Yasin speaks on
Six Red Introduction
SIX
RED
SNOOKER :: THE
T20
OF CUE SPORTS
All preparations have been finalized to stage
the SangSom 6-red Snooker International, a tournament that is bound
to go down as a milestone in the cue sports history books and has
all the ingredients to become the most exciting event of the year.
Addressing a crowded press conference on
Thursday, Sports Authority of Thailand Deputy Governor Chalermchai
Bunyarak praised the efforts of the Billiard Sports Association of
Thailand (BSAT) in making the event possible and adding a brand new
dimension to the discipline of snooker. The tournament takes place
at the five-star Montien Riverside Hotel in Bangkok on July 8-13.
Sindhu Pulsirivong, president of BSAT, told the
press conference that the announcement of the event had created
great excitement at all levels of international snooker and two
former world professional champions, Peter Ebdon and Ken Doherty,
had already confirmed their participation. Current world No. 4 Mark
Selby, winner of two Main Tour ranking events in the 2007-2008
season, will also be starring in the event, he added.
Snooker ace Yasin Merchant is excited over the
new format of the game he is currently practicing at the Khar
Gymkhana :: the 6-red snooker. He is preparing for the $1.8m baht
Inaugural 6-Red Snooker International Tournament to be held in
Bangkok (Thailand) from July 8 to 13.
"It could be a hit like
the T20 of cricket" said Yasin. In this format unlike the 15
reds in the rack at the start there will be six reds to be potted
along with the six colors. It's the idea of Sindhu Pulsirivong, the
chairman of Asian Confederation of Billiards & Snooker who tried
this event at the Korat South East Asia Games 2007.
All-time great Jimmy White will be there, also
two former world professional champions, Peter Ebdon and Ken Doherty
and current world number four Mark Selby, the winner of two Main
Tour ranking events in the 2007-2008 season. A total of 18 Main Tour
events will be taking part.
Yasin, Aditya Mehta and Manan Chandra are the
three Indians playing the event. Later there will be one in Pakistan
for which Pankaj Advani will also play.
Asked if this game would be leveler like the
50-up format in billiards, Yasin said: "Players who make 30-40
breaks will like this game. You need to be sharp. You give one
chance away and you lose the frame. Safety play will also gain
importance. The highest break is this format is 75 points as against
snooker's dream break of 147."
Mumbai - Sunday
29 June 2008
|