Sigatoka snooker returns
THE North West Billiards and Snooker Association (NWBSA) Open Championship returns to Sigatoka after more than a decade.
Sigatoka has produced some top snooker players like Rocky Ali, Anant Raj, the late Manju Ram, who was a former Fiji No.1 and the late Sanjeet Shankar, who was a former national snooker and billiards winner.
Tournament coordinator Tarun Padayachi said the top five ranked players in the country would be participating in the twoday event.
He said the NWBSA, in partnership with Sigatoka Club, had sponsored the tournament.
“Deepak Jai Ram from the Tigers Club in Nausori is the number one seed,” Padayachi said.
“Then we have the likes of Praneel Singh from Merchants Club and Erenio Pene from the Simla Dragons, who will also be leading the charge for the title.
“Veteran Viliame Umu who is classed as Fiji’s ‘Billiards Master’ will be out to create upsets with the inclusion of Isireli Kaci, Navneil Maharaj, Esala Talebula, Ravi Naidu, ‘Natabua Star’ Rajnesh Nand, Roneel Sami, Salend Scotty, William Lee, and Jese Salawai.”
Padayachi said there would be three frames played from the opening round.
He said this would increase to five frames from the semi-finals onwards. “We will utilise three tables at Sigatoka Club and one at Olosara Club,” Padayachi said.
“A two foul and a miss rule will apply.
“Dress code will be long pants/jeans, collared T-Shirt and closed shoes. After the first round every losing player will need to officiate the next game.”
The winner will receive $400 while the runner-up will get $200.
The losing semi-finalists will each receive $100 each and the losing quarterfinalists will get $50 each.
Players participating: Sanjeev Nand, Reginald Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Sanjeet Gosai, Navin Dutt, Anant Raj, Manav Raj, Shalvin Sundu, Gerald Sharma, George Steel, Farook Ali, Rocky Naicker, Albert Ali, Ednith Nair, Sunny Narayan, Tarun Padayachi , Mukesh Chetty, Navneil Maharaj, Esala Talebula, Erenio Pene, Ravi Naidu, Rajnesh Nand, Roneel Sami, Isireli Kaci, Joseph Lawrence, Salend Scotty, William Lee, Rocky Ali, Jese Salawai, Ratu Liga, Viliame Umu, Amani Nuku, Deepak Jai Ram, Saivati Natoga, Jason Sharma, Alzumar Khan, Zaved Ahmed, Pranil Singh, Vikrant Sharma, Philip Gock, Inoke Qereqeretabua, Nadeem, Sanju.