World-class events cue to polish up billiard's image

World-class events cue to polish up billiard's image

Moch. N. Kurniawan
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

After a long period when it was mainly notable for its lack of
activity, the Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association
(Pobsi) has succeeded in getting the sport taken seriously in
recent years.

The effort to improve the image of the sport has included
holding international caliber events and winning gold medals at
both the 2001 and 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Two world class events with leading players are scheduled for
next month -- the San Miguel ESPN tour in Jakarta (April 1-April
3), and the A Mild Bali International Open (April 4-April 8).

"We are delighted that this year we could invite former world
champions like Efren Reyes of the Philippines, Chao Fong Pang of
Chinese Taipei and Mika Immonen of Finland to participate in the
Bali International Open, which will offer a total prize of Rp 200
million (about US$22,000)," Pobsi chairman Putera Astaman said on
Thursday.

"Besides, for the first time, ESPN has also entrusted us to
host one of its billiard tour events this year."

At the national level, a series of 13 events will be held,
including A Mild Billiard Cup 2005, A Mild Billiard National
Championship, A Mild Billiard Students Competition, A Mild
Billiard Clubs Competition and A Mild Billiard Master.

"This means that we have improved the image of billiards from
only a recreational sport to a sport with competitions and
achievements," Putera said.

The Bali International Open would present a challenge to local
players to show they could compete at the highest levels of the
game, he said.

"In previous years, Indonesian players could win the
tournament but their foreign opponents were not world class
players. This year, with top international players coming, I hope
a local player could still win the tournament."

Any local player who reached the final of the Bali event would
be sent to participate in the World Cup, Putera said.

Tournament director Ishwara Adi confirmed that 64 players from
17 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Brazil, the Philippines
and Australia, were confirmed for the Bali event.

Top 10 nationally ranked players, members of the national
training program and a player from each of Pobsi's 10 provincial
chapters would also be given a chance to play in the tournament.

"The winner will get a prize of Rp 65 million, the runner up
Rp 35 million and the third and fourth places Rp 15 million
each," he said.

Bali International Open defending champion player Siaw Wieto
was undaunted by the prospect of playing top foreign contenders.

"I am practicing normally as I'm used to meeting international
players," he said. "The key is that I will try not to miss even
once in shooting because then we would definitely lose against
them."

A Mild brand manager Ria Renny Christina said billiards was
set to move into a new phase in 2005 with top-notch international
players competing here.

"Last year, we successfully invited players like Efren Reyes,
Alex Pagulayan and Rico Diks to play in exhibitions. Their good
impression about billiard at home have influenced other world
players to come here this year," she said.