Pool players Vianney Kayiranga and Fauzi Ishimwe emerged top in Rubavu and Musanze in preliminaries of the inaugural National Pool Table Championship to qualify for the last sixteen round scheduled for early June.
Kayiranga booked his ticket to the last 16 round on Saturday in Rubavu District before Ishimwe became the first person to join him in the knock-out stage from Musanze preliminaries on Sunday.
Kayiranga beat Fiston Nizeyimana in the final while Ishimwe overcame Aimable Nsengimana.
"I am happy to win at the district level because this was not an easy competition. I want to reach as far as I possibly can,” Kayiranga told Times Sport after winning Rubavu preliminaries.
Following their weekend wins, Ishimwe and Kayiranga were awarded Rwf100,000 each, to help them prepare for the upcoming knock-out stage.
After Rubavu and Musanze, the championship heads to Rusizi District today, and then Huye on Wednesday, Nyanza on Thursday before Muhanga on Friday.