Saudi snooker prodigy hopes to one day be world champion

JEDDAH: 10-year-old Saudi snooker player, Abdullah Alqabani, is hoping to make a name for himself in the sport and represent Saudi Arabia internationally.

Alqabani on Tuesday took part in the Saudi Junior Championship, a part of the World Pool Championship making him the youngest player in the tournament.

Despite losing 4-7 in the first round of the Saudi Junior Championship to Romanian Hermeneanu Evan, the young Saudi remains hopeful about his future in snooker and aims to be the best snooker player in Saudi Arabia.

Arab News spoke to him at the Green Halls, he said: “I am so glad to be part of this international championship and seeing the best in the world competing here at home. It is a really great moment for me and my teammates because we learn from it. Just watching the best in the world performing here in Saudi Arabia is something else.”

Alqabani, who hails from Riyadh, spends more time training at Ronnie O’Sullivan academy in Riyadh and recently has been shining on the junior snooker circuit in Saudi Arabia and because of his skills, he was invited to join the Saudi national team.

“Saudi Arabia is not a snooker nation but the sport is getting there and many players now are playing billiards and snooker off course with the support of the Saudi Billiards and Snookers Federation,” he said.

At the age of 8, he started playing the American pool and moved to snooker as he got older, “It all started with my father who used to take me to play with him in one of the clubs in Riyadh.

 He continued: “I am going to work hard to become the best player in Saudi Arabia and with such events held in Saudi Arabia, I think my generation can make it to the highest level but it takes time.”

As one of the young snooker