Ahmad Taufiq Murni is looking to keep the momentum going at the Labuan 9-Ball International Championship Open 2013.

The national cueist only returned to Brunei on Monday after finishing fifth out of 48 players at the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in South Korea.

Taufiq is going to take it one step at a time at the July 9-12 tournament to be held at David's Pool in Labuan.

"My aim is to qualify for the second round first. I will concentrate on one game at a time. Hopefully my game goes well," said Taufiq in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"My confidence is alright but I need to play a bit first since my last game was on July 2.

"I'll need to adjust a bit on the speed of the table here (Labuan)," he added.

"I've learnt more on how to control the table and game (from South Korea) mostly on safety.

"I'll just try my best to win each game. Hopefully my game is good and consistent," continued the 24-year-old.

He is set to play his first match today.

Taufiq is playing under the Brunei Cue Sports Association (BCSA) and is joined by the trio of Mohd Qusyairi Zainuddin, Pg Anak Hj Abdul Awadi ZH Pg Anak Hj Latifuddin and Hj Md Alirani Hj Besar.

Six other self-sponsored Bruneians Mohd Khalid Abu Bakar, Qawiy, Lim Charng Hui, Wee Lee Jong, Lim Wei Kok and Randy Wong are also vying for top honours.

The group stage will be contested in the double elimination format while the others are single elimination.

The group stage will be a race to 7 while the last-32, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be race to 9.

The final will be a race to 11.

The tournament offers a cash prize of RM2,000 and a trophy for the champion.

The runner-up will get RM1,000 and a trophy while semi-finalists will be awarded RM500 and a trophy.

The quarter-finalists will bring home RM250 and a trophy.

Courtesy from Brunei Times