SNOOKER – BAHRAIN’S superstar cueist Habib Sabah made a winning start yesterday to headline a positive day for the hosts in the masters category of the IBSF World Snooker Championships 2025, currently being held in the kingdom.
Sabah was amongst four Bahraini competitors to register opening victories in their respective groups in the competition’s preliminary round. The others were Hamed Dhaif, Mohammed Alshaikh, and Punait Saqer.
The prestigious International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) tournament is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
It was officially opened with a ceremony last night at the tournament venue at Crowne Plaza Bahrain. BOC vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa was in attendance, along with SCYS second deputy chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, GSA CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji, IBSF president Mubarak Al Khayarin, Bahrain Billiard Sports and Darts Federation president Monther Al Basri, and other officials.
The worlds features an impressive field of snooker’s elite, representing 24 countries and battling it out in four categories, including the masters, the under-17 men, under-21 men, and the men’s six-red.
Play in the masters got things underway yesterday morning and the battles continued into the night.
Sabah, who captured the category’s title in the 2023 edition of the world championships, is competing in Group E. He won his opening match, held best-of-five frames. Sabah outclassed Sami Al Hamrashdi of Oman 3-0, with frame scores of 84-0, 80-19, 61-24.
Dhaif is playing in Group A. He roared back from two frames down against Abdullah Alraisi of Oman to win 3-2 (51-62, 40-69, 64-38, 60-31, 57-45).
Alshaikh followed suit with his own 3-2 victory in Group F against Ihab Al Salih of Iraq. Alshaikh also lost the opening two frames, but rallied to take the contest with frame scores of 39-63, 56-67, 77-39, 60-45, 52-45.
Saqer claimed his opening victory in Group K against Hassan Al Harthy of Oman. He was dominant in their affair, closing the match out 3-0 (64-19, 48-16, 69-7).
Also yesterday, Bahrain’s Jaafar Alraees faced off with Tony Morgan of Wales. Alraees went down fighting, as Morgan emerged triumphant 3-0 (50-37, 74-17, 52-47).
Action is scheduled to continue today from 10am onwards. The final set of matches will start from 7pm. The Masters category will continue until Friday when the final will take place. The quarters will be held on Wednesday and the semi-finals on Thursday.
Bahrain will also have participants in the world championship’s three other categories.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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