Lucknow: Preparations are in full swing as the stage is set for the 4th Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship, beginning September 17, at the Vijayantkhand Mini Stadium here in Gomti Nagar. The event, which is being organised by the Lucknow Cue Sports Association under the auspices of UPBSA and Billiard Snooker Federation of India, will carry a total prize money of over Rs 1.5 lakh.
UPBSA secretary Tanuj Kohli informed that over 200 players from all parts of the country would be participating in the nine-day championship, final of which will be played on September 25.
“It’s a big honour for us as for the first time we are holding a cue sport nationals in the state capital,” said Kohli, adding, “We will leave no stone unturned in making this championship a great success.”
As many as 48 players from the qualifying rounds will make it to the main draw, which is to start from September 22, while 16 from the last year’s ranking will make it to the main draw directly.
Country’s top players like Alok Kumar (only player to have won Asian Snooker and Billiard Championship and won a medal in Asian games in pool), Kamal Chawala (Asia No 3), Laxman Rawat (Medalist in 6 Red Snooker at the 2013 Asian Indoor Games), Shivam Arora (reigning National Champion- 6 Red Snooker), Manan Chandra (reigning National Champion- 15 Red Snooker) and in the Women’s Championship Chitra Magimairag (past World Billiard Champion and reigning 15 Red Snooker National Champion), Arantxa Sanchis (reigning 6 Red Snooker National Champion), Vidya Pillai (Medalist in the World Snooker Championship, National 15 Red Snooker Champion) etc. have confirmed their participation.
Kohli also informed that around 50 plus players from hosts Uttar Pradesh would also be participating in the qualifying rounds, where as UP No 1 Anuj Bhargava and UP No 2 Akshay Kumar, both from Lucknow, have been upgraded for the main draw directly as being the wild cards of the hosts.
Two others Alok Kumar of Punjab and 2011 6-Red National Champion Shahbaz Khan of Kolkata too have been upgraded to the main draw following the withdrawal of two seeded players from the last year’s championship.
