His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the World Snooker Championship, held on Sunday, 14 July 2025, at the Bahrain Conference Centre at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The event was graciously held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.
The opening ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Shaikh Duaij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Second Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports; His Excellency Dr Abdul Rahman Sadiq Askar, CEO of the General Sports Authority; His Excellency Mr Faris Mustafa Al-Kooheji, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; Mr Munther Jawad Al-Basri, President of the Bahrain Billiards, Snooker, and Darts Federation; along with several presidents and representatives of international federations, distinguished guests, and invitees.
The championship comprises five major tournaments: the World Masters Snooker Championship (Men), the Six-Red World Snooker Championship (Men), the World Under-17 Championship (Boys), the World Under-21 Championship (Boys), and the World Under-21 Championship (Girls).
On this occasion, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa emphasised that the generous patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa reflects his continuous dedication to supporting various sporting events hosted in the Kingdom. His Highness praised Bahrain’s hosting of five world-class snooker tournaments, a significant achievement that demonstrates the confidence of international federations in Bahrain’s organisational capabilities. He noted that this event further cements Bahrain’s prominent position on the global sports map, particularly with the participation of more than 250 players, referees, and officials from 26 countries.
His Highness also highlighted that organising these championships in Bahrain offers a valuable opportunity to showcase the Kingdom’s capacity to host major international events, further enhancing Bahrain’s status as an international sports hub capable of attracting elite athletes. Moreover, the events support tourism and economic activity, reflecting Bahrain’s excellent reputation and high capabilities in hosting sporting competitions in general, and snooker in particular.
