KARACHI: A new chapter will be opened in the annals of the country’s cue ball history when the 18-nation Jubilee Insurance 6-Reds and Team Snooker Championships begin at the hotel Movenpick on Thursday.

Though Pakistan has played hosts to a number of world and Asian competitions of the game in the past, this event has been invented by the world governing body of the game two years back and taking place here for the first time.

Considered as a strong force to be reckoned with in the game, Pakistan have won accolades by capturing team event gold in the inaugural event at Carlow, Ireland, in 2013 thanks to the duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad. They beat Iran in the final.

The same Pakistan pair again reached the final where they lost 3-5 to Hong Kong-I at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, last year.

Nine foreign teams have arrived here at the time of filing this report at 10pm, The nations include Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, UAE and Egypt.

Members of the Bahrain squad at the venue. — White Star

Eight Indian cueists have also arrived by different flights. Kamal Chawla was the first Indian cueist to reach by Air Lanka followed by others.

Teams from Turkey, Latvia, Iran, England, Australia, China, and Philippines are expected to arrive here by Thursday besides other members of the Indian team.

According to officials, players and referees meeting will be held on Thursday at 5pm.

The formal opening of the spectacle will be held at 7pm. Minister for the Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada will be the guest of honour.

The IBSF vice-president Maxime Cassis, who arrived the other day, is busy giving a final shape to the draws. The matches will start from Friday at 10am.

According to officials, men’s and ladies 6-Reds events will be played first followed by men’s team event and master’s.

The group matches of 6-Reds will be of seven frames, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be of best of nine while the final will be played over 11 frames.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2015

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