Billiards open gets K10,000 boost

THE Port Moresby Billiards and Snooker Association received K10,000 sponsorship in cash and kind yesterday from Moni Plus for the prestigious Port Moresby Billiards Open tournament.
It received K7,500 and K3,000 worth of uniforms and equipment to be used during the tournament.
The competition is due to cue off on July 18, ending on July 22. It will be played at the Port Moresby Country Club.
Being the only billiards competition in PNG, the seventh POM Billiards Open is bound to be bigger than ever, with 24 players already nominated to contest.
But because of the overwhelming interest, the competition organisers plan to increase the number of participants to 32 next year.
Five-time reigning billiards champion Djorne Fong will be defending his title against what Port Moresby Billiards and Snooker Association president Roger Wilson said would be stiff opposition with the likes of last year’s runner-up Roger Ng and veterans Yiannis Nocoloau, Gary Welsby and Robin Seeto.
Other players who should prove formidable and equally interesting to watch will be national representatives Arua Simoi and Ralph Kaina.
Only two women will be taking part this year, both of whom are women’s snooker champions in Geua John and Helen Samuel.
They are expected to cue out in the top eight and give the men a run for their money.
Wilson, who is tournament director, said: “I can assure you that there will be exciting billiards played over that weekend.”