There was no room for mistakes as pool players battled for top honours at the International Open Pool Carnival which came to a close on Monday morning in Eldoret.
Zimbabwean Escha Chimbwada was crowned champion of the International Pool Carnival staged at the Timba-XO pool arena on Saturday night and Monday morning.
While Chimbwada won the international category, Kenyan pool players oozed class in the local Shujaa categories in the Eldoret showdown.
Chimbwanda took on Malawian Standford Ginte in a thrilling Race to 9 final of the inaugural extravaganza.
The Zimbabwean won a controversial first rack after a push ball foul he committed was ruled out.
He hammered Ginte 9-6 in the hotly contested final. The Malawian thrashed Tanzanian Issaya Paulo 9-2 in the semi-final but faced a well prepared Chimbwada in the final game.
Out of a total of 97 frames which he played, Chimbwanda won 60 and lost 37 while he savoured victory in 60 and lost 39 in a total 90 racks.
“The tournament was not easy. I managed to play my games carefully. From the first round, it was tough but I played well. I am now looking forward to the tournament in Kenya this December,” Chimbwada said after winning the top prize money of Sh1.5 million in the tournament.
Uganda’s Joseph Kasozi emerged fifth behind compatriot Mark Mukiibi despite 66 and 65 percentage wins. Chimbwada had 62 percentage win.
Samuel Karuru, the only Kenyan to reach the quarter final was eliminated by the champion, Chimbwada.
David Njane, who was fresh participating in the Heyball Grandmasters finals in China a week before competing in Eldoret took the men’s Shujaa final title, defeating Rollince Onyango in the final on Monday.
Onyango caused a stalemate after blocking the corner hole with two ordinary balls and a black but still went ahead to win the set.
Njane took the second rack with Onyango still having not pocketed four balls.
Onyango trounced him in the second stack before Njane leveled the scores in the third hotly contested stage.
Njane continued the lead with a straight 8 balls in the first cue.
The midnight game was stunning as Onyango pocketed all his balls to finish the frame without Njane making any shot.
“I have just returned from China and it has been more of training and focus. The Eldoret tournament was one of the biggest wins for me. The prize money is good and I want to use it to acquire my own pool table,” the Mchana Pool Club, Nairobi member said.
Out of his 73 frames in eight matches he played in the tournament, Njane won 48 and lost 25 while Onyango triumphed in 54 and was beaten in 37.
Fredrick Kimutai and Amos Netima took the third and fourth positions respectively after winning six and five matches in the tournament that attracted over 500 pool players.
Naomi Ng’ang’a was crowned the Shujaa Ladies champion after winning against Patricia Keruche in the women’s competitive final.
Stephen Rutto
| May 26, 2025