Adekunle Adebayo (a.k.a BantyCue) and Ekundayo Sunday both recorded decisive wins in their respective events in the just concluded Heyball Challenge Tour (Event 11) that held on Satursday 24th February 2024 at the Nicon Town Recreation Center which is a temporary venue of the competition.
In the main match of the day, Adekunle Adebayo beat Ajayi Oluwatoyin Azeez 13 – 6 in the Race to 13 Racks winner breaks contest. The match started with Ajayi drawing the first blood as he took the first rack but Adebayo responded with 4 consecutive wins in the next 4 racks before the end of the first session which ended 1 – 4.
Oluwatoyin’s surprisingly leveled up the match at 5 – 5 after winning 4 straight racks at the start of the second session before Adebayo won the 10th rack which proved he was not going to be an easy prey despite his opponent’s experience and tactical superiority.
With Toyin beginning to show signs of fatigue, he was only able to win one more rack in Rack 12 as Adebayo steamed home to victory as the match ended 6 – 13.
Each Challenge Tour event is a one day event that is supposed to feature 3 challenege matches; the main match and 2 support matches. Participants are selected using Players Cumulative Break Point Average (BPAv), a mathematical index which predicts players ability to achieve after a break. The lower the average the high the probability. So far Adekunle Adebayo has the least value in BPAv of 5.33.
In the race to 9 racks supporting match between Ekundayo Sunday who lost to Adebayo in the maiden edition of the Heyball Challenge Tour and Lawani Nosayaba, the match ended 9 – 6 after a keen contest.
It was a delight and honor to recieve Mr Adeyemi Gbenga Mark and Miss Busola Ogunmakinwa Comfort grace the event representing the Managing Director of Sigma Securities limited Mr Dunama Stanley as the special guest for the events.
Amongst others present were Mr Victor Ukueku, a top Snooker and Pool players who is in the Nigeria to explore the possibility of Nigeria hosting the 2024 Africa Open Snooker Championship, Mr Charles Agbezin of Charles Barbers and Miss Paula Uche Chijide, a keen lover and follower of Pool Billiard sport.
Mr. Adeyemi noted in a post-match chat to be excited about the challenge tour.
“I enjoyed and learned the techniques also it’s worth watching it”
The Heyball Challenge Tour is one of the SPPA main event create to harness the entertainment and sporting potential of Heyball/Chinese 8 Ball Pool. Each event is organized as a talent discovery and development initiative to showcase Heyball as a spectator sport by aligning with international best practice that offers brand marketing opportunities’ to sponsors/ partner s and empowerment to players because of the monetary rewards. Other events on the SPPA Calendar include the Top 4 Series, 9 Ball Challenge Tour.
A prize fund of N50, 000.00 was distributed to all the participants based on the result of their match. The President of the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance (SPPA) uses the opportunity to appeal for corporate support and sponsorships.
Also, the event featured the Break and Run (BAR) award which offers an additional N10,000.00 for any players who can achieve a Break and Run in any SPPA sanctioned event. The campaign was introduced to promote improved proficiency from continuous training. So far no player has received the award since it’s inception.
The event was streamed live on our facebook page because of the limited space at the temporary venue.

The next Heyball Challenge Tour event will be holding on Saturday 9th March 2024 and a Break And Run is scheduled to hold on the 1st March 2024. Both events will hold at the Nicon Town Recreation center, temporary venue of the events.

Results
Heyball Challenge Tour (Event II)
Main Event
Race to 13

Adekunle Adebayo 13 vs 6 Ajayi Oluwatoyin Azeez.

Support Match
Race to 9
Ekundayo Sunday 9 vs 6 Lawani Nosayaba