Story by Anashe Murombedzi
ALICE Chihota successfully defended her national title after defeating Diana Kabasa 5-2 in the women’s final, while Stephen Paswani claimed the men’s championship at the Carling Black Label National Pool Finals in Masvingo on Saturday.
The women’s final produced a closely contested opening, with Chihota and Kabasa sharing the first four frames.
However, the defending champion from Chitungwiza raised her game when it mattered most, winning three consecutive frames to secure victory and retain the national crown.
“I’m happy to defend the title. It was not easy. I worked so hard and had enough practice that got me here,” Chihota said.
In the men’s final, Paswani delivered a dominant display to dethrone defending champion Godknows Masona.
Paswani completed a comprehensive 5-0 victory to avenge an earlier defeat to Masona and lift his maiden national title.
“This is my first time winning this, and this game was a big revenge. The last time we met, I lost to him, and I’m happy I represented my province well this time,” he said.
The tournament also marked a milestone for the sport, with female participation exceeding that of men.
A total of 45 women competed compared to 37 men, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport among women and reflecting the success of Carling Black Label’s efforts to promote greater inclusivity in pool.
