Al-Obaidli seals historic IBSF World Snooker title

Ali al-Obaidli scripted history yesterday as he became Qatar’s first IBSF World Snooker Champion. Playing in front of home fans, the 30-year-old defeated Cheung Ka Wai of Hong Kong 6-1 to realise a much-awaited dream for snooker fraternity in Qatar.Al-Obaidli, who started playing snooker when he was 13 years old, has been to the quarter-finals on multiple occasions. Yesterday, he took a giant leap in his career with an historic title. After his triumph, al-Obaidli was embraced by Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) officials, his family members and friends, some visibly emotional with his achievement."I am over the moon,” said al-Obaidli, who perhaps was the calmest person at the playing hall of the La Maison Hotel. "It wasn’t easy at all in the final as I was under more pressure. To see my people happy after this win makes me proud. I have been working so hard – going to England for training, playing too many tournaments and staying away from my family – all that has paid off. In the final, I kept putting pressure on Cheung and closing the frames early and that helped me win the title. I hit a run,” he said, with a warm smile.The Qatari cueist started the final with a break of 56 points to win the first frame 58-34. Cheung responded with a break of 66 to pocket the second frame. But an inspired al-Obaidli immediately struck back by securing the third frame 75-54 and then went ahead to score two breaks of 53 and 72 to lead 4-1. In the sixth frame, al-Obaidli dominated and secured that too to cement 5-1 lead.Cheung had some chances to come back in the seventh frame, but made few errors at crucial stages as al-Obaidli capitalised to convert into winning the frame and an unprecedented world title for him and his country.Al-Obaidli started his campaign by topping his group after winning all three of his matches against Yemen’s Ahmed Jabhan (4-0), Mongolia’s Boyantugus Burev (4-0) and Finland’s Patrik Tihonen (4-3).In the round of 32, he overcame Abdul Rahman Saif of UAE (4-3), before getting past Darryl Hill (5-1) in the last 16. The Qatari star then beat Irishman Ross Bulman (5-2) in the quarters and then sealed his place in the final with a win over China’s Ding Haohui (5-1) in the semi-finals.Mohsen Bukshisha, Deputy Director of the World Snooker Championship and member of the Board of Directors of the QBSF, praised al-Obaidli for dedicating this achievement to the entire billiards and snooker family in Qatar.Bukshisha said: "It is a well-deserved world title for Ali. He has been nothing short of brilliant in the tournament. He topped his group and thereafter put in one great performance after another. His victory is due to the hard work he has put in, in the last few years, with the help of Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation. This will serve as a new starting point for all members of the QBSF.”