A US$17 000 prize fund has raised the stakes for this year’s Queens International pool tournament, with Queens Sports Club set to host the fourth edition from May 23 to 25 as Africa’s top players converge for one of the continent’s fast-growing competitions.
What began in 2022 as a modest initiative to bring together international players has grown into one of Africa’s most anticipated sporting events, attracting elite competitors and raising the standard of the game with each passing year.
The tournament’s roll of honour reflects its rapid rise in stature.
Jeremiah Naido claimed the inaugural title in 2022, followed by Ceaser Chandinga in 2023, while Aden Joseph emerged victorious in the 2025 edition after a gruelling campaign.
The return of all three champions this year sets up a highly anticipated “clash of kings”, with each aiming to become the first multiple-time winner.
Tournament founder Tawanda Mupenzwa said the growth of the competition has exceeded initial expectations.
“We hosted this in 2022 as a way of gathering international players and seeing quality matches,” he said.
“However, the tournament has now outgrown our original vision.
- US$17 000 purse sets stage for Queens International pool tourney
- US$17K purse sets stage for Queens International pool clash
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“The interest and expectations from all over Africa have kept us going.”
Entry into the 2026 edition has been deliberately capped to maintain professional standards, with 32 players in the Masters category, 96 in the main division and 48 in the ladies’ section, creating a tightly contested and high-quality field.
The tournament is expected to feature players from nine African countries, further underlining its continental appeal.
Among those tipped to challenge for honours is Shaun Martheze and Kelvin Fikoti alongside a number of emerging talents and unheralded contenders eager to upset the established order.
For the host venue, the event represents more than competition.
It has become a platform for international visibility and a driver of local economic activity, while reinforcing Bulawayo’s status as a destination capable of staging major sporting events.
Queens Sports Club president Ntuthuko Henford Gabellah said the tournament symbolises the transformation of the sport.
“It’s an extraordinary thrill to witness how far this tournament has come,” Gabellah said.
“What was once dismissed as a bar-room pastime has evolved into a fully recognised sport, and Queens Sports Club is immensely proud to be part of that transformation.
“To now see Africa’s finest talent converging here, with all roads leading to our club, is the ultimate validation.
“This is no longer just a competition; it’s a movement, and we are honoured to lead it.”
With anticipation building and continental pride at stake, the fourth edition of the Queens International is set to deliver a compelling showcase of skill and competition, further cementing its place on Africa’s sporting calendar.
