MUSCAT: The singles competition of the 2025 Oman World Cup of Snooker officially began yesterday at the Active Oman Centre in the Oman Automobile Association. The tournament, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman through the Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), runs from November 15 to 23 with the participation of elite international players.
68 PLAYERS IN 17 GROUPS – TOP TWO ADVANCE
The International Billiards and Snooker Federation’s technical committee held the group-stage draw on Friday evening, placing 68 players into 17 groups of four. The top two players from each group will qualify for the knockout stages, beginning with the Last 34 and Last 32 rounds, before progressing toward the grand final, where the new world singles champion will be crowned on November 19.
The draw produced several challenging paths for the nine Omani players competing across various groups, each aiming to secure a historic qualification on home soil. The event witnesses wide participation from internationally ranked athletes, further elevating the level of competition.
BREAKDOWN OF OMANI PLAYERS’ GROUPS
Oman’s Abdullah al Raisi found himself in a demanding Group D, which includes Qatar’s Ali al Obaidli, Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leong, and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Noor Zai. In Group E, Ahmed al Khusaibi faces Iran’s Siyavosh Mozayani, Australia’s Hassan Kerde, and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Rais Senzahi, an open group that presents a promising opportunity for him to advance.
Sadiq al Farsi will navigate a challenging Group F featuring Hong Kong China’s Chao Hon Man, Poland’s Sebastian Milewski, and Bahrain’s Khalil Busaif. Meanwhile, Hassan al Harthy competes in Group G alongside Nansen Wan of Hong Kong China, Ukraine’s Mykhailo Larkov, and Bangladesh’s Abdullah Siddiqi.
In Group H, Haitham al Mahri looks to draw on his experience as he meets Poland’s Michal Szubarczyk, Australia’s Chi Kin Yeung, and India’s Dhvaj Haria.
Oman’s Hussiin al Lawati faces one of the toughest assignments in Group M, where he competes with Bahrain’s Hesnam Alsacer, Hong Kong China’s Chang Yu Kiu, and Indian superstar Pankaj Advani, a leading title contender.
Taha Bashir lines up in Group N with France’s Micolas Mortreu, England’s Harvey Chandler, and Egypt’s Mohammed Abdelkader. Qasim al Balushi competes in Group R featuring Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, India’s Aditya Mehta, and Indonesia’s Gibi Putra, while Muslim al Mushaili faces China’s Ding Haohui, Egypt’s Hesham Shawky, and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Zarif Afzali in Group S.
MIXED RESULTS FOR OMAN ON OPENING DAY
The first day of group-stage action delivered contrasting results for Omani players.
Abdullah al Raisi opened his campaign with a 0–3 defeat to Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leong. Despite the scoreline, Al Raisi displayed competitive moments but ultimately fell short against the Malaysian’s superior experience.
Similarly, Ahmed al Khusaibi suffered a 0–3 loss to Iran’s Siavash Mozaeini, who sealed his first victory of the tournament. With several matches remaining, both Omani players still have opportunities to revive their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
International stars also made strong statements on day one. Iran’s Ali Garhaqzolu began with a 3–0 win in Group A, while Pakistan’s Mohammad Hasnain endured a heavy 0–3 defeat. Pakistan’s Sajjad Iqbal recorded an important 3–1 win in Group B, and Fung Kwok Wai of Hong Kong China impressed with a 3–0 result in Group C.
In another notable upset, Qatar’s top seed Ali al Obaidli suffered a surprising defeat to Afghanistan’s Mohammad Noor Zai.
Group-stage action continues today (Sunday), with several crucial fixtures for Omani contenders. Abdullah al Raisi faces Qatar’s Ali al Obaidli and Afghanistan’s Noor Zai in two decisive matches that could determine his qualification prospects. While Ahmed al Khusaibi plays Australia’s Hassan Kirdi before meeting Afghanistan’s Mohammad Rais Senzahi as he seeks to bounce back from his opening loss.
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