By Peter Kyobe
Uganda National Open champions Caesar Chandiga and Rasheeda Mutesi became the first ever African players to win the Joy Billiards Heyball Continental Tour.
To achieve this fate, the two won the African Heyball Open championship in Harare, which also came with Shs37m prize money.
Joy Billiards, a Chinese franchise that sponsors the world’s best rewarding Billiards disciplines is the power behind the tournament, which annually has events in each continent of the world and attracts many of the world’s best Heyball players from all countries; besides China.
In the double elimination tournament organised by the World Pool Association and the All African Pool Association, Caesar, who carried hopes of a whole continent, lost his first life in the Round of last 32.
He needed victory against South Africa’s Jeremy Yenkiah in the second life to regain a spot in the round of 32, which he got courtesy of a penalty shot victory after a 6-6 stalemate. He then faced India’s finest shooter Shivam Arora in the Round of last 16, whom Caesar edged 7-6, (the same player Caesar defeated in the final of the Commonwealth Billiards championship in Mauritius last year).
“The scorpion” then set up a quarter final showdown against former South Africa and World champion Senzo Gumede, which was tied at 4-4 at the end of time, again Caesar winning 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
Then the money of truth came in the semi finals with Caesar facing the British Star Jack Whelan who last year won 4 out of 5 of these Tours.
He won the American Tour in Mexico, the British Tour in England, the Australian Tour in Melbourne and the African Tour in Egypt. In a twist of events, Caesar thrashed him 7-3, at the same time another Briton Craig Brown was losing 7-1 to South Africa’s Ethan Chettie.
This paved the way for an All African final, which now had Caesar in favorite position against the young South African. Chettie led 1-0 before Caesar responded with 5 starting to lead 5-2 before the half time interval. From Time out, the scorpion finished the job with 2 of the next 3 frames, winning by 7-3, bagging 10,000 dollars and a beautiful part of history.
Earlier in the day, Uganda ladies champion Mutesi Rasheeda had defeated Belgian star Wendy Vans in the final, to claim all Ugandan victory. The two champions now proceed to Bulawayo in the same country to compete in an annual Black Ball event at Queens Sports club, starting on Saturday.
