Surat to host state's top billiards, snooker tourney for first time
For the last 39 years, this tournament has been held in Ahmedabad.
While qualifying rounds will be played at nine places across the state, the final tournament, with eight categories, will be in Surat.
While Viraj Thakkar, president of Surat District Billiards and Snooker Association, told TOI: "It is a matter of pride for us that we succeeded in bringing this tournament to Surat, which was being held in Ahmedabad for the last 39 years.
"Starting Aug 1, qualifying rounds will be played in Ahmedabad, Valsad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Mangrol, Patan and Surat.
"In the tournament to crown state champions, 64 players will contest in eight categories at Surat City Gymkhana from Oct 4 to Oct 15. State champions Dhruv Patel, Tushar Sahay and Anas Chandiwala will be the star attractions."
In Oct, an opening ceremony for the tournament will take place in Surat, where international players Geet Sethi, Dhvaj Haria and Rupesh Shah will be present.
The eight contest categories are: 6 Red Snooker, Senior Snooker, Senior Billiards, Junior Snooker, Junior Billiards, Sub Juniors' Snooker, Sub Juniors' Billiards and Female Snooker.
About 150 players from Surat will play the qualifying rounds. The tournament is being held in association with Apex Sports and the Gujarat State Billiards Association.
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