More than 30 entries have been received for the August Snooker Monthly Mug Tournament that takes off today at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC).
DGC snooker captain Firoz Yusufali told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the entries are the highest for the monthly mug event since its inception. Always about 20 turn up for the event while the club has more than 40 snooker players.
“Preparations are in top gear and the event will start on after it failed to take part last month due to the Holy Month of Ramadhan,” he said. “The good thing is that this month we’ve receive record entries that we have never seen in the monthly mug.
We hope the turn up will continue to increase and we want to thank those who have come forward to support us.” Yusufali said due to the good turn up the tournament that is sponsored by Sameer Essajee will end on September 1st instead of August 25 as earlier planned.
The players will battle it out in two groups — Division A and B — according to their abilities. According to Yusufali, double champion Kalpesh Lavingia is among those who have confirmed participation.
Kalpesh became the first player to win the tournament back-to-back. He first did it in May and repeated the feat when he beat his cousin Ashok Lavingia in a thrilling best of three set tie in June.
Other players expected to vie for the top honour include veteran Raju Kanabar, who is still searching for his first silverware in the tournament this year, after failing to sparkle in the previous events and March sponsor Rupesh Soni alias ‘Gugi,’ who is also Division B April champion.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News
