First Kathmandu Top 16 Grand Masters Snooker Championship Kicks Off

The inaugural Kathmandu Top 16 Grand Masters Snooker Championship organized by the Kathmandu Sports Council Nepal has begun in Tripureshwor from Wednesday. In the opening match, Nepal’s top-ranked player Wangchu Tamang secured a victorious start by defeating Binod Shrestha 4–2 in sets. The tournament winner will receive a champion trophy along with NPR 111,111 in prize money. Kathmandu, 13th Shrawan.

The competition, hosted by the First Kathmandu Sports Council (NRT), commenced at the club premises in Tripureshwor. In Group ‘A’, Tamang defeated Binod Shrestha 4–2 in a best-of-seven frames format to start on a high note. The tournament features 16 participants, including Nepal’s top 15 players and one player from the organizing club. They are divided into four groups, with the top two players from each group advancing to the knockout stage, including the quarterfinals.

The tournament was inaugurated by NRT President Sundar Narsingh Joshi. According to tournament coordinator and NRT central member Rajendra Shakya, all matches are being broadcast live on NRT’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel. The winner will receive NPR 111,111 and the champion trophy. The runner-up will earn NPR 51,000 along with a trophy, and both semifinalists will receive NPR 25,000 each plus trophies. Additionally, players achieving a century break will be awarded NPR 25,000 as a prize, and the player with the highest break exceeding 80 points will receive NPR 20,000 along with a trophy, the organizers stated.