Pool Championships boosted by Nile Breweries

By Samson Opus 

THE Nile Special Open Pool championship has received a huge boost sponsored with Nile Breweries injecting sh1.1b up from sh570m.

The offer that was unveiled by Nile Special brand manager Timothy Kayondo in a press conference on Thursday will besides adding the prize stake, see the qualifiers widened to give more chances to players.

A top prize of sh2m and a comprehensively insured Toyota Brevis is at stake for the winner of the grand final scheduled for August 30.

 The champion who will be the Nile Special ambassador will earn ‘lucrative’ endorsement and will also earn a fully sponsored trip to the World Pool Championship, Kayondo confirmed.

“We are very pleased with the level of development in pool. So we are putting this money into good use,” Mawanda said, adding, “Nile Special is a champion beer that believes in champions. Whoever has the spirit to win is a champion.”

In order to give a wider opportunity to all players, the qualifying programme has been expounded into two levels. This is meant to cater for 15,000 players expected in the event starting on May 14.

The starting level of competition will be mini-qualifying centres. The 320 will feed the regional 40 qualifying centres.

The best four players from eight mini-qualifying centres will enter the regional centre from where the best three players earn a berth to the Grand Finale.

Under the new package, the top eight seeds will be receiving appearance fees during the tournament. To Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) chairman Farouk Kisuze Wamala, the package is likely to improve the development of the sport further.

“I would like to thank Nile Breweries for being wonderful partners because we have grown with them,” he said.