SPPA to organise Chinese 8–ball pool tournaments in Nigeria

A LANDMARK sport agreement between the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance of Nigeria (SPPA) and Qinhuangdao Joy Billiards Sports Promotion Co Ltd of China has been signed

The groundbreaking agreement midwifed by FIJI Ventures Ltd, a Nigeria-based company, will see the SPPA organise Chinese 8-ball pool tournaments in Nigeria from 2021.

Chinese 8-ball pool is a version of cue sports popular in China and gaining acceptance globally through the Joy Billiards sponsored 8-Ball Pool World Championship, which is an annual event organised by the International Chinese Eight-Ball Association (ICEA) with over 50 countries participating.

As captured in the cooperation agreement, the SPPA will organise five Chinese 8–ball pool tournaments yearly which will be supported by Qinhuangdao Joy Billiards Promotion Co Ltd.

Winners of these tournaments will have the opportunity to take part in other international tournaments, including the Joy Masters which is a premium event of the ICEA.

An elated President of the SPPA, Idada Joachim, could not hold his excitement about the partnership which will avail pool players in Nigeria more tournaments and exposure.

“Our vision of a player alliance is to create a robust structure that will engender development and create a link to exciting international circuit that our local pool and snooker players can benefit from,” Joachim said.

“The affiliation of the SPPA to the ICEA and the Joy Billiards circuit is an affirmation that we have achieved a milestone in the development of pool in Nigeria and we are very hopeful that our local players can prove their mettle at the Chinese Eight Ball Pool Circuit.”

Aside from exposure, the General Manager of Qinhuangdao Joy Billiards Tony Zhang said what will be replicated in Nigeria through the tournaments is a model that will be rewarding for the players.

“We want to have big event like we have in China where the players earn good prize money and opportunity to be at international tournament where Chinese 8-ball pool is played,” he said.

Nigeria is joining other ICEA African affiliates like Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa where 8–ball pool is already gaining traction.