Sajjad look to defend title as NBP Ranking Snooker attracts top stars

KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading cueists will feature in the seventh edition of NBP Ranking Snooker Championship which will be held here at NBP Sports Complex from October 7 to 13.
Giving details of the event during a press conference here at Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Alamgir Sheikh revealed that the championship will offer prizes of Rs60,000 for winner and Rs35,000 for runner-up.
The losing semi-finalists will receive Rs15,000 each, while the four losing quarter-finalists will get Rs5,000 each. The defeated pre-quarterfinalists will pocket Rs3,000 each. The player, who will score the highest break will cash Rs5,000.
Top ranked 31 players will be seen in action during the tournament. The players will be divided into eight groups. Two players from each group will qualify for last-16 stage.
Qualifying rounds will best of seven frames affair. The last-16 stage and quarter-finals will be contested in nine frames. Semi-finals will be played in 11 frames, while the final be a best of 13 frames affair.
The tournament holds significance as the two top-ranked players of Pakistan, which will be revealed following the results of the championship, will qualify to represent Pakistan in IBSF World Snooker Championship which will be held in Hurghada, Egypt from November 10-21.