Fong favoured for 6Reds title despite drawback

NATIONAL snooker champion Djorne Fong is expected to add the PNG 6Reds snooker title to his growing collection of trophies.
The tournament starts tomorrow and Fong, who has won nearly every major snooker title in the past six years, is favoured to claim the National Gaming Control Board-sponsored title.
Fong has won every title on offer except the Port Moresby snooker handicap challenge.
With a handicap of -20, 15 ahead of veterans Ken Leo, Roger Ng and Peter Fong who are on -5, it is not an easy deficit to wipe off when he has to give opponents more than a 30-point start.
That has meant players can finally compete with the country’s leading snooker and billiards exponent with successful results.
In the last handicap challenge last month, Fong was uncharatersitically knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual winner Kelly Yambi 3-0 in the best of five frames after giving Yambi (10) a 30 points start.
However, the 23-year-old from Kavieng, won his sixth consecutive BSP Port Moresby Snooker Open in April and the BSP PNG men’s national title in September.
In July, he won the POM billiards title for the fourth consecutive year.
Fong is a gifted cue sports player. But the 6Red competition is shorter and faster and a missed opportunity can be costly.
He is sure to get some opposition from fellow national representatives Arua Simoi, Willie Vaieke and female champion Geua John this time around.
At the Oceania championships in Melbourne earlier this year, Fong beat former Australian snooker champion Steve Mifsud 3-2 in group A but could not advance into the top 16 after finishing third.
“It is a new concept and the rules are basically the same as the normal snooker game,” tournament director Richard Whitchurch said.
“It is faster and exciting and at this stage, anybody can win this inaugural event,” he said.
Fifty-six players are expected to register when nominations close today at 5pm.
“The draws will be done and a briefing will be held after registration closes, so if you haven’t paid your fee of K150, I urge you to do so before 5pm today,” Whitchurch said.
He said games would start at 6pm tomorrow at the Aviate, Car and Port Moresby Country clubs ending with the finals on Sunday.
“Everybody has a chance but I guess that’s when we will find out if Djorne Fong can win the first NGCB PNG 6Red title,” Whitchurch said.