Doha, Qatar :Qatari Snooker Sensation Al Obaidli Advances to IBSF World Championship Final
In a historic feat, Qatar's Ali Al Obaidli secured a place in the final of the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship 2023 in Doha. The homegrown talent will face off against Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Wai at the La Maison Hotel in the eagerly awaited title clash scheduled for 12:30 pm.
Al Obaidli's journey to the final was marked by an impressive 5-1 victory in the semi-finals, where he showcased exceptional composure before the supportive local audience. Facing China’s Deng Haohui, Al Obaidli triumphed with scores of 62-61, 62-49, 63-17, 34-78, 57-48, and 71-11 in the best of nine frames.
Despite Haohui initiating the match with a break of 61 points, Al Obaidli strategically countered and clinched the frame by a single point. Sustaining his steady gameplay, the Qatari cueist went on to secure back-to-back victories, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead.
Although Haohui claimed the fourth frame with a score of 78-34, Al Obaidli's determination tightened his grip on the match, winning the next two frames and earning his first-ever spot in the World Snooker Championship final.
On the adjacent table, Cheung Ka Wai showcased a stellar performance, scoring breaks in all the frames he won to overcome Cyprus's Michael Georgiou. Cheung's dominant play included breaks of 60, 94, 61, 58, and 52 points in successive frames, securing a comfortable victory in the semi-final.
Earlier in the day, Al Obaidli advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-2 triumph over Ireland’s Ross Bulman. His opponent in the final, Cheung Ka Wai, secured his place with a convincing win against Michael Georgiou. The highly anticipated final promises a thrilling showdown between Al Obaidli and Cheung Ka Wai for the prestigious World Snooker Championship title.