‘Stunner’ eyes N$13 million at Heyball tourney

Heyball
He is following in the footsteps of Jannie Moller and Erastus Mwandingi.
Mariud Ngula
  • 23 Hours Ago
Namibia Cue Sports Federation (NCSF) top-ranked player, Mathew ‘Stunner’ Namhindo, is eyeing the first-place prize of over N$13 million at the 13th World Heyball Masters Grand Finals in Chengdu, China.

Namhindo departed yesterday for the World Pool-Billiard Association’s (WPA) flagship event on the Chinese eight-ball calendar, which kicks off this Saturday and runs until 17 May.

He will take on 192 participants from 90 countries and will be accompanied by NCSF secretary-general Laurenzo Louw.

The tournament begins with a qualifying round, after which players advance to the main draw. The tournament follows a performance-based prize system (the more you win, the more you earn).

Namhindo will proudly represent Namibia as the country's third player to compete at the prestigious Heyball tournament. Namibia’s debutant, Jannie Moller, competed in 2022, followed by Erastus Mwandingi in 2024.



Record total prize pool

Exclusively sponsored by China’s Joy Billiards, the tournament boasts a record total prize pool of over N$31 million, surpassing last year’s N$28 million. The 12th edition was won by China’s Chu Bingjie.

Speaking to Sport Wrap, Namhindo described his selection by the NCSF as a dream come true.

“I feel very honoured. I have always dreamed of representing my country on a global stage since I fell in love with this sport some 12 years ago. To do it now at the Heyball is as big as it gets,” he said.

When it comes to his opponents, Namhindo prefers not to overthink it. “Obviously, I have already seen some of the big names, but I didn’t look into it. I do not like knowing beforehand who I’m going to play because that just puts too much stress on me,” he remarked.



Ready

Despite the pressure of competing on the world stage, Namhindo remains confident and ready for the tournament ahead. “I have been practising and have put countless hours on the pool table,” he said.

His message to aspiring cue sport athletes and up-and-coming pool and billiards players is that they ought to stay committed.

“I keep telling young ones to keep on shooting. You cannot go anywhere if you don’t love it. You have to love it.

“It has to be a passion of yours. Especially in our country, where making money as a pool player is not so [lucrative]. But if you love it and you have a passion for it and dedication, it can take you far.”

- mariud@nsh.com.na