In a bid to bring back the glory days, the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance (SPPA); a network of Snooker and Pool players in Nigeria is organising its first open tournament to commemorate Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary.
The 8 ball pool open fiesta will see preliminary and pre-qualification round for non SPPA members held on Sunday 29th September 2019 as the top four players will advance to play amongst other SPPA member players in the main event which will be held on 1 October, 2019 at the newly constructed Snooker and Pool section of Dreamworld Sports Club Lekki.
The tournament with a total prize money of N100,000 will see the champion takes home N50,000, the first runner up wins N25,000 while the 3rd and 4th position go home with N12,500 each.
President of the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance Joachim Idada, who made the announcement, said the tournament is part of the process to development the structure for the development of the game.
“The absence of a proper structure in Cue Sports (Snooker and Pool) remains a major obstacle in the development of these sports at all level and the introduction of an acceptable ranking system and it’s successful testing at the Nicon Town Pool facility, and the hosting of the maiden edition of the Nicon Town Top4 Challenge is a milestone achievement of the SPPA. Therefore creating a mutually beneficial partnership with Club and Bars which can only be done by organizing regular standard tournament is the next phase of the developmental strategy.”
Idada also called on the corporate sector to take advantage of the benefits of the sports to their bottomline.
“We are using this opportunity to invite extend a hand of partnership to corporate Nigeria to work with us as our events offers huge benefits to partners and their products”.
The “open” status of Independence Day 8ball Pool is an introductory campaign aimed at sinking “street” Pool – which is those who play for leisure -with structured Pool- which is those who are part of the SPPA. It is also aimed at transiting Snooker and Pool from mere bar based games to major sports.
As a build up to the event, the SPPA has approved the Nicon Town 8ball Close Tournament to be organized by Nicon Town Pool. The two part event will be held at the Nicon Town Recreation Center, lekki on the 7th and 21st of September, 2019.
All SPPA accredited or affiliate clubs or bars are required to provide the Cue Sports Management and Ranking System which is a computerized point based platform that creates a leaders ladder both at the local and national level.