AFZAL JAVED

ISLAMABAD, Sep 07: Pakistan’s Asian games bronze medalist and ace cueist Shahram Changezi becomes the first Pakistani to participate in the prestigious US Open Nine Ball Pool Championship to be starting from September 13 th in New Jersey.

As many as 256 cueists from more than 100 countries including world professional snooker champion Judd Trump will contesting in the US 9-Ball Pool Championship being staged at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City in New Jersey from September 13 to 18.

Shahram Changezi, who is associated with the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, for the past few years has remained one of the top cueists of the country despite his limited appearances in the national ranking snooker events in the recent past.

He said that it is going to be an invigorating experience to compete among the world’s best 256 players. Personally, it is a matter of pride and honour for me to see my name as the first Pakistani cueist to take part in the US Open 9 Ball Championship.

I hope my participation will create a stir in the cue sports community in Pakistan and will be a source of increased interest in 9 Ball Pool in the country.”

Elaborating on his preparations for the Championship, he said, “I have been practicing in a local Islamabad club (Breakers Snooker F-11), where they have an international standard 9 Ball Pool table. On my request, they immediately recovered the cloth and changed the balls to facilitate me. I am practicing as many hours as possible on a daily basis and I will try to give my best in my maiden US Open 9 Ball Championship.”

Shahram was the national ranking champion in 2007 and 2008. He secured bronze medals in the 2010 Asian Games Snooker Team Event in China, the 2015 Asian Team Snooker Championship in Iran and the 2015 World Team Snooker Championship in Pakistan.