Jacob Wong who beat Ng Hong Man to qualify for the last 16.
SIBU: Sibu Division Billiards & Snooker Association (SDBSA) advisor Danny Wong said players taking part in the 2014 Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship could feel proud of themselves.
“This is the first time in the history of the snooker tournaments in Sarawak that had successfully attracted so many top players to come and participate,” he explained.
Wong was speaking to reporters after the opening of the tournament by Executive 3 Snooker Centre director Hii Teck Ang.
“I dare rate this as the most interesting and challenging tournament in the state snooker tournament and your mere participation speaks volume of your status,” he added.
A total of 32 players are taking part in the week-long championship organised by Sibu Executive 3 Snooker Centre for the second year running.
Kuching have sent 12 players, Sibu has six and Miri has one who has earned an automatic final berth.
Another 13 of the 42 players from throughout the state have to go through the qualifying stages.
Meanwhile, Wong expressed deep disappointment with relevant authorities who had pledged to upgrade the sport.
‘In fact, there is hardly any major tournament in the various divisions being organised.”
“Even the promised trips for the four winners of the respective zones to compete in the 2015 Asian Invitational Championship in Kuala Lumpur next year appeared to have hit a deadlock,” he said.
Such unfulfilled promises, Wong argued, would demoralise players and damage their trust of these authorities.