Sarawak snooker in 2016 ‘New highs’ but much room for improvement
SIBU: SnookerenthusiastMarkYeo regards 2016 as another successful season for the development of snooker in the state.
Other divisions may not be so active as compared to the staging of snooker competitions in central divisions, he observed, but he believed the sport has hit new heights during the year.
“There are lots of highs throughout the year but my greatest wish for 2017 season, obviously, is for other divisions notably Kuching and Miri to put in serious efforts to come up with more activities. Together, we can help push the sport towards a new threshold,” he told The Borneo Post in an exclusive interview.
Yeo said it saddens him when he thinks about the lackadaisical attitude of those in other divisions in promoting snooker.
He noted that there were no major tournaments staged in cities like Kuching and Miri throughout the year.
“There a re good players in Kuching and Miri but the unfortunate thing is nobody seems to have the initiative to organise the game. Practice makes perfect and without any competitive competitions, the standard of the players will no doubt remain stagnant.”
“Sibu alone cannot do much and let’s all work together and come up with more snooker competitions. Don’t let the sport die and it would be hard to revive the sport if it slips into the doldrums again.”
Yeo, however, says there is a silver lining as Sarikei, under the management of the flamboyant Elvis Wong, has witnessed tremendous growth in the sport in Sarikei division in the last few years.
“He is one great snooker promoter and we ought to emulate his fighting spirit in pushing the sport towards new heights,” he said.
Yeo said Elvis also took the initiative to organise the inaugural Club Cue Repok Invitational Snooker Championship held in Sarikei Kelab Cue Repok Centre in early Nov.
“It was the first time that so many big stars descended in Sarikei to take part in the championship and it will generate an interest in the sport for a long time to come,” he said.
Looking back, Yeo, who is also one of the top snooker players in the state, said two major tournaments were staged in Sibu division during the year.
There was the inaugural 2016 Sibu Snooker Challenge Trophy held in March and the just concluded Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship held at Executive 3 Snooker Centre a week ago.
Yeo said the Sibu Snooker Challenge Trophy was jointly organised by four snooker centres namely Sibu Executive 3 Snooker Centre, Cueball International, Lucky 7 Snooker Club and Centre Point Snooker Centre.
He said the idea was mooted by tournament director Danny Wong, another snooker enthusiast, several years back.
He said the whole intention was to ensure that local players are provided with a platform and a venue to showcase their abilities and their potting skills, promote better integration of players and also foster closer rapport among the players.
The tournament was played on a round- robin basis, with eight players representing their respective snooker centers and the game were played at all the four centres on rotation.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship was organised by Sarawak Billiards & Snooker Sports Federation ( SBSSF) in collaboration with Executive 3 Snooker Centre.
It replaced the three zonal championships with the aim to pick four top players to represent Sarawak in the National Snooker Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur next year.
2016 also saw SBSSF sent six players to take part in the 28th National Close Snooker Championship held in Seri Kembangan, Selangor from June 24 to July 3.
Yeo described the trip as more of an exposure than to bring back medals.
He admit ted the standard of the local players were still several rungs behind those in the Peninsula.
“Nevertheless, the trip was worth it as the players inherited lots of experience and exposure from it.”