10 African nations set for pool finale in Arusha
ARUSHA: MORE than 300 players from 10 African countries are battling for continental pool honours in Arusha, with the Cue Masters International Tournament reaching its climax today.
The five-day tournament, which started on Thursday at the Cue Masters’ Billiard Centre in Njiro, brings together players from Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. With the competition heading into its final day tomorrow, players are chasing both prestige and substantial prize money across the Men Singles, Ladies and Teams categories.
Tournament coordinator Nasib Nassoro Njarita said the response to the competition had been overwhelming, with 256 players registered for the Men Singles, 32 women and 15 teams taking part. He said the strong regional turnout demonstrated the growing popularity of pool in Tanzania and its potential to provide employment and income opportunities for young people.
“Pool is a source of employment for young people because it creates opportunities for them, and players can earn good money. It is not a game for hooligans as some people think,” Njarita said.
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The financial rewards have added further attraction to the tournament, with the winning team set to pocket 5,000 US dollars, while the runners-up and third-placed team will receive 2,000 US dollars and 1,000 US dollars respectively. In the Men Singles category, the champion will walk away with 4,000 US dollars, while the runner-up gets 3,000 US dollars.
The third- and fourth-placed players will receive 2,000 US dollars and 1,000 US dollars respectively, while players finishing fifth to eighth will each earn 500 US dollars. In the Ladies – Double Life category, the winner will receive 2,000 US dollars, followed by 1,000 US dollars for the runnerup, 500 US dollars for third place and 300 US dollars for fourth.
As the tournament approaches tomorrow’s finale, organisers are already looking beyond this year’s competition. Njarita said they were exploring plans for a bigger tournament next year after several major companies expressed interest in partnering with the event.
He said the increased attention was a sign that the sport was moving beyond its traditional image and gaining recognition as a serious competitive and economic activity. Njarita also challenged young people with an interest in pool to take the sport seriously, saying commitment and hard work could turn their talent into a source of livelihood.
“We are committed to developing young people and giving them opportunities to play and showcase their talents,” he said.
