2017 Pool Queen Championship
- Final: Victoria Namuyanja 7-6 Ritah Nimusiima
- Third Place: Jacinta Kajubi 6-1 Rhoda Nakawesa
Semi-Final
- Victoria Namuyanja 6-1 Rhoda Nakawesa
- Ritah Nimusiima 6-3 Jacinta Kajubi
Victoria ‘Vicky’ Namuyanja successfully defended the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) ladies’ most coveted prize, the Pool Queen at Club Klein in Nyendo, Masaka over the weekend.
Namuyanja was the best of the strong field of 64 players that took part in the day long championship.
The CKI gem also became the second player in the history of the championship to defend the Pool Queen title after Jacinta Kajubi’s 2011 and 2012 heroics.
Namuyanja, the reigning Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Female Pool Player of the Year attributed her success to good preparations and calm on the pool table.
I do not doubt my abilities but I train well every day. I have good training partners and I take my game seriously.
I thank the teammates at CKI and the entire pool fraternity for giving me the due competition and courage.
This was also the third Pool Queen title for the offensive minded player, following the 2014 success at Lumax Pool Club.
Namuyanja recovered from a frame down to overcome Skin Samona player Ritah Nimusiima 7-6 in a pulsating finale, just like in the 2016 final at the same venue.
The 26-year-old player was crowned champion for the second year running, winning a pool table, a trophy with Shs1M cash prize, gold medal and certificate of merit.
The first and second runners runners up pocketed Shs1.5M and Shs1M respectively as the 4th placed took home Shs500,000 in a cash bonanza for the top performers.
PAU president Bob Trubish lauded the players’ competitive spirit throughout the tourney.
Trubish, who was presiding over his first Pool Queen tournament as president praised the individual sponsors Robert Kimuli and Bob ‘Bobby’ Tamale who supplemented on the main prizes at stake for the top performers.
”I thank the players for the true sportsmanship spirit exhibited. Every players showed the urge and willingness to win. They were also smart. I do thank the PAU Executive committee as well as the kind hearted individuals – Robert Kimuli and Bob Tamale for the sponsoring this event,” Trubish noted.
The Pool Queen championship contributes immensely to the seeding points for the female players.
The champion earned 6 points, Nimusiima got 4, Kajubi smiled home with 3 and Nakawesa with 2.
The losing quarter finalists each pocketed Shs200,000.
Focus will switch to the domestic league as the final individual tournament of the year, Christmas Pool tournament comes knocking.
Cast of winners:
- 2017 – Victoria Namuyanja
- 2016 – Victoria Namuyanja
- 2015 – Angela Busingye
- 2014 – Victoria Namuyanja
- 2013 – Carol Kanzira
- 2012 – Jacinta Kajubi
- 2011 – Jacinta Kajubi
- 2010 – Brenda Tendo
- 2009 – Winnue Tushabe