National Snooker Championship

Boteju in semis

SUSANTHA Boteju, the Defending National Snooker Champion entered the semi-finals of the National Snooker Championships now in progress at the Billiard and Snooker Association Tables at Reid Avenue on Wednesday.

Boteju had to fight all the way to beat M.L.M. Fazal five frames to threes. Fazal, the son of former world Billiard Champion M.J.M. Lafir was a tough opponent for Boteju.

The last quarter-final between M.K.M. Nazeer (MICH) and M.I. Nagaria (AAC) too was completed on the same day. Nazeer becoming the winner with five frames to two.

Susantha Boteju will now meet last year's finalist Naresh Samarawickrama in the semi-final, while S.H.M. Aslam takes on M.K.M. Nagaria in the other semi-final. This semi-final will definitely see the ousting of one of, last year's finalists.

The winner will be awarded the U.W. Sumathipala Trophy and a cash award.

According to an official of the BSASL, the champion and the runner-up qualifies to play in the Asian Snooker Championships to be held in Thailand late July.

According to this official, a trial will not be held like in previous years to select cueists for Asian Championships. The governing body for the Asian region has amended the rules stating that the winner and runner-up qualifying.