The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SNIPPERS Pool Club precisionist, Marvellous Chigwada — who is fondly known as Sir Villa in local pool circles — walked away US$120 richer and also received an accommodation voucher after outplaying 31 other competitors in the Masters competition held at Golden Peacock Villa Hotel recently.
Francis Frank came second and got US$80 plus an accommodation voucher, while Steven Chingwingwi was third and received US$60 and a lunch voucher.
Tapuwa ‘Gandanga’ Chitambo got US$40 for settling for fourth position.
The exciting tournament, which is a bi-monthly event meant for players above 40 years of age was sponsored by Golden Peacock Villa Hotel.
A total of 32 players took part.
Mutare Pool League development chairman, Trinity Mukwapati commended the players who took part in the Masters contest for the high level competition witnessed during the two-day event.
Mukwapati said the competition was more evidence of the exciting times lying ahead for the game of pool in Manicaland.
“I think the players who took part in this Masters competition did very well to show the high level competition and talent in our midst. We were also excited by the maturity and professional conduct of the competitors.
“To us, this shows that the game of pool is developing in Manicaland. It actually shows us that we will have some exciting matches when the season finally gets underway,” said Mukwapati.
Pool players in Mutare are now bracing for the One Man Tournament set for February 4 at Giants Pool Club behind Dangamvura Complex before another One Man Tournament set for February 11 at Murapa Tarven.
Top six teams from the end of last season’s Mutare Pool League log table will then partake in the Champions League Preparatory Tournament at a venue to be announced on February 18.
This will pave way for the actual Champions League Tournament where all top four teams from other leagues across the country will compete on February 25.
Mutare will host the prestigious Champions League Snooker Tournament for the first time since its inception with six top Mutare Pool League clubs bracing for the potentially action packed contest.
The Champions League Tournament brings together the top four teams from all the other provinces across the country, while the hosting province – Manicaland – has the privilege of fielding two more clubs.
As the game of pool fast gains popularity countrywide, every Saturday and Sunday, it has become the norm to see scores of people gathering around pool tables at all shopping areas in Dangamvura, Sakubva, Chikanga, Hob House, Natview Park, Nyakamete Industrial Park, Palmerstone, Yeovil and Florida.
This is the sudden development in the game of pool, also widely referred to as snooker, which is fast morphing from the so called minority sports such as squash, sailing, canoe and kayak, diving, cycling, volleyball, chess among many others.
