Top cueists to vie for honours in PGI Billiards, Snooker tourney

Pune, June 19 (UNI) Top-notch cueists will be showing their talents in the prize money billiards and snooker championship being hosted by the Poona Goan Institute (PGI) here from tomorrow.

Known for having some of the big guns in their ranks during the prestine glory of the British Raj, the PGI has rechristened the tournament after a gap of two year, offering whooping total prize money of Rs 75,000.

Giving the details, PGI secretary for sports Savio D'Silva said the tables have been done up totally by laying brand new cloth so as to enable cueists to give their best. As many as 64 cueists in snooker and 32 in billiards have confirmed their participation to be played on league-cum-knock out basis, he said.

Home cueists, namely Anthony D'Gama, Felix Francis along with Clint D'Souza are expected to give a run for the money to the best in business.

The spotlight, however, will be on India no 3 junior Shivam Aurora who will be turning for PYC gymkhana while others namely Zubin Registrara of Turf Club, Rahul Bagga of Poona Club and Sachin Sancheti, Sripad Kulkarni and Abhimanu Deshmukh will make the competition razor sharp, Mr D'Silva elaborated.

Elaborate arrangments have been made to make the championship a resounding success, Mr D'Silva added.

The tournament will be formally inaugurated by the PGI General Secretary Mr Savio Mascrenhas tommorrow.

UNI