Doha: Qatari cueist Ali Al Obaidly opened his campaign with a 9-8 victory over Saudi Khalid Al Ghamdi at the 10-Ball World Billiards Championship, hosted by the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation until November 2. He will face former world champion Carlo Biado of the Philippines in the second round of the winners’ bracket.

According to Qatar News Agency, Al Obaidly, a former individual Snooker World Champion, joined a challenging start for other Qatari players. Abdul Latif Al Fuwal, Mishal Al Ali, Mohammed Al Yafi, and Mansour Al Obaidly all lost their first-round matches but remain in the tournament through the losers’ bracket.

Other Arab players, including Kuwait’s Bader Al-Awadi, Egypt’s Mohamed Amara, Syria’s Mohamed Al Soufi, Lebanon’s Mohamed Ali Barjawi, and Iraq’s Louay Shaker and Haider Abdulstar, advanced to the next round. Notable international winners included Germany’s Jason Shaw, the Philippines’ Edwin James, Ukraine’s Sanjin Believanovich, and Austria’s former world champion Albin Oshan.