The first-ever Cue Slam-Indian Cue Masters League, to be held from August 19 to 25 this year in Ahmedabad, was formally launched in the presence of snooker stars Pankaj Advani and Vidya Pillai here on Tuesday.
The League, which offers a total prize money of ₹50 lakh, will feature five teams: Gujarat Kings, Chennai Strikers, Hyderabad Hustlers, Bengaluru Buddies and Delhi Dons.
The League will feature a shot-clock; players will have to take their shots within 15 seconds, with a 10-minute span for each frame. The fans will also be encouraged to cheer their players during the games, unlike in traditional cue sports which demands silence.
Pankaj Advani said the innovations would require the players to have a different approach of training, and adapt quickly.
“We have to change with the changing times as it is happening in other sports. Everyone wants results, upsets, quickly. This League offers fast-paced action, and it is equally exciting for all the players too,” Advani said.
Vidya, who, like Advani, will turn out for Chennai, said this would be a wonderful opportunity for every cueist, and more so for the women players.
“I am optimistic of, at some point of time, having a separate league for women on these lines. It is so exciting!” she said.
The teams:
Gujarat Kings: Andrew Pigget (Icon), Daria Sirotina, Alok Kumar, Sourav Kothari, Brijesh Damani. Coach: Ashok Shandilya.
Chennai Strikers: Pankaj Advani (Icon), Vidya Pillai, Dharminder Lilly, Faisal Khan, E. Pandurangaiah. Coach: G. Kishore Khurana.
Hyderabad Hustlers: Amir Sarkhosh (Icon), Amee Kamani, Kamal Chawla, Lucky Vatnani, Anuj Uppal. Coach: Manoj Kothari.
Bengaluru Buddies: Darren Morgan (Icon), Anastasia Nechaeva, Sundeep Gulati, Varun Madan, Laxman Rawat. Coach: Derek Sippy.
Delhi Dons: Kelly Fisher (Icon), Laura Evans, Pushpender Singh, Manan Chandra, Malkeet Singh. Coach: Tanuj Kohli.