Gabrielle Curling (left), social media coordinator at Wisynco, presenting a sponsorship cheque for $150,000 to pool player Sunil Kissen-dal on Monday. The pool player was also named a Boom brand ambassador. - Ricardo Makyn

Popular pool player Sunil 'Termite' Kissen-dal is now in the United States to participate in this year's 38th Billiard Congress of America National Championships which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from today until July 26.

Kissen-dal, who was struggling to raise funds to attend the tournament, received a major sponsorship boost of $150,000 from the Wisynco Group courtesy of their brand Boom Energy drink.

Kissen-dal's hunt for sponsorship was highlighted in a report in a Sunday Gleaner report on July 6. His appeal did not fall on deaf ears and Wisynco came up with financial assistance for the player to attend the championship.

Kissen-dal said he was grateful of the support received from Wisynco and pledged to represent the country to the best of his abilities.

"I thank God for this special day. Wisynco has done the greatest thing for me where pool is concerned. Nobody has put pool on the map here [Jamaica], so I am determined to be the first person to.

"I know the best player in the world, and he is 60 years old. I am 29, so I will do my best to bring success to Jamaica," Kissen-dal added.

He noted that pool is his God-given talent so he is ready to work with Wisynco to take it to all parts of Jamaica including schools.

Wisynco's social media coordinator, Gabrielle Curling, handed over her company's cheque to Kissen-dal on Monday during a brief ceremony held at the Constant Spring football field, where Kissen-dal was also named a Boom brand ambassador.

"We at Wisynco want Jamaicans to excel in pool like other international players who earn big from it. We feel proud to partner with Sunil as he is extremely talented. Credit to Mr Andrew Mahfood, who decided to answer his appeal for help. "We would like to bring non-traditional sports like pool to the level of football. We want Jamaicans to reach the professional level like international players who earn significantly from games like pool and poker. Jamaicans should hold their own," Curling said.

She added that Boom is a community brand and a favourite of many who play ludo and pool in bars and shops in communities across Jamaica.