Story by Raynald Ngwarati
The curtain came down on the 2024 edition of the Carling Black Label National Pool Championships with 128 participants in both the men’s and women’s categories battling to clinch the national honours at Zimbali Gardens in Harare this Saturday.
With glory beckoning, female pool shark Mercy Musekiwa stole the show with a beautiful performance that saw her beating runner-up Flatta Moyo in the final to be crowned the national champion while billiard master Godknows Masona wrestled the challenge from defending champion Lindani Gumbo to claim the men’s crown.
The victories of the two showed a change in the balance of power, which has been hailed by the national pool body as good for the advancement of the game.
President of the Zimbabwe Pool Association, Nickson Mashayahanya said, “We have talent being discovered, once we have new players coming in, they come to challenge the already established players and with that, our game keeps on being competitive as opposed to when you have the same players rotating every year.”
Meanwhile, Alice Chihota beat Nerziss Million to clinch the ladies’ bronze medal, while Vincent Mufudza saw off the challenge of Clemence Gutse to finish third overall in the gentlemen’s division.
The game of pool continues to expand its wings in the country with close to 3000 participants from different provinces facing off to make it to the national finals.
