Big names for Kolluna 9-ball

A stellar field is expected to gather in Dubai for the Kolluna Al Emarat, Kolluna Khalifa 9-ball Open Championship, which will take place at the Gloria Hotel on July 2-4, a media release said. The tournament will be staged under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council. Addressing a Press conference at the event venue, UAE Billiards & Snooker Association (UAEBSA) Vice-President Mohammed Tamjid Abdullah said: “The Kolluna Al Emarat, Kolluna Khalifa 9-ball Open Championship has already started proving to be a great success and this could be gauged from the interest that sponsors have shown in the tournament. “Also some of the biggest names in the pool world have entered the championship, making it an enticing affair for fans in the country.” The organisers, Pro 9 Sports Events LLC,  have already received entries from a large number of countries and, especially, there has been an overwhelming response from the Arab countries, where pool is extremely popular. Among the biggest names who are likely to participate in the championship is Chai Fong-pang, the 1993 world 9-ball pool champion and also the 1995 International Challenge of Champions title-holder, of Taiwan. Another star attraction from Taiwan to enter the event is Yang Ching-shun, former winner of three Asian Games gold medals who also has to his credit the 2001 Akita World Games gold medal. Abdulla added: “The UAE is very well-known in snooker circles worldwide, but a special effort was needed to put us on the international pool map. I am confident that the Kolluna Al Emarat, Kolluna Khalifa 9-ball Open Championship will serve us a great deal in this regard and the time is not far when the UAE will emerge as a popular destination for prestigious pool tournaments.” From Khaleejtimes