Top snooker players for central zone tournament

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Jee Chau Hui one of the players to watch at the coming 2015 Sarawak Central Zone Snooker Championship.

SIBU: The top 48 snooker players from the central region have confirmed their participation in the 2015 Sarawak Central Zone Snooker Championship, to be held at Executive 3 Snooker Centre starting tomorrow and ending on Friday.

With the exception of Yu Hung Kai from Sarikei, the rest of the players are all from here.

Among the title contenders are defending champion Mark Yeo, last year’s first runner-up Danny Wong and semi-finalists Jee Chau Hui and Sim Hong Hui.

The annual tournament, organised by Sarawak Billiards and Snooker Sports Federation (SBSSF), will be held in three zones – southern zone in Kuching, central zone in Sibu and northern zone in Miri.

It is aimed at picking the top the four players from each zone to represent Sarawak in the Asian Invitational to be held in Kuala Lumpur next year.

Yeo, who is also the co-owner of Executive 3 Snooker centre, said there was a slight decrease in the number of players compared to last year.

“Six players from Kapit, who had initially indicated an interest to take part opted out in the last minute due to some unforeseen circumstances,” he added.

He was quite disappointed with the dwindling number of players from the central region taking part but nevertheless, expressed the hope to see quality matches during the tournament.

“All the top players from the central region are still in the fray and there should be no shortage of thrill during the championship. Expect some good matches from these players,” he added.

The champion will get RM1,200, first runner-up will get RM600 and joint third will get RM300 each.

The quarter-finalists will each get RM100.

A separate prize of RM300 will be given to the player achieving the highest break while a century breaker will get RM500.

Meanwhile, SBSSF’s President Datuk John Sikie Tayai is expected to officiate at the function at 7.30pm.