Ali Al Obaidly Reaches Final Of World Snooker Championship

Qatari snooker player Ali Al Obaidly has reached the final round of the World Snooker Championship (Qatar 2025), hosted by the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation. His strong and focused performance has impressed fans once again, as this marks his second time in the final, following his previous world title win in 2023.

The championship will conclude on Thursday and features several top international players and former world champions. Al Obaidly’s path to the final showed his high skill and determination as he defeated some of the best players from around the world.

In the semifinal match, held today, Al Obaidly faced England’s Harvey Chandler and won with a convincing score of 5–2. The game was full of excitement and close moments. The frame scores were (72–1), (120–1), (0–85), (66–78), (71–1), and (58–28). Al Obaidly started strong, winning the first three frames. Chandler tried to make a comeback by winning two frames, but Al Obaidly stayed calm and took control again to secure the final two frames.

With this win, he booked his place in the final match, where he will face Poland’s Michal Zobarczyk, a talented 14-year-old who has impressed everyone with his performance throughout the tournament. Zobarczyk defeated France’s Nicolas Mortreau 5–1 in his semifinal match.

Earlier in the day, Al Obaidly also played in the quarterfinal round, where he defeated Germany’s Richard Weinold in a clean 4–0 victory. His excellent control and focus in that match showed that he was fully ready for the challenges ahead.

In other quarterfinal results, Michal Zobarczyk beat defending champion Mohammad Asif of Pakistan 4–3, Nicolas Mortreau won against China’s Ding Haohui 4–1, and Harvey Chandler defeated Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal 4–3.

Al Obaidly’s journey through the tournament has been impressive from the very beginning. In the group stage, he played in Group 12 and won all three of his matches. He beat Fong Kok Wai from Hong Kong 4–2, Ajeya Prabhakar from the USA 4–0, and Amir Sarkhosh from Iran 4–2. This perfect performance helped him top his group and move directly into the Round of 16, skipping the earlier knockout stage as one of the top eight players.

In the Round of 16, Al Obaidly faced Chan King Kuang from Singapore in a tight match but managed to win 4–3. His confidence grew stronger as he progressed through each round. His quarterfinal and semifinal victories then confirmed his place in the final and his reputation as one of the strongest players in the tournament.

After his semifinal win, Al Obaidly expressed his happiness and pride in reaching the final again. He said that he was thankful for the continuous support of the Qatar Billiard Sports Federation, which helped him improve and stay motivated. He added that every match was challenging because many top-ranked and former world champion players were taking part this year.

He also said that his group-stage match against Amir Sarkhosh was one of the hardest, but it gave him confidence and helped him focus better in the following rounds. He mentioned that maintaining focus and avoiding mistakes are very important in matches of this level because the smallest error can change the game’s direction.

Looking ahead to the final, Al Obaidly praised his opponent Michal Zobarczyk, calling him a talented and fearless young player. However, he stated that he will give his best performance to win the final and bring another world title to Qatar.

He also said that his regular participation in international tournaments and competitions in Doha has helped him gain valuable experience. The exposure to strong opponents has improved his technical skills and strategic thinking, making him ready for such big events.

Al Obaidly ended his statement by saying that he hopes to make his country proud and meet the expectations of the federation and the Qatari fans. His journey so far has inspired many young players in Qatar and the region, proving that with dedication and focus, great achievements are possible.

The final match will take place on Thursday, and fans across Qatar are eagerly waiting to see if Ali Al Obaidly can once again lift the World Snooker Championship title and make history for his country.