Sarawak Closed champion, Brunei quartet add spice to Sibu snooker tourney
SIBU: Sarawak Closed snooker champion Rolando Lim and four Brunei national players are among the players to watch at the upcoming Swan City Invitational Snooker Championship.
Sarawak’s biggest ever snooker tournament will take place at Executive 3 Snooker Centre here on May 6.
Kuching top player Lim, who won his third Sarawak Closed title early this month, will be joined by Brunei seasoned players Mohd Hasrijam Hassan, Mohd Amir Hasan Kamis, Mohd Fa’ez Ahmad and Mohd Sufri Abdul Rahman.
The quartet have won several accolades for Brunei in major tournaments.
Other local names expected to create waves at the championship include promising youngster Edmund Bong from Kuching, Mark Yeo and Ng Hong Man from Sibu, and Elvis Wong from Sarikei.
The championship is organised by Swan City Recreational Club Sibu (SCRCS).
The champion will take home RM2,500 and a trophy whi le runner-up will receive RM1,000 and a trophy, semi-finalists RM500 plus a trophy and quarter-finalists RM250 and a medal each.
Yeo, who is SCRCS chairman, said the tournament will be a good avenue to promote snooker development among the locals.
“It has been a long time that the local snooker lovers have not been able to watch big matches with the elite players crossing swords,” he added.
He said the tournament is the brainchild of the late snooker enthusiast Danny Wong, who was instrumental in overseeing the development of snooker in Sarawak.
“Unfortunately, Wong passed away in January. To fulfil his wishes, we will continue with the tournament and ensure that it be conducted in the most professional ways.”
Yeo said they are looking for 32 contestants, with acceptance of entries on first come, first served basis.
The tournament will be played on a single knock- out basis with the winners advancing to the next round and will be played according to international snooker rules.
Yeo urged local snooker fans to grab this rare opportunity to watch top players pitting one another.
Lanang MP Alice Lau is expected to officiate at the opening of the event on May 6 at 7pm.