Mathew Masinge
A total of 80 finalists have qualified for this year’s Carling Black Label National Pool Tournament, which will be held this Saturday in Masvingo.
The annual regional qualifiers concluded on June 27 across 31 regions, attracting strong participation from both male (37) and female (45) players.
In a statement, Delta Corporation Marketing Manager for the Lagers Business Unit, Kundayi Mawema, said this year’s edition recorded significant growth in participation while further strengthening the association between Carling Black Label and the sport.
“We are proud of the progress we continue to see in the sport. The growth in participation and the elevated standard of play reflect the passion and commitment of players across the country.
“We commend everyone who took part and contributed to making this tournament a success.
“A key highlight remains the continued rise in women’s participation, which has shown consistent year-on-year growth. Carling Black Label remains committed to encouraging more women to participate in the sport, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities within the pool community,” said Mawema.
Mawema added that the tournament has also had a positive economic impact on local communities.
“Beyond the competition, the event delivered meaningful economic benefits by supporting local traders and businesses in the host locations through increased foot traffic and commercial activity.
“The level of competition reached new heights, with players demonstrating greater professionalism, skill and discipline throughout the tournament,” she said.
Carling Black Label remains committed to the development of pool in Zimbabwe through ongoing grassroots initiatives, support for bar tournaments and partnerships with local traders.
The men’s and women’s national champions will each receive US$2,500 and a pool table.
The runners-up will each take home US$1,500, while the third- and fourth-placed finishers will receive US$1,000 and US$500 respectively.
Online Reporter