Sham Jagerssar claims third national Snooker championship
Sham Jagerssar etched his name into the annals of snooker history yet again, claiming his third National Snooker Championship (NSC) title with a commanding victory over Reagan Low Chew Tung in the finals held at the Chinese Association in St. Ann’s on Sunday night.
Jagerssar, who won the inaugural tournament in 2020 and followed that up with a victory in 2022, displayed his resilience after missing out on the last eight in 2023, defeating Low Chew Tung four frames to one, 54-41, 54-22, 56-60, and 61-25. This victory solidifies his status as one of the elite players in the sport of snooker in T&T.
The 2024 NSC began with an impressive 48 players divided into eight groups of six. Jagerssar emerged from his group as one of the top contenders, notching four wins and only one loss, ultimately advancing to the knockout stage.
His path to the final through the knockout saw him sweep past Scean Archer 3-0 in a last sixteen encounter. He defeated David Lee Kim 3-1 in the quarterfinals and got the better of the NSC 2021 champion Aaron Raghoonanan also by a 3-1 margin.
Low Chew Tung was making his first appearance in the championship match. He progressed from the group stage with four wins and one loss as well and fought valiantly against Damien Bisnath in the semi-finals, edging out a tight match 3-2 to secure his spot in the final.
Low Chew Tung’s path through the knockout phase was much tougher, with hill-hill matches against Zubir Sankar, Ravy Joseph, and a gruelling semi-final against Bisnath. Many believed that this would be his year, but his normally steady game deserted him at the worst possible
time.
The final round of the championship was electrifying, drawing attention from snooker enthusiasts across the nation. There was some disappointment for fans who showed up early at the St. Ann’s venue for the third-place playoff. The much anticipated encounter between
Bisnath and Raghoonanan did not come off, as Raghoonanan was a no-show.
Jagerssar took home $6,000 and a trophy, Low Chew Tung $3,000 and a trophy, Bisnath $2,000 and a trophy, and Raghoonanan $1,000 and a trophy. Raghoonanan also receives an extra $1,000 for his high break of 54 in the tournament, the second time he has copped the high break prize.
Also among the prizes were quarterfinalists Clint Bachan, who won the NSC in 2023, Desmond Nicholls, Ravy Joseph, and David Lee Kim, all of whom received $500 and a trophy as recognition for their efforts.
The National Snooker Championships fall under the umbrella of the Billiards Sports Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago, BSOTT, the national governing body for all cue sports in Trinidad & Tobago. BSOTT would like to thank Billiards Place and the Chinese Association for the use of their venues for the NSC tournament.
Next on the agenda is the National Pool League, a team competition that begins in November.
The post Sham Jagerssar claims third national Snooker championship first appeared on CNC3.