SNOOKER – RILEY Powell of Wales and Sebastian Milewski of Poland were crowned world champions of their respective categories last night in the IBSF World Snooker Championships 2025, which came to a close in the kingdom.
Sixteen-year-old Powell captured the men’s six-red world title to add to the silver medal he won last week in the men’s under-17 competition. Eighteen-year-old Milewski, meanwhile, secured the men’s under-21 crown.
Their victories wrapped up an exciting 12 days of play at Crowne Plaza Bahrain in this year’s IBSF World Snooker Championships, which were held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Also winning world titles in Bahrain were the Pakistani pair of Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain. Asif secured the champion’s trophy in the masters competition, while 16-year-old Hasnain bagged the gold medal in the men’s under-17 category.
The prestigious International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) event attracted nearly 150 of snooker’s elite, representing 24 countries from around the world.
Following yesterday’s play, Powell and Milewski were presented their respective prizes in the awards presentation and closing ceremony, attended by BOC board member and Bahrain Table Tennis Association president Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Bahrain Billiards Sports and Darts Federation (BBSDF) president Monther Al Basri, IBSF president Mubarak Al Khayarin, IBSF vice-president James Leacy, IBSF treasurer and sports director Joseph Lo, and other BBSDF and IBSF officials.
Powell secured his six-red world title after fighting back from two frames behind in a thrilling 5-4 (41-6, 10-38, 0-73, 35-42, 38-15, 39-1, 42-0, 0-44, 38-9) victory. He twice had 35 breaks in the fourth and seventh frames, and then a decisive 32 break in the final frame to clinch his crown. Advani put up a strong fight and had an impressive 73 break in frame three before adding a 35 in the fourth.
Earlier yesterday in the six-red semi-finals, Powell needed to go the maximum in grinding out a see-saw 5-4 (40-17, 21-43, 0-36, 44-10, 18-36, 40-10, 18-30, 32-18, 41-6) win against Fung Kwok Wai of Hong Kong. Both players scored 32 breaks during the match.
Advani was also pushed to the limit by countryman Aditya Mehta in their last-four clash, but he prevailed 5-4 (0-68, 50-0, 11-38, 33-22, 20-43, 38-4, 43-7, 24-33, 36-0). Mehta’s 68 score in the opening frame was also his high break in the contest.
Wai and Mehta finished as the six-red bronze-medallists.
In the under-21 final, Milewski was not to be denied as he swept Pan Yiming of China 5-0 (59-2, 88-2, 66-17, 63-11, 64-17). Milewski put in a dominant performance, posting breaks of 51, 39, 37, and 32 in the second through fifth frames, respectively.
Sharing the under-21 bronze medals were Ahsan Ramzan of Pakistan and Hu Jiayun of China.
This year’s IBSF World Snooker Championships was the first time since 2005 that an IBSF event took place in Bahrain.
The prestigious competition will be returning to the kingdom in 2026 and 2027, following an agreement signed between the BBSDF and IBSF, who will be organising the tournaments in cooperation with Crowne Plaza Bahrain and Matha Middle East Advertising and Signage.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))