Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TOP seed Ahmad Taufiq Murni (pic) progressed to the next round of the 1st Zain 9-Ball Pool Open Championship cruising past his opponents in group F yesterday.
The 27 year-old defeated Fhamie Sharum from Sarawak 7-1 in the final of the group following his win over Handy Lee earlier at the Master Alim Pool in Kiulap.
Taufiq is scheduled to meet another top contender Md Haikal Qarin Hj Haironi Hamizin in the round of 16 tonight.
“It is good for us to have this kind of local tournament happening especially for those who actively competing… it will be a very good warm up,” said Taufiq in an interview with BruSports yesterday.
“We have plans this year and I will be competing at China Open next month and the Golden Break tournament in Kuala Lumpur in July.
“I won’t be going to the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games this year, so the main goal is to be at the Asian Indoor Games in September, so we will see how it goes,” added Taufiq.
Hj Md Khairuddin Hj Hasnan in action during at the 1st Zain 9-Ball Pool Open Championship yesterday. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Hj Md Khairuddin Hj Hasnan is the other cueist that made it into the next round from group F after beating Fhamie in the final match of the loser’s bracket.
The only female cueist in the tournament Fadia Nurul Huda Ibrahim from Sarawak also qualified into the round of 16 after winning the loser’s bracket in group G where she will be joined by Pg Anak Hj Abdul Awadi ZH Pg Anak Hj Latifuddin.
The former will take on Khalid Hj Abu Bakar in the last-16 while Pg Anak Hj Abdul Awadi will be up against Md Isa Hj Md Said
Hj Md Alirani Hj Besar is also through to the next round of the 1st Zain 9-Ball Pool Open Championship. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
The other round of of 16 matchups will see Ak Saiful Azri Pg Roslee face off against Hj Md Khairuddin, Faizzal Daud play Pg Hj Husairi Pg Hj Metusain, Mansyor Suwari against Mahmood, Lim Wei Kok battle Azim Hj Abu Bakar and James Murphy take on Hj Md Alirani Hj Besar.
Organised by Master Alim Pool and supported by the Brunei Cue Sports Association (BCSA) and Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCYS), the competition offers a cash prize of $1000 and trophy for the champion.
