From January 12, the cream of Indian billiards and snooker players including Asian Games gold medallists, Geet Sethi and Ashok Shandilya, will be here. A senior official who has been following the National championships for more than two decades termed it ``as the worst Nationals ever.'' With hardly any qualified officials having been invited to conduct the Championships, there is talk of in-fighting among the organisers. One section has suggested that Nationals for men and juniors be postponed to a later date. The chief referee, C Kapoor, who has been seeingNational championships for almost 25 years, is aghast at the conditions. So much so, he has already told the Delhi Billiards and Snooker Association that it may not be possible to conduct the men's event, if there are no referees, markers or scorers.

The DBSA, it is believed, was looking for sponsorship to the tune of Rs 16-17 lakh. But according to one of the organisers, thus far, there is hardly anything in the kitty. And to think, Gujarat, which is planning to host the 2000 Nationals is looking for sponsorships worth about only Rs even to eight lakh.

Adding to the problem, the authorities at the IIT Campus, who have given the Hall and some rooms for players and officials on rent, have asked for advance payment from the organisers. The total sum is believed to be just under Rs two lakh and the authorities want at least half of that as deposit.It seems that DBSA had sent circulars to various state associations that the players could take rooms in the Guest House at the IIT Campus for Rs 400 each, but itnow transpires that charges for the rooms are Rs 600. So, today, the DBSA is believed to have told the players there was a `typing' error in the letter sent earlier.