Sarawak Closed Snooker C’ship on Sept 19 – 22

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SIBU: Top local cueists are expected to showcase their potting skills at the coming Executive 3 Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship which will be held at Executive 3 Snooker Centre from Sept 19 to 22.

Among the big names are 2012 Sarawak Open champion James Giam, 57, from Kuching, first runner-up Alvis Wong Teck Chuan from Sarikei and joint third Mark Yeo, 40, from Sibu and national back-up player Mohamed Sepawi from Miri.

Sibu evergreen player, 64-year-old Danny Wong and former state champion Tan Chin Yong from Kuching are also expected to join in the fray.

“It will be a potent combination of the young and the old and the players are expected to give some mouth-watering show to fascinate and thrill the crowd,” Sibu Division Billiards & Snooker Association (SDBSA) president Joe Ting said recently.

The event is organized by SDBSA and is fully sponsored by Executive 3 Snooker Centre with 57 players from throughout the state are competing.

Kuching is sending 15 of its top players while Miri is sending three and Bintulu together with Sarikei and Kapit are sending two players each.

Host Sibu had sent the bulk of the players and most of them are the young hopefuls at the tournament.

Ting had expressed satisfaction with the good response and said that it augured well for the promotion and development of the sport.

“They have the potential to rule the table and they are the stars to watch. On paper, their names may not ring a bell but they can create upsets and make an immediate impact at the championship.”

For the Sibu players, Ting said only the top 16 will be shortlisted from the preliminary rounds scheduled to be held from Sept 3 to 14.

The top Sibu 16 would then take on the outstation players in the final round from Sept 19 to 22.

The champion will bring home RM2,000, the first runner will get RM1,000 and the semi-finalists will each get RM500. Each of the quarter-finalists will received RM200.

The player achieving the highest break (70 points or above) will get an extra RM300 while those who achieved the century break will get a unit of Ding JunHui’ cue worth about RM2,000. There is only one prize for the highest break and century break.

Meanwhile, the championship coincides with the official opening of Executive 3 Snooker Centre located at Lorong 5, Wong King Huo Road.