Region's fastest growing sport gets boost at Index

Dozens of visitors - including members of the United Arab Emirates national team - have been competing in a week-long eight ball tournament with the first prize of a championship standard pool table.

"We are sponsoring the World Eight-ball Championships, which will be held in the UAE for the next five years, and we are at Index to raise awareness of the game," said Oswald Behram, Marketing Manager for Knight Shot, a Dubai-based pool table and accessories company, co-organising the event with Max Interiors.

More than 120 people entered the competition with members of the UAE national pool team on hand to give advice. "There is no doubt that pool is taking on in a big way in the region as it one of the few games that can be played indoors," he added. "It is the fastest-growing indoor game in the region."

The World Eight-ball Championship take place in Fujairah in April next year

Knight Shot's championship pool and billiard tables assembled in Dubai are truly international using slate from Italy, cloth from Spain and the UK, and wood from Malaysia and Taiwan.

Sponsors of the Index tournament include GBS Holding, Knight Shot and Max Interiors along with cue makers Poison, Predator and the Sino Chai restaurant, with runners up prizes including a billiard table, cues and vouchers.

The world's major suppliers of furniture, fixtures and fittings are taking part in Index. Nearly 1800 companies from 60 countries are exhibiting in this year's event, which closes tomorrow. The show is open to the general public after 5 pm.