Adekunle Adebayo, winner of the Joy Heyball Masters Division one Nigeria Qualifiers jetted out of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport on board Ethiopian Airline ET900 enroute to Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China via Addis Ababa to participate in the Joy Heyball Masters Division one Tour 1 that will be starting on Saturday, May 27, 2024.
The annual Joy Heyball Masters organized by the Joy Billiards Sports Promotion Company, China comprise five (5) events held as a Tour that include international qualifiers and the main event designated as a Super Tour. Each year the season starts with the Joy Heyball Masters Grand Finals then followed by 4 additional events held in different cities in China.
25 year old Adekunle Adebayo is the third player to participate in the global event having won the Nigeria Qualifiers. He will be attempting to better the one match win record set by Bamidele Shehu in the 2023 Joy Heyball Masters Tours 3 event that held in Shijiazhuang City, China and become the eventual winner of the international qualifiers that will enable him participate in the main event.
To qualify for the event, Adekunle Adebayo beat Ekundayo Sunday 8 – 7 in their race to 15 rack match at the end of the one and half hour time limit.
Adebayo’s participation in the Joy Heyball Masters remain a milestone in his Pool career that started 15 years ago as he aspires to become a professional player in the future. He also seeks better management and the right sponsorship opportunities.
Before his departure he featured as a guest on Sports Splash anchored by Godwin Enakhena on Lagos Television (LTV). Responding to questions about his position in Pool and his readiness for the event, he said:
“There are many players on the street who are better than me but because I participated and won the Qualifiers is why I am travelling…”
’I am not under any pressure as I am going there to win. I am not afraid of any player as I will put in my best’.
Amongst the top Nigeria Pool Players who have sent in words of encouragement on the Snooker Pool Players Alliance Whatsapp group include Abba Zaky, he said:
“As you step onto the global stage to represent Nigeria at the Chinese Heyball Pool Tournament, know that your entire nation stands proudly behind you. Your dedication, skill, and passion for the game have brought you to this prestigious moment, and we have every confidence that you will shine brightly.”
“Remember that you are not just playing for yourself, but for all the aspiring players who look up to you, and for a country that believes in your remarkable talent. You have already proven your worth through your hard work and determination. Trust in your abilities, stay focused, and play with the heart and spirit that have brought you this far.”
The Joy Heyball Masters Nigeria Qualifiers is organized by the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance in partnership with FIJI Ventures Limited, the Nigeria country representative to Joy Billiards Sports Promotion Company, China.
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