Chitungwiza comes out tops in Battle of Cities

Fungai Muderere
CHITUNGWIZA were last Sunday crowned champions of the annual Battle of the Cities national pool tournament in Beitbridge.

For their tireless efforts in the two-day event, Chitungwiza pocketed $700 while Harare who came out as the first runners-up went home with $350. Beitbridge got $150 after coming out as the second runners-up.

Bulawayo got $50 after ending the tournament on position four. Gwanda found the going tough and finished the contest on number five.

In the womenaï¿½ï¿½s category, Bulawayo beat Chitungwiza 4-3 to go home with $170. Chitungwiza got $30 as their prize money.

According to the tournamentaï¿½ï¿½s publicity officer Adams Kamurayi, Kwekwe did not turn out for the event which was graced by Africa pool champion Wetsi Morake.

Morake hails from South Africa and he is a former world pool champion.

aï¿½?It was a great tournament and teams played very competitive matches. The Africa pool champion Morake who also played some matches with local individual players was greatly impressed. He had so much praise for Zimbabwean pool players,aï¿½? said Kamurayi.

The registration fee was $300 for resident teams while the travelling teams paid $250.

With regards to the tournamentsaï¿½ï¿½ playing format, Kamurayi said they used scotch doubles and six singles in the menaï¿½ï¿½s category.

In the womenaï¿½ï¿½s category, they played two scotch doubles and five singles.

Bulawayo, who played host to last yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition of the contest, graced this yearaï¿½ï¿½s tournament as defending champions. Chitungwiza and Gwanda came out second and third respectively in last yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition.