shahid Aftab, Abu Saim, Asjad Iqbal, Khurram Agha, Rambail Gul and Sultan Mohammad will be the other main contenders.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.
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