MUSCAT- The World Cup of Snooker officially kicked off on Saturday evening in Muscat, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman from 15 to 23 November at the Active Oman Centre in the Oman Automobile Association. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil bin Fahd al Said Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and attended by Basil bin Ahmed Al Rowas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Mubarak Al Khayarin, President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, along with a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, honorees, and prominent sports figures.

In his opening speech, Khalid Al Subhi, Chairman of the Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee, expressed his great pleasure in welcoming the patron of the ceremony and the distinguished attendees on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the committee. He extended his gratitude to His Highness for graciously sponsoring this major global sporting event. Al Subhi also welcomed the delegations from around the world who have come to compete in the World Snooker Cup teams and singles, featuring participants from 23 countries vying for $60,000 in prize money in an atmosphere filled with excitement and high-level competition.

Al Subhi emphasised that hosting this event marks an important milestone in the development of Omani sports and reflects the strong support offered by the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in elevating the country’s presence in international sports. He added that Oman has demonstrated its ability to host major global events thanks to its modern infrastructure, skilled national cadres, and passionate fans. He noted that the championship strengthens bonds of friendship among nations and contributes to leaving a positive legacy for the sport in Oman.

He concluded by thanking the International Billiards and Snooker Federation for its confidence in awarding Oman the hosting rights, and extended his appreciation to the event’s partners and sponsors, including Sohar International Bank, Active Oman, and the Oman Automobile Association, affirming that Oman warmly welcomes all participants and wishes them a successful tournament.

The opening ceremony featured special segments highlighting the significance of the event, beginning with an exhibition match between Omani rising star Musallam Al Masahli and Qatar national team player Ali Al Obaidli, showcasing impressive skill in front of the audience. This was followed by a visual presentation tracing the history and development of snooker in Oman, with a focus on the efforts that led to hosting a world-class championship. The ceremony concluded with the official opening break performed by the patron, formally declaring the competitions underway.

In the same context, Mubarak Al Khayarin, President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, stated that hosting this global event in Oman is a source of pride for the federation and the Gulf region. He affirmed that organizing a world championship for teams and men in a Gulf country is a remarkable achievement. He praised the efforts of the Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee, noting their professionalism despite challenges, including the late arrival of the championship tables, which the committee managed to prepare efficiently. He also announced the signing of a three-year cooperation agreement with the Omani side to strengthen future partnership.

Meanwhile, Hisham Al Sanani, Director General of Sports Development at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, expressed his pride in attending the opening ceremony, pointing out that this championship is one of 30 international sporting events approved within the national initiative for hosting major sports events, aligned with Oman Sports Strategy 2040. He explained that this initiative aims to promote Oman internationally, support the national economy through global sports events, and contribute to sustainable development and the activation of related sectors.

The first day of the group-stage matches at the Oman World Cup of Snooker witnessed intense competition across all tables, as the Omani national team players opened their campaign against some of the world’s top-ranked names. In Group F, Oman’s Sadiq Alfarsi fell in his opening match to Hong Kong China’s Chau Hon Man with a 0–3 scoreline. Group H saw Haitham Almahri lose by the same score to Poland’s Michal Szubarczyk, who dominated the three frames. In Group G, Oman’s Hassan Al Harthy suffered a 0–3 defeat against Ukraine’s Mykhailo Larkov, while Taha Bashir was unable to stop the strong performance of England’s Harvey Chandler, losing 0–3 in Group N.

In Group M, Oman’s Husain Allawati faced a difficult challenge against Indian star Pankaj Advani, losing 0–3, and in Group R, Qasim Albalushi was defeated 0–3 by India’s Aditya Mehta. In Group S, Musallam Almasahli produced a competitive display against Afghanistan’s Mohammad Zarif Afzali, taking one frame but eventually losing 1–3, while the same group saw China’s Deng Haohui defeat Egypt’s Hesham Shawky 3–0.

The day also included a 0–3 loss for Oman’s Ahmed Alkhusaibi in Group E to Afghanistan’s Mohammad Rais Senzahi, while Abdullah Alraisi began his run in Group D with a 0–3 loss to Afghanistan’s Mohammad Noor Zai. Despite a challenging opening day for the Omani players against elite global competitors, the team remains optimistic, with opportunities still available in the coming rounds to recover and capitalise on the experience gained, especially with the advantage of playing on home soil in front of local supporters.