MUSCAT: The Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee (OBSC) has announced that the Sultanate of Oman is fully prepared to host the World Snooker Championship (Men’s and Teams), to be held from November 15 to 23 at the Active Oman Centre in the Oman Automobile Association, under the supervision of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, and with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), Sohar International Bank and Active Oman.
The announcement came during a press conference on Tuesday, attended by Khalid al Subhi, Chairman of Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee; Hamoud al Harthy, Secretary-General; Ahmed al Hadi, national team manager, and Qadeer Abbas, team coach.
Khalid al Subhi confirmed that the championship will officially kick off next Saturday under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, featuring a grand opening ceremony that will bring together some of the world’s top snooker players, alongside wide official and public attendance.
The tournament will last nine days, featuring 74 players from 23 countries competing for a total prize money of $60,000.
Al Subhi noted that all preparations have been completed, including the installation of 10 certified snooker tables and full readiness of the national team. Eight Omani referees will also officiate as part of a 20-member international refereeing team. He praised the support of partner organisations, emphasising that hosting this championship represents an important sporting, economic and tourism milestone for Oman.
He added that the committee has prepared a comprehensive media plan, including live streaming of all matches on YouTube from 10 am to 10 pm, with continuous score updates. Spectator stands have been arranged to accommodate 80–100 fans and Mwasalat will provide transportation services for the players.
Al Subhi revealed plans to expand and develop the sport, noting that 2026 will mark the establishment of a women’s snooker division in Oman, with a female board member joining the committee to pave the way for forming a national women’s team to represent Oman in international competitions.
During the press conference, the official tournament logo was unveiled. Hamoud al Harthy explained that the design reflects the spirit of the championship, combining Omani identity with a global touch. The blue colour symbolises trust and stability inspired by the Omani sea, while red represents passion, energy, and the spirit of challenge. The bilingual Arabic-English logo underscores openness and professionalism.
Al Harthy emphasised that the logo aims to highlight Oman as a distinguished host of major international sporting events and reinforce its reputation as a global centre for tournament organisation infused with Omani hospitality. The new visual identity will be featured across all tournament media materials to enhance its global image.
For his part, national team coach Qadeer Abbas said that the team enters the tournament in high spirits after a three-month training camp involving 15 players, marked by discipline and commitment. He confirmed the players’ readiness to deliver a performance worthy of Oman, noting that the new training system featuring morning and evening sessions has had a positive impact on technical performance.
He added that the squad includes several of Oman’s top players, led by captain Abdullah al Raisi, along with Ahmed al Khusaibi, Omar al Busaidy, Taha al Khusaibi, Hussain al Lawati, Sadiq al Farsi, Qasim al Balushi and Musalim al Mashali from Salalah. Three Omani teams will compete in the team category, and 10 players will participate in the singles category.
National player Hussain al Lawati expressed his pride in Oman hosting this major global event, stressing that welcoming over 23 countries to Oman reflects the International Federation’s confidence in the Oman’s organisational capability and offers a valuable opportunity for Omani players to showcase their skills against elite global talent.
Al Lawati explained that the preparation programme was intensive, including internal ranking tournaments, daily morning and evening training sessions, and friendly matches to enhance readiness, expressing hope for honourable results that add to Oman’s record of sporting achievements.
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