The second edition of the Gateway Snooker Tournament will hold from June 4 to June 7 at the Ijeja Sports Centre, with organisers calling on corporate organisations and sports stakeholders to support the competition through sponsorship and partnerships.
The tournament, convened by Afolabi Roseline Bolanle, is expected to build on the success recorded during its maiden edition while promoting the game of snooker in Nigeria and across Africa.
Registration has been opened for snooker enthusiasts from within Nigeria and abroad, with a participation fee of ₦100,000 payable through the tournament’s registration platform.
Speaking with journalists ahead of the event, Afolabi disclosed that the championship is being organised in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Sports Development under the leadership of the Commissioner for Sports, Wasiu Isiaka.
She explained that the competition is designed not only as a sporting contest but also as a platform to discover emerging talents, attract international players, and position Ogun State as a major hub for cue sports in Africa.
According to her, winners will compete for attractive prize money, with the overall champion expected to receive ₦2 million, while the runner-up will earn ₦1 million.
The two semi-finalists will each receive ₦500,000, while four quarter-finalists will be rewarded with ₦200,000 each. Players who reach the round of sixteen will also receive ₦100,000 as part of the tournament’s prize structure.
Afolabi therefore appealed to corporate organisations, private companies, and sports promoters to partner with the competition, noting that sponsorship would help expand the tournament, improve facilities, and attract greater international participation.
The maiden edition of the tournament, held in November in Abeokuta, featured 32 of Nigeria’s top snooker players, including Shehu Abana, one of the country’s most recognised players.
The event attracted more than 1,500 spectators, transforming the venue into a lively sporting arena and highlighting the growing interest in snooker across the region.
Afolabi described the inaugural edition as a “remarkable milestone” that successfully showcased the potential of snooker as an emerging sport in Nigeria.
She expressed optimism that the second edition would be bigger and more competitive, with more professional players expected to participate from different parts of the country and beyond.
“With the support of the Ogun State Government and other partners, the Gateway Snooker Tournament will continue to grow into a major sporting event capable of attracting continental attention,” she said.
Observers say the competition is gradually establishing itself as an important platform for discovering talents, promoting youth participation, and raising the profile of snooker in Nigeria.
