The draws for the 2016 National Pool Championships were held on Tuesday at Rock Catalina Bar in Ntinda.
These come three days to the long awaited championships that will cue off at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.
A total of 128 players were drawn and each knows the opponent and line of path to the coveted prize.
Reigning champion shall cue off his title defense against 2009 open winner Fred Namanya, which is by a country mile the most anticipated opening fixture of the grand finale.
2012 champion, last year’s losing finalist and current seed-4 Alfred Gumikiriza will be opening his pursuit for a second title against Julius Lukayi a former Lumas Pool Club player, who secured his qualification for the grand finale in Kiboga.
In other developments, there will not be a repeat of last year’s final that pitted Ndyagumanawe against Gumikiriza.
The duo can only face-off at the semi-final stage having ended up in the same half of the draw.
Ndyagumanawe remains upbeat after the draws;
I approach the game as it comes by. This is competition. Whoever does his home work well carries the day.
I am ready for the task ahead of me.
The Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) seed-8 Joseph Kasozi against Jinja starlet Cyrus Mawejje whose potting power has drawn similarities with some of the game’s luminaries, is another fixture that will be closely followed.
2013 Pool Open winner and current seed-3 Fahad Ssewankambo has a relatively easy opening game against a one Patrick Sekirime.
However, that could be the easiest it gets for him having been drawn in the same quarter with some of the games renowned players such as; Wasswa Kayiya, Patrick Mujjuzi, Solongo Bukenya, Jinja’s Ibrahim Sentamu and the national team captain Oscar Ocakacon, who opens against Iganga qualifier Michael Mawejje.
Seed-2 Sula Matovu starts his search for a maiden Pool Open title against Sejjusa Savimbi.
Seed-7 Simon Lubuulwa aka Computer will be tussling Joram Nabasa in round one and completing the top 8 seeds will be seed-5 Humphrey Nsubuga taking on Prince Ainamasiko, who qualified in Bushenyi.
The eventual winner will get a new car, UGX2M and a Pool Table while the beaten finalist will get UGX1.5M and a Pool Table.
The third and fourth will get UGX1M and UGX750,000 respectively.
SEEDS OPENING FIXTURES:
Amos Ndyagumanawe vs. Fred Namanya
Jospeh Kasozi vs. Cyrus Mawejje
Humphrey Nsubuga vs. Prince Ainamasiko
Afred Gumikiriza vs. Julius Lukayi
Fahad Ssewankambo vs. Patrick Sekirime
Oscar Ocakacon vs. Michael Mawejje
Simon Lubuulwa vs. Joram Nabasa
Sula Matovu vs. Sejjusa Savimbi
