Ziad Al-Qabbani, a 14-year-old Saudi snooker player, achieved sixth place at the 2024 IBSF World Junior Snooker Championships in Bengaluru, India, held from August 24-29.
Al-Qabbani reached the quarterfinals, where he narrowly lost 3-1 to Poland's Michelle Sarbersek, showcasing significant skill and potential.
Saudi female players Manar Al-Blowi and Noot Al-Blowi were eliminated in the group stage of the under-21 category.
Riyadh, August 27, 2024 – Saudi Arabia’s young snooker prodigy, Ziad Al-Qabbani, aged just 14, has made a notable mark on the international stage by securing an impressive sixth-place finish at the 2024 International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Junior Snooker Championships, held in Bengaluru, India. The tournament, which runs from August 24 to August 29, has showcased some of the brightest young talents in the sport.
Despite his tender age, Al-Qabbani demonstrated remarkable skill and composure throughout the competition. His journey through the tournament saw him advance to the quarterfinals, where he faced a tough opponent in Poland's Michelle Sarbersek. In a closely contested match, Al-Qabbani narrowly lost with a score of 3-1. His performance in both the preliminary rounds and the final stages of the championship was commendable and highlighted his potential as a future star in snooker.
On the other hand, Saudi female players Manar Al-Blowi and Noot Al-Blowi faced challenges in the under-21 category, exiting the tournament during the group stage. Despite this, their participation in the championship is a positive step for the development of snooker in Saudi Arabia and contributes to the growing presence of Saudi players on the global snooker scene.