TRAINING HARD: Sarawak snooker champion, Mark Yeo is targeting for at least the semi-final berth in the coming Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship to be held in Bintulu from Dec 3 to 9. Yeo who was recently elected as SDBSA deputy president is among the eight from Sibu competing in the two-day event.
SIBU: Forty players are expected to compete in the Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship to be held in Bintulu from Dec 3 to 9.
Organised by Sarawak Billiards and Snooker Sports Federation (SBSSF), the year-end event will feature top players including state champion, Mark Yeo who will be joined by Mohd Sepawi from national side and former state top veteran James Giam.
The event offers RM3,000 prize money for the winner, RM1,500 for the first runner-up and RM750 each for the semi-finalists and RM350 for the quarter-finalists.
Meanwhile, Yeo described the event is a good avenue for state’s snooker elites to showcase their talents and potting skills.
“This is a big tournament and obviously, all snooker enthusiasts will be gunning for the prestigious title. Hopefully, it will create interest among them to get more involved and help raise the standard of the game,” he said.
An additional carrot of RM2,000 is up for grabs for those who can pot the maximum 147 points, and a separate RM500 for the century break.
Yeo who competed in the recent Asian Invitational Snooker Championship held in Kuala Lumpur, has set himself a
modest target of reaching the semi-final.
“It is a huge mountain to climb and I will be happy to make it to the semi-final berth. Anything beyond is a bonus,” he said.
For the coming event, Yeo listed Sepawi who is currently attached to the national snooker back-up squad as the title-favorite.
“Sepawi is a seasoned player and it will be difficult, at least for those from Sarawak, to dethrone him at the moment. He has all the experience and the potting skills,” said Yeo who was recently elected as deputy president of SDBSA.
Sibu is fielding eight players to compete in the coming event who include Jee Chau Hui, Joe Ting, Ng Hog Man, Ting Siew Chon, Kenny Wong and Law Chiik Ting.