KARACHI, July 5: The Red and White Cup National Ranking Snooker Championship will be held at newly launched venue of Pearl-2 Snooker Club Clifton from July 29 to August 3, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) announced Friday.

Top 32 cueists from across the country will be featuring in six-day competition which carry an enhanced purse of Rs 174,000, Joint Secretary, PBSA Arif Taherbhoy told APP.

He said winner of the championship will collect Rs. 55,000, runner-up pocketed Rs 35,000, losing semi finalists will be getting Rs 15,000 each.

He said losing quarterfinalist will receive Rs 8000 each. Even losing pre-quarterfinalists will be eligible to collect Rs 2000 each. The player making the highest break will get an additional Rs 6000.

Pakistan number one Khurram Hussain is top seeded for the event while Muhammad Yousuf will be seeded two. Reigning national champion Farhan Mirza is seeded three and Naveen Perwani four.

Other seeded players are: Saleh Muhammad (5), Imran Shahzad (6), Atiq Latif Bakhsh (7) and Minhas Malik (8).

Country’s premier cueists from NWFP Saleh Muhammad will defend his title in the championship.

He said after the success of National Billiards and Pool at Pearl-2, association decided to allocate the national ranking event to this club.

The draws of the championship are being prepared and will be ready by July 20.—APP