MERCY Musekiwa finally ended her four-year wait for victory at the Carling Black Label National Pool Finals, held at Zimbali Events & Lifestyle in Harare’s Greendale SUBURB on Saturday.
She emerged victorious in the women’s category, defeating finalist Flatta Moyo 5-2 in a thrilling late evening final.
As a result of her win, Musekiwa received a substantial prize of $2500 along with a new pool table, solidifying her position as the top women’s pool player in the country.
Despite her defeat, Moyo walked away with a respectable $1500 for her efforts. Musekiwa expressed her gratitude to the sponsors, Carling Black Label, for their continued support of women’s pool players, who are often overlooked in the world of sports.
Musekiwa also expressed her joy at breaking her four-year winless streak: “I am thrilled to have finally claimed the top prize in my fourth year of competing in this tournament. It’s been a long journey, and I hope my success can inspire others to persevere and achieve their goals.”
In the men’s category, first-time finalist Godknows ‘Sir Gode’ Masona pulled off a surprising victory, triumphing over Lindani Gumpo 4-2 in the final. His prize included $2500 and a new pool table. Masona expressed his ambition to represent the national team in the future and thanked his fans for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.
The final tournament featured 128 players, evenly divided between men and women.