OREANDA-NEWS  On 18 November was announced, that Air Astana airline and Central Asia Monitor socio-political newspaper organized a billiard tournament called Air Astana Open - 2008 in the Bastau club. 25 teams of representatives from the Kazakh media attended the tournament. The goal of the tournament was informal communication, development and strengthening of ties between the mass media.

Direct holding of the championship was the responsibility of the judicial panel consisting of 6 persons, headed by Chief Justice RC Billiard Sports, Judge of the international category Buzurhodzhaev Roman. Competitions were held for “Free pyramid” in accordance with the applicable rules of the International Committee of the pyramid style.

During the event, the best players received prizes from the organizers. First place went to a team from Kazakh Literature newspaper. The team consisted of Zhanarbek Ashimzhan and Bakhyt Bedelkhan. Second place was won by Evening Almaty newspaper, consisting of Abdukhalila Jalil and Asyl Abenov. Third place went to Evgeniy Rachenkov and Alexandr Memet, who were playing for Arguments and Facts newspaper. The winners were awarded with medals, diplomas and cups. Air Astana presented valuable gifts to the players: first place winners received two business class round-trip tickets on the route Almaty - Dubai – Almaty; holders of the second place won two tickets in economy class round trip on the route Almaty - Beijing – Almaty; and third place winners - two economy class tickets on the route Almaty - Istanbul - Almaty. Republican social-political newspaper Central Asia Monitor handed the winners annual subscription to the publication and works of photographer Kairat Tokes. Bastau billiard club presented Zhanarbek Ashimzhan and Bakhyt Bedelkhan exclusive billiard cues.

In addition to the main competition there were various competitions in which the participants were able to demonstrate their skills. All participants and spectaculars who guessed the winners of the tournament in the sports forecast received the prizes in the form of gift cards from the billiard club.