Surya Nepal Snooker from September 24

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept 18: About six hundred snooker players will participate in the second Surya Nepal Snooker Challenge-2001, which will take place from September 24 to October 14 in all over the nation.

According to the organisers, the prize money for the tournament this year has been increased by almost 3 times and it amounts to whooping Rs. 5.30 lacs. The tournament is being organised jointly by Surya Tobacco Co. (P) Ltd. and the Billiards Snooker and Pool Association of Nepal and is supported by Cosmos Solarium.

The preliminary rounds are being held across 28 Snooker parlours in the cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Narayanghat, Butwal, Dharan, Birjunj,Itahari and Biratnagar. The final shall be played at the Lainchaur Covered Hall Lainchaur. The Surya Nepal Snooker Challenge will be held between 24 September 2001 to 14th October 2001. The qualifying rounds will be completed by 1st October 2001 and the final rounds will commence from 7th October 2001.

"We expect over 1000 people to compete with each other over 20 days with the winner getting richer by over Rs. 75,000/- in addition to a Trophy and a certificate. The runner up and the second runners up will take home over Rs. 50,000/- and 25,000/- respectively in addition to their trophies and certificates. The player securing the highest break in the final rounds will claim Rs. 25,000/-. In the qualifying stage the winner and runner up will stake their claim for Rs. 6,000/- and Rs. 4,000/- respectively," organisers sated.

Two players will qualify from each of the venues for the final round and they will compete amongst themselves along with the 8 seeded players in the BSPAN order of merit. These will be 64 players for the final round of games.

"We will continue to strive to make the tournament International by ensuring that all specifications are as per International standards."

Surya Tobacco, along with the Billiards Snooker and Pool Association of Nepal and other Snooker Parlors are determined to provide the finest Snooker Tournaments in Nepal.