Tanzania's pool player eyes top honour in World Heyball Masters

The player, on Wednesday evening, beat Bolorkhuu Erdene of Mongolia 13-2 to reach the showdown's Round of 64.

The preliminary championships started last Tuesday will come to an end tomorrow, while the main event, played in a knockout format, will get underway the following day and climax on April 5. 

Tanzania Pool Association (TAPA)'s official, Michael Machella, expressed his happiness, saying that is good news.

He said the association has never doubted Hussein's competence in pool table sport.

"He has started well and we are happy with his performance, the Heyball Championships are one of the toughest events as they attract the cream of pool players," Machella revealed.

"Securing victory in the first game is a sign that he is destined for a good run," he said. 

Hussein was invited to the championships after putting stellar performance in the continental championships that took place in Zambia early this year.

Chinese pool association has catered for the player's travel costs and other logistics. 

Heyball which was formerly known as the Chinese 8, is regarded as the most lucrative billiards sport in the world.

All players who will qualify for the top 20 will enter the grand finals and be assured of a cash prize amounting to 3000 US dollars. 

The championships' winner will take home 730,000 US dollars, runners-up rake in 220,000 US dollars, the third-placed contender gets $ 88,000 while the fourth-placed performer will take home $ 44,000.

The fifth-placed winner will walk away with $30,000, $23,000 awaits the sixth-placed winner, the seventh-placed winner gets $20,00 and the eighth-placed winner will pocket 15,000 US dollars. 

Pool players placed ninth to 12th will each pocket $14,000 and contenders taking 13th to 16th positions will each get 11,000 US dollars.