KARACHI, March 13: The 33rd National snooker championship for Mazhar Iqbal Puri Trophy carrying the richest-ever prize money of Rs2,26,000 kicks off at the Karachi Gymkhana from Saturday with country’s 48 cueists vying for glory.

The other significance of the event is participation of top four (semi-finalists) of the just concluded National junior snooker championship.

The details of the event were announced at a press conference held at the Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday.

The PBSA president, Asghar Valika, applauded the role of the late Mazhar Puri’s family by coming forward and instituting a trophy in the name of the deceased who was an ardent supporter of the game.

He said despite facing tough time after tobacco firm parted ways, the PBSA kept the game going without any interruption with the support of different sponsors.

He thanked all sponsors who helped the game in cash and kind in the recent years.

He also struck a sponsorship deal with Akbar Iqbal Puri which envisaged financial help to the tune of over Rs2 million for three years.

Akbar threw light on the role played by his father as the PBSA president from 1985 to 1988.Mian Azhat Hussain spoke on behalf of Karachi Gymkhana.

Meanwhile, Naveen Perwani, who ended a long jinx by capturing the maiden national title last year at the same venue, will defend his crown.

The players have been equally drawn into eight groups and top two from each will make it to the knockout pre quarter-finals which are to be played on March 23. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place the next day while the final is fixed for March 25.

The winner will receive Rs80,000 while the runner-up will earn Rs50,000. Rs10,000 have been set aside for the highest break performer.

The top two players of the nationals will represent the country in the 24th Asian Snooker Championship being held at Dubai from May 3 to 10.

Pools:

A: Saleh Mohammad (NWFP), Rambel Gul (NWFP), Ali Daryab (Bal), Salman Shaikh (Sindh), Mohammad Asif Toba (Pun), Mudassir (NWFP).

B: Imran Shahzad (Pun), Mohammad Shahid (Pun), Inamur Rehman (NWFP), Kamran Shah (Bal), Waqas Malik (Sindh), Qadeer Butt (Pun).

C: Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh), Sohail Shehzad (Sindh), Saqib Butt (Pun), Arshad Siddiq (NWFP), Ahsan Javed (Pun), Kashif Khan (Sindh).

D: Khurram Agha (Sindh), Atif Mughal (Pun), Qasim Kamani (Sindh), Ali Shahzad Butt (Pun), Hameedullah (NWFP), Tahir Abbas (Pun).

E: Naveen Perwani (Sindh), Mohammad Riaz (Sindh), Abdul Rauf Kurd (Bal), Mohammad Imran (Pun), Mohammad Sajjad (Pun), Shah Khan (NWFP).

F: Shehram Changezi (Pun), Vishan Gir (Sindh), Nouman Awan (NWFP), Mohammad Ali (Bal), Abdul Sattar (Sindh), Imran Qamar (Pun).

G: Abu Saim (Pun), Raees Khan (Pun), Farhan Noor (Pun), Sharjeel Mahmood (NWFP), Ayaz Khan (Pun), Abdul Samad (Sindh).

H: Imtiaz Sarwer (Pun), Mohammad Nazeer (Pun), Javed Ansari (Sindh), Mohammad Asif (Pun), Mohammad Aqeel (NWFP), Mohammad Afzal (Pun).

Saturday’s fixtures:

Ali Daryab v Salman Shaikh, Inamur Rehman v Kamran Shah, Saqib Butt v Arshad Siddiq, Qasim Kamani v Ali Shahzad Butt at 10.00am; Abdul Rauf Kurd v Mohammad Imran, Nouman Awan v Mohammad Ali, Farhan Noor v Sharjeel Mahmood, Javed Ansari v Mohammad Asif at 12.00noon; Rambel Gul v Mohammad Asif Toba, Mohammad Shahid v Waqas Malik, Sohail Shehzad v Ahsan Javed, Atif Mughal v Hameedullah at 2.00pm; Mohammad Riaz v Mohammad Sajjad, Vishan Gir v Abdul Sattar, Raees Khan v Ayaz Khan, Mohammad Nazeer v Mohammad Aqeel at 4.00pm.