By VINEEL NAND
Fiji Bitter sponsored 2nd Nationals will take place in Suva from Saturday 22nd June – 23rd June at Fiji Club (FC – Host) and co hosted by Defence Club and Merchant Club.
The Association is getting semi professional by requesting all the players to deposit the Entry fees into the BSAF’s account (ANZ; account number 0157-3822).
Entry fees:- A Grade $ 25-00 B Grade $ 20-00
Entries will close at 5.00 on Tuesday 18th June.
There are some conditions to be followed that is:
- Formal dress codeapplies from the first round, i.e., long sleeve shirt, sulu / long pants (trousers), bow tie, dress shoes / sandals. Strictly, round-neck t-shirts, jeans or open shoes / flip flops will NOT be allowed.
- Note that a minimum of 24 entries per division will enable pool play; otherwise, matches will proceed on a knockout format.
- For each division, the top two (2) players from each of the eight pools (A-H) will qualify for the ‘Round of 16’, or ‘Pre-quarters’.
- For all venues, the respective club rules, regulations and general dress code will apply. Players, and spectators breaching these rules will be asked to leave the premises immediately and the BSAF will also take appropriate disciplinary action against those implicated.
Also FASANOC and BSAF is strictly not allowing players to smoke or drink (alcohol beverages) during their respective tournament matches.
The Tournament coordinators are: Mr. Praveen Maharaj & Jim Gaunavinaka.
Anup Kumar, Bipin Patel, Praneel Singh and Suresh Chauhan are in the panel of referees.
As an affiliated member International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) and Oceania Billiards & Snooker Federation (OBSF) top 16 players from Fiji will get a chance to play in Oceania Champions and winner will get to play two years in the Snooker tour and World championship.
Current No. 1 Praneel Singh, Snooker Guru Suman Lal, 1st Nationals champion Jiten Prasad, Fiji Games Champion Mahendra Deo, CoC winner Yogendra Prasad are hot favorites to top the ranking in the A Grade. In B Grade Prasad brothers Rahil & Sahil, 1st National winner Raman Lal, Open National Six Reds Winner Isireli Kaci, Abdul Masood and Ravi Narayan are hot favorites to be promoted in the A Grade.
The hot favourites for the 2nd National in A Grade are Defending Champion Jitendra Prasad, Yogendra Prasad, 2013 Fiji Games Gold Medalist Mahendra Deo, Suman Lal, last year’s Fiji’s No. 1 Praneel Singh, Viliame Umu, Pritesh Khatri and Six Reds Winner Isireli Kaci.
They will face uphill battle against 1st Nationals Surprised semi finalist Shalendra Goundar, Ali Hussein, Isikeli Nawaqaliva.
Dark horse of the tournament are: Salvin Krishna, Vinesh Prasad, Rimal Narayan, David Reddy expected to tough challenge to the top contenders.
In B Grade Raman Lal is ranked 1 for the tournament and will face stiff competition from Prasad brother Rahil and Sahil, Abdul Masood, Eroni Vaka and Ravi Narayan.
We are expecting 32 players in A Grade and 28 players B Grade. Players from Labasa, Suva, Nausori, Tailevu, Ba, Tavua, Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka and Savusavu are expected to enter the National Competition.
Also on the same note BSAF would like to congratulate Southern and Northen Division for starting the Snooker League every Sunday.
Newly elected President of BSAF thanked all Clubs and players for having faith in him, he mission to send players to World Championship and win OBSF Title.
Bhatti’, congratulated B Grade division player Isireli Kaci for winning the Fiji Bitter & City Forex National Six Red Open in Nadi Sports Club fornight ago by defeating Yogendra Prasad by 3-2.
Fiji Snooker Website will be launched on 22nd June at Fiji Club at 9.30 AM.
Code of Ethics is now part of Constitution and new discplenery committee has been formed.
BSAF has released the BSAF’s Calendar of Events (CoE) for 2013 – 2014. This will, no doubt, allow everyone to plan their other commitments (family gatherings, travel, etc., etc.) accordingly for the players.
Dates Event Venues
Sat 04 / Sun 05 May 2013 1st National Ranking Tournament LC / SSC, Lautoka
+ AGM
Sat 11 / Sun 12 May XIII Fiji Games DC / FC / MC, Suva
Sat 01 / Sun 02 June 6 – Reds NSC, Nadi
Sat 22 / Sun 23 June 2nd National Ranking Tournament DC / FC / MC, Suva
Sat 06 / Sun 07 July Veterans LC / SSC, Lautoka
Sat 27 / Sun 28 July Billiards DC / FC / MC, Suva
Sat 03 / Sun 04 August 3rd National Ranking Tournament LC / SSC, Lautoka
Sat 16 / Sun 17 August Fiji Open & International Carnival DC / FC / MC, Suva
Sat 07 / Sun 08 September 4th National Ranking Tournament LC / SSC, Lautoka
Sat 05 / Sun 06 October Champion of Champions (CoC) To be confirmed
Sat 18 / Sun 19 January 2014 East vs West LC / SSC, Lautoka
+ AGM
This year we have a very busy calendar with 11 tournaments and 8 tournament to go.
Bhatti the General Manager for Carz and Cars would like to take this opportunity to thank the founders of BSAF Micky Morrel, Ben Oyagawa and Andrew for their hardwork in forming the association way back in 1960 at United Club in Suva. So this year BSAF is celebrating 53rd year.
Past Presidents are: Som Padayachi, Late Desmond Whiteside, Suresh Chauhan, Dr. B R Sainath, Bruno Kruijer, Jay Kalyan, Donald Mani, Philip Gock and Anup Kumar.