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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 12 (EMN): Temjenlemba Longchar (Alem), 35, from Club Area 51 clinched the championship title of the Winter Open Snooker Challenge 2020 organised by Cue Association of Nagaland (CAN) after defeating Kezhavituo Vizo of Club 147 in the final match on Saturday evening in Kohima.
The intense final match officiated by Tosovi Kulnu and Pika Achumi lasted almost two hours at Club Area 51, where Longchar beat his opponent with straight three frames.
Winning the match, Temjenlemba Longchar fetched a cash award of INR 60,000, while Vizo received INR 30,000. Semi finalists Tompangkokba Longchar from Atou Pool House and Ruokuopielie Rutsa of Club 147 received INR 15,000 each.
The champion also received INR 10,000 as the "highest break point" winner with the credit of 60 break points.
Former Naga Wrestling Association (NWA) champion Kezhalelie Keretsü said during the closing ceremony that snooker/billiard came to Nagaland ‘really late’ but has "gained much popularity in just a short time".
The promotion and popularity of the games in the state, according to him, is because of efforts from snooker enthusiasts like CAN who "had dreams from the very start to produce world class players from our state".
Meanwhile, Keretsü said that the only thing that is keeping the Nagas from reaching the national and international platform "is the lack of a well-laid professional approach". He, therefore, urged the players to be determined enough to attain their goal and do away with "casual approaches, get out of our comfort zones, break the ice and steal a march (on their competitors)."
Also speaking at the closing ceremony of the tournament, CAN president Yangertemjen expressed happiness that players have improved and become more disciplined over the years. "We have learned to be patient and learned to give respect and take respect at the same time," he said.
He advised the senior players to encourage their juniors so that there is "no generation gap" to carry the game forward, and gain more professionalism in the snooker game in the coming years.
Yangertemjen further expressed hope that players will bring laurels to the association as well as the state by participating in the national and international level tournaments in the days to come.
Altogether, 42 participants from Kohima and Dimapur districts competed in the four-day tournament which began from December 9 at Baulkline Club and Club Area 51.
The tournament was powered by K Sechü & Co, Eastern Mirror as media partner and Imprint as print partner.
Meanwhile, CAN has informed that the "Champion of Champions," the final tournament of the first snooker ranking season, will be tentatively held in second week of January next year at Club 147 in Kohima.