The cards have been dealt, the battles have been fought and history has been written.
The World Series of Thunee 2026 brought together 64 of the finest Thunee players from across South Africa for an extraordinary showcase of skill, strategy, concentration and sportsmanship.
With a massive R250,000 prize pool, the stakes were high and the standard of Thunee exceptional. After an unforgettable contest, four teams emerged to claim their places among the very best.
Justin Chetty and Jeeran Dunpall of Tongaat earned a fourth-place finish and R20,000. The Richards Bay team of Nishlan Rungasamy and Vinothan Arumugam took third place and R30,000. The runner-up position and R50,000 prize went to Gary Dayalan Naidoo and Ashley Hanuman from Richards Bay. The crown of World Series Champions and the R150,000 prize went to Tongaat’s own Eric Narainsamy and Theo Govender of Richards Bay.
The results marked a remarkable achievement for Richards Bay and Tongaat, with all eight players in the Top Four coming from these two proud Thunee communities. The World Series attracted competitors from Gauteng, Tongaat, Richards Bay, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Stanger, Darnall, Pietermaritzburg, Durban Central and beyond.
The tournament also received tremendous support from Gauteng, with 42 of Gauteng’s best players – representing 21 qualifying teams – making the journey to KwaZulu-Natal to compete against the country’s finest.
Tournament Director Jaya Naidoo said: “Their commitment deserves our highest recognition. They travelled hundreds of kilometres, sacrificed their time and came with one purpose – to represent Gauteng with pride and compete on South African Thunee’s biggest stage.”
As Tournament Director, Naidoo had the privilege and enormous responsibility of directing this historic event – from the planning and tournament structures to the rules, administration and final adjudication.
He said: “The World Series was about friendship, rivalry, laughter, respect and celebrating a game that has been passed down through generations and continues to occupy a special place in our culture and heritage. To stand at the helm of an event of this magnitude and witness some of the country’s finest players competing under one roof was a proud and unforgettable experience.”
The Tongaat half of the champion duo, Eric Narainsamy said: I was extremely excited going into the event and it did not disappoint. This was one of the biggest and best tournaments that I have ever attended. It is always fun to meet and engage with new players all playing at a competitive level. The standards set was very high and the behaviour and attitude of the competitors was exceptional. Being champion is a good feeling.”
Naidoo acknowledged the commitment and support of Goldrush and Robbie Naidoo for making the event possible, as well as the players that supported the event.
He said: “A huge congratulations to these eight outstanding players. Reaching the final stages of a tournament of this magnitude required consistency, composure, tactical brilliance and the ability to perform under immense pressure. Thank you to every player who competed and contributed to this occasion. You were part of Thunee history.”
The World Series has demonstrated just how far the game can go when passion, organisation and opportunity come together. The cards may have been packed away, the tables cleared and the final scores recorded – but the friendships, memories and history created at the World Series of Thunee 2026 will remain forever.