The inaugural Kimbe Snooker Open is set to be a thrilling three-day championship, running from October 25th to October 27th, hosted at West New Britain’s Sanremo Club and New Mosa Club.
The tournament, which promises intense cue action, is made possible with support from West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, along with several local business sponsors including the Liamo Reef Resort and the West New Britain provincial government.
Kimbe Snooker President John Sitapai, along with his executive team, has spearheaded the initiative to establish this championship, drawing praise from the Port Moresby Billiards and Snooker Association (POMBSA).
The association lauded Sitapai and his team for achieving the goal of bringing a competitive snooker championship to Kimbe for the first time.
They also extended gratitude to Joe Chan from Port Moresby, who is overseeing the tournament to ensure smooth operations, wishing all participants the best in the matches ahead.
The championship kicked off on October 24th with an induction and training session for officials, setting the stage for this weekend’s high-stakes games.
After a warm-up session on Friday morning, the pool games officially started at 1:00 p.m., showcasing the skills of local and visiting players at both Sanremo Club and New Mosa Club venues.
Day two, on Saturday, October 26th, saw the continuation of pool games, where top players advanced to the round of sixteen. Matches began at 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., with players vying for their chance to reach Sunday’s quarterfinals.
Champions will be declared on Sunday, October 27th, following the finals at 3:00 p.m.
The day’s lineup includes quarterfinal playoffs starting at 10:00 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 12:30 p.m. and culminating in the grand final.
Winners and runners-up will be honoured at a presentation night ceremony beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The POMBSA extended its well-wishes to all the participants, acknowledging the “tremendous job” of the Kimbe Snooker team in bringing this event to fruition and emphasizing its commitment to further advancing the sport in Papua New Guinea.