Jonck Retains South African Championship
Charl Jonck defeated Kiashan Moodley 7-2 in the final last month at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg to successfully defend the South African National Snooker Championship.
Now organised by Snooker and Billiards South Africa (SABSA), the prestigious national title was first won in 1937 and has been claimed by several former professionals, including the 1979 Masters champion Perrie Mans (1960).
Jonck – from Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth – won all five of his round robin matches 3-0 to qualify for the knockout rounds where he eliminated Iqshaan Alladin 4-1 and Elvin Harris 4-1 in the last 32 and 16, respectively.
In an entertaining quarter-final with Munier Cassim, Jonck recovered from 2-0 down, making breaks of 49, 71, 60, 96 and 56 to squeeze through 5-4. His effort of 96 was a maximum attempt consisting of 12 reds and 12 blacks, and it stood as the tournament’s highest break.
The 42-year-old survived another deciding frame in the semi-finals as he ousted pairs partner and two-time champion Fakhrie Gierdien 6-5; Jonck top scored with 52, Gierdien with 75.
In what would be a repeat of last year’s title match, 2012 and 2021 winner Moodley (pictured directly above) made his way to another final, dropping just two frames in eight matches before registering runs of 56 and 50 in a 6-4 victory against 2018 champion Mutalieb Allie in the last four.
However, Jonck was not in the mood to relinquish the title as he ran out a 7-2 victor in the final to retain the trophy.
In all, it would prove to be a very pleasing trip to Johannesburg for Jonck as he also claimed two further big titles. He won the South African Classic Championship after defeating defending champion Allie 5-2 in the final. Jonck also took the high break prize for an effort of 116.
Teaming up with Gierdien, the duo denied Allie and Cassim in the final to retain the South African Pairs Championship. Again, Jonck secured the high break honour with an 89.
Jonck will now look forward to the 2023 African Snooker Championships which take place in Casablanca, Morocco between June 11-21.
The images above are courtesy of SABSA
