Lowveld blackball players pocket bronze

At the recent national championships, local blackball pool players excelled by finishing third overall in the competition.

This result is the province’s best finish since placing second at the national championships in 2019. But what makes it significant for the Lowveld is that the Mpumalanga 1 team included three players from the region, Prince Maphanga, Lucas Mahlangu and team captain Lance Pillay, making it the best performance by Lowveld blackball players at a national championship.

The MP 1 team was made up of Gerhard Potgieter, Francois Wolvaardt, Prince Maphanga, Lucas Mahlangu and team captain, Lance Pillay.

The South African Blackball Championships were played at the Suncoast Casino in Durban from April 17 to 21, with a total of 27 teams taking part.

From the start of the tournament, Mpumalanga 1 demonstrated a great level of determination and skill. Led by their charismatic captain and fuelled by a talented roster of players, they navigated a series of tough opponents to secure their well-deserved third spot in the national championships.

The bulk of the 13 Mpumalanga players ply their trade on a local level at Legends’ Bar and Grill in Mbombela, where a series of leagues are played all year round. Having wrapped up last month, the summer league was a great success, in which a total of R15 000 in prizes was won.

In an effort to improve the standard of its players and to send more to the nationals in future, the Lowveld Cuesport Association also made the decision to launch a winter league, starting in June and ending in September.

There are varying categories in the winter league, including a development section, social category, seniors section (40+), masters (50+), grandmasters (60+), and the men’s open section. Mpumalanga trials for the next South African Championships will also commence in June 2024.

Any interested parties may join the league at Legends’ Bar and Grill and register for provincial trials by contacting Lowveldcuesports@gmail.com.