Aug. 08 - Kathmandu, Aug. 8: Rohit Kshetri and Sabin Tamang is all set to battle for the title of the inaugural Kathmandu Khelmandal (NRT) Nepal Top 16 Grand Masters Snooker Championship on Saturday in the final at Tripureshwor.
The tournament champion will secure the trophy and a purse of Rs 111,111, while the runner-up receives Rs 51,000. Each semi-finalist is awarded Rs 25,000. Additional incentives include a Rs 25,000 prize for a century break and Rs 20,000 for the highest break exceeding 80 points.
Both finalists enter the decider in strong form. Sabin secured his place by defeating Nepal’s top-ranked player, Wangchyu Tamang, 5–4 in a tense semi-final, avenging a 4–1 group-stage loss.
“Beating Wangchyu for the first time has boosted my confidence, and I intend to carry that momentum into the final,” Sabin said.
While he holds a psychological advantage with two previous victories over Kshetri, he remains pragmatic: “There is little to separate our levels; the title will go to whoever performs better on the day.”
Kshetri, the tournament’s only unbeaten player, is appearing in his second consecutive national final. After finishing as runner-up to Som Lama in the Nepal Masters Snooker Championship, he successfully redeemed himself by defeating Lama during the group stages of this event.
“Winning this final means a great deal,” Kshetri remarked. “I have worked hard to reach this stage and, while finals are always challenging, I am focused on lifting the trophy.”
Organised by Kathmandu Khelmandal (NRT), one of Nepal’s oldest sporting institutions, the tournament features the country’s top 16 players in a league-cum-knockout format.
Participants were divided into four groups, with the top two from each progressing to the quarter-finals. Players have praised the structure, noting that the extended format provides rare and valuable competitive exposure in the domestic circuit.
The championship, which commenced on 28 July at the NRT complex in Tripureshwor, will be broadcast live via the club’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
