Danny Wong
SIBU: Four snooker centre operators here are joining hands to organise the 2016 Sibu Snooker Challenge Trophy Championship slated for early March.
The four snooker centres are Sibu Executive 3 Snooker Centre, Cueball International, Lucky 7 Snooker Club and Centre Point Snooker Centre.
Tournament director Danny Wong, who mooted the idea in 2012, said the whole intention was to ensure that the sport remains relevant.
“We want to ensure that local players are provided with a platform and a venue to showcase their abilities and their potting skills. And in the long run, this will eventually popularise the sport,” he said in an interview.
Wong said the tournament would be played on a round-robin basis, with the opening is to be staged at Executive 3 Snooker Centre and the closing at Cueball International.
“If the sport can generate keen participation from the local snooker enthusiasts, we may expand the number of participating centres for the next edition.”
For the upcoming competition, Wong said eight players from each snooker centre would be taking part. They will be divided into four groups. The top four from each group will qualify for the last 16 which will be played on a single knock-out basis.
The champion will get RM800, first runner-up RM400, semi-finalists RM200 each and quarter-finalists RM100 each.
The player achieving the highest break of a minimum of 70 points will also get RM500 sponsored by Mark Yeo, one of Executive 3 Snooker Centre’s owners.
Wong expressed confidence that the new system would help popularise the sport as it comprised players from different snooker centres. — by Philip Wong