Joram Nabasa successfully defended his crown at the 2016 Greater Masaka Pool Championship held at Club Klein in Nyendo, Masaka in the wee hours of Thursday night.
Nabasa, who plays club pool at ICON in Nansana was also the winner in 2015 overcame CKI’s Manisoor Bwanika 6-5 in the final played on the best of 11 format to topple a strong field of 127 Pool players from the country.
For the feat, he pocketed Shs.2M as prize money as Bwanika took home Shs.1M.
Salongo Uthman Bukenya outwitted Joseph Mutawe 5-1 in the third place play off to take home Shs500,000 cash.
Club Klein Nyendo managing director Robert Kimuli applauded all the players who participated in the two day event and promised much more on the table for the top performers.
The 2017 winner will get a brand new Pool table and an increased cash prize of Shs.3M.
The tournament witnessed shock waves with first round exits for many top seeded players.
Little known William Mirembe ejected the reigning National Pool Champion, Sula Matovu.
2015 National Champion, Amos Ndyagumanawe could not survive the jaws of an all attack minded Nabasa in the quarter finals.
Earlier, Bukenya had defeated Simon ‘The Computer’ Lubulwa at the last eight stage, Nabasa defeated Charles Segawa, Mutawe pipped Mirembe and Bwanika got the better of home darling Glorious Ssenyonjo.
Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) competitions manager, Paul “Pipol” Kayanja who watched the tournament told Kawowo Sports that the association considers to include this tournament among the points seeding event for the top seeds.
The tournament has grown through leaps and bounds. We are considering that next year, it is included among the PAU sanctioned events
This was the third edition that club Klein was organizing the event whose enticing cash prizes attracted the finest pool players across the country.
Great Masaka Pool Tournament 2016 (Selected Results):
Final: Joram Nabasa 6-5 Manisoor Bwanika
3rd place play off: Salongo Uthman Bukenya 5-1 Joseph Mutaawe
Semi-finals:
Joram Nabasa 5-4 Salongo Uthman Bukenya
Manisoor Bwanika 5-0 Joseph Mutaawe
Quarter finals:
Joram Nabasa 4-3 Amos Ndyagumanawe
Salong Uthuman Bukenya 4-2 Simon ‘The Computer’ Lubulwa
Joseph Mutawe 4-1 William Mirembe
Manisor Bwanika 4-3 Glorious Ssenyonjo.
