24 confirmed for POM billiards open

TWENTY-four players have confirmed their participation in the 2011 Moni Plus Port Moresby Billiards open which cannons off this evening at the Port Moresby Country Club.
Port Moresby Billiards and Snooker Association public relations officer John Chan said yesterday the response was overwhelming.
“This tournament was to be played last November to end the POMBSA 2011 calendar of events but was deferred to this year and the response we have received has been great,” Chan said.
He said current champion Djorne Fong was out to defend the title but should get some stiff opposition from fellow PNG representatives Arua Simoi, Roger Ng, female champion Geua John and old hand Gary Welsby.
“There are also a few hidden skills in the likes of last year’s plate winner Joey Chan, Victor Pomaleu and newcomer Joseph Ng which should produce some spectacular billiards played this weekend,” Chan said.
The 24 players have been pooled in four groups of six and after the briefing at 5.30pm, some matches will start at 7pm tomorrow night.
The round robin will be played over the best of 3×25 minutes.
This should be over by Saturday afternoon when the top 16 will be played over the best of 3×35 minutes followed by the quarter-finals over the best of 3×45 minutes later that evening.
Chan said the semi-finals would be held on Sunday morning in the best of 3×60 minutes and this would be followed with the grand final, also played over the best of 3×60 minutes.  A presentation will follow the grand final.
All matches will be played at the Port Moresby Country club.
Chan said the association at its last meeting agreed that any player/s who did not attend the presentation without a reasonable excuse and/or do not wear the sponsors uniform would have 50% of their prizemoney forfeited.
“This rule has been introduced for the benefit of sport and its sponsors and will be adapted in all future events sanctioned by the PNGBSA,” Chan said.
He thanked Moni Plus for their support for the sixth consecutive year.
He also acknowledged the support of Street Scene, Bizprint and Evandar.
“There is going to be some interesting and good billiards played over the weekend,” Chan said.