SportPesa Launches National Pool Circuit to Develop Kenyan Talent

The new nationwide competition will provide Kenyan pool players with structured tournaments, increased visibility and a pathway to professional opportunities, with KSh 8 million in total prize money.

SportPesa has launched the National Pool Circuit in Kenya, introducing a new structured competition designed to develop pool talent and create greater opportunities for players across the country.

The inaugural circuit was launched on 10–11 September 2026 in partnership with Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited. The initiative forms part of SportPesa’s wider investment in grassroots and professional sport in Kenya and seeks to move pool beyond its traditional recreational setting into a more organised and competitive sporting discipline.

The programme will be conducted using the Black Ball Rules format and will provide players with opportunities to compete regularly while gaining greater exposure within the sport.

Building a Structured Pool Competition

One of the central objectives of the National Pool Circuit is to establish a consistent competitive pathway for Kenyan players.

The grassroots qualifying phase is scheduled to take place between 21 September and 4 October 2026, with competitions being held across different venues and regional hubs.

Players who progress through the qualifying stages will move into regional championships before the circuit reaches its main events later in the year.

Three major circuit events are planned in Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa. The Eldoret event is scheduled for 6–8 November, followed by Nakuru from 20–22 November and Mombasa from 4–6 December 2026.

The season will conclude with the SportPesa National Pool Finals in Nairobi, scheduled for 8–10 January 2027.

KSh 8 Million Prize Pool

The circuit comes with KSh 8 million in total prize money, adding a significant competitive and financial element to the programme.

Beyond the prize pool, SportPesa and Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited see the circuit as a mechanism for creating longer-term opportunities within the sport.

The organisers expect the programme to give players more regular competitive experience while helping talented individuals gain recognition. The structured tournament system could also provide players with a clearer route towards earning income from their abilities.

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri said Kenya has considerable pool talent but that the sport has historically lacked the structures and sustained investment required to develop that talent fully.

The new circuit is intended to address part of that gap by providing players with a national platform through which they can compete and develop.

Opportunities Beyond the Players

The National Pool Circuit is not focused solely on competitors.

According to the programme’s organisers, the initiative is also expected to create opportunities for other professionals involved in the sport, including coaches, tournament officials, club operators, technicians and content creators.

This broader approach could help strengthen the ecosystem surrounding pool in Kenya.

Cuevolution Plus Africa Director Collins Tuwei said the partnership is aimed at bringing talent from different parts of the country together while creating consistent competition and demonstrating that pool can offer professional and economic opportunities.

By establishing competitions across multiple regions, the organisers intend to make the circuit accessible to a wider pool of players rather than concentrating opportunities in a single location.

Supporting Grassroots Sports Development

The launch forms part of SportPesa’s broader “SportPesa Effect” strategy, through which the company has invested in grassroots and professional sports initiatives in Kenya.

The National Pool Circuit adds another discipline to those efforts, with the focus extending beyond traditional team and field sports.

The initiative also reflects the potential role of commercial investment in helping less structured sports establish regular competition and development pathways.

For Kenyan pool players, the introduction of a national circuit provides a framework for competing at different stages, from grassroots qualification through regional tournaments to the national finals.

Looking Towards 2027

With qualifying events beginning later in September, the National Pool Circuit is set to run across several months before reaching its national conclusion in Nairobi in January 2027.

The combination of nationwide qualifying events, regional championships, scheduled circuit tournaments and a national final is designed to provide continuity throughout the season.

The KSh 8 million prize pool adds further incentive for participants, while the involvement of coaches, officials, clubs and other professionals could help expand the wider pool ecosystem.

For SportPesa and Cuevolution Plus Africa, the initiative represents an investment in developing Kenyan sporting talent while creating a more organised platform for pool competition.

As the first National Pool Circuit gets underway, its organisers will look to establish a sustainable competition structure capable of supporting players and other participants while giving pool a stronger presence within Kenya’s organised sporting landscape.