Bahrain shock Oman for Gulf Cup glory

JEDDAH: Saudi cueists put on a strong display on the second day of the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, with top national players securing victories in their respective matches.

The talented Saudi cueist Mohammed Baabad began his first day with an impressive performance and was able to defeat one of the most dangerous players in the world Albanian Kledio Kaci.

Speaking after the match, Baabad expressed his joy and happiness to win against one of the best players in the world, he said: “I feel so happy and I am over the moon. I always dreamed of being on this stage to compete with the top players. In this match, I believed in myself and knew I had the capabilities to defeat Kaci.”

He pointed out that Saudi players have the skill and talents but they need the opportunity to compete with the best in the world, “With such competitions held here in Saudi Arabia, we really can learn from those champions,” he said.

Despite losing his first match in the opening day against the number five in the world, Filipino Johann Chua 9-0, Saudi new rising star Mohammed Al-Balkhi was able to come back in his second match and claim a strong victory against Felix Vogel from Germany 9-7.

Al-Balkhi explained after his big win: “My first match against Johann Chua was my first international match in my career and I was really nervous especially because it was on the main table and in front of one of the best in the world. In my second match I was able to control myself and focus on my game which resulted in an impressive win for me against Felix Vogel.”

On the other side of the arena, Saudi champion Khalid Al-Ghamdi also registered a victory against Canadian John Morra 9-3. 

Expressing his happiness, Al-Ghamdi said: “First of all, I am very proud to represent my country in this international event, it is really a great feeling. I am so glad to win my first match during the second day despite the pressure I felt before the match. Anyhow, glad to win and hope to continue winning in the next rounds.”

Earlier, Nayef Aljawini, President of the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation, emphasized how the event inspires young Saudis and elevates local players internationally.

Saudi Arabia Billiards and Snooker Federation Players taking part in this year’s World Pool Championship are: Mohammed Baabad, Muhannad Al-Ghumaiz, Abdullah Al-Shammari, Khaled Al-Ghamdi, Fahad Al-Dhayan, Meshary Al-Hazzah, Abdulaziz Al-Amoudi, Sulaiman Al-Juleidan, Al Waleed Al-Mudayan, Khaled Al-Otaibi, and Mohamed Al-Balkhi.

WASHINGTON: There are plenty of reasons why this particular victory by Venus Williams in this particular tennis match — just one of hundreds — resonated with so many folks.

That she’s 45, for one thing. Only one woman, Martina Navratilova, ever has won a tour-level singles match while older; her last victory came at 47 in 2004.

That Williams hadn’t entered a tournament anywhere in 16 months.

That she needed surgery for uterine fibroids.

And when asked Tuesday night after beating her 23-year-old opponent, Peyton Stearns, 6-3, 6-4 at the DC Open what message others might take away from that performance and that result, Williams was quick to provide an answer.

“There are no limits for excellence. It’s all about what’s in your head and how much you’re able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally, physically, and emotionally, then you can have the result,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down. Doesn’t matter how many times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is. If you continue to believe and put in the work, there is an opportunity, there is space, for you.”

Williams has been winning at tennis for decades. Her pro debut came when she was 14. Her first Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2000, less than a month after her 20th birthday.

She accumulated four major singles trophies before Stearns was born and eventually wound up with seven, five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open, plus another 14 in women’s doubles — all with her sister Serena — and two in mixed doubles.

“I have so much respect for her to come back here and play, win or lose. That takes a lot of guts to step back onto court, especially with what she’s done for the sport,” said Stearns, who is ranked 35th and won NCAA singles and team titles at the University of Texas. “You have a lot behind you. You have accomplished a lot. And there is a lot of pressure on her and to kind of upkeep that at this age. So massive credit to her for that.”

There were challenges along the way for Williams, none more public than the diagnosis in 2011 of Sjögren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain.

More recent was the pain from fibroids — noncancerous growths — and shortly before the DC Open, Williams said: “Where I am at this year is so much different (from) where I was at last year. It’s night and day, being able to be here and prepare for the tournament as opposed to preparing for surgery.”

As thrilled as the spectators — “Who I love, and they love me,” Williams said — were to be able to watch, and pull, for her under the lights Tuesday, other players were rather excited about it, too.

“I commend her so much for being out here,” said Taylor Townsend.

Naomi Osaka’s take: “She’s, like, the queen. There’s a royal air around her.”

“She’s one of the best athletes of all time,” Frances Tiafoe said. “Her and her sister, they’re not only great for the women’s game, not only great for women’s sports, but they are so iconic.”

Yet, there were some on social media who wondered whether it made sense for the tournament to award a wild-card entry to Williams instead of an up-and-coming player.

DC Open chairman Mark Ein said it took him about two seconds to respond “Of course” when Williams’ representative reached out in April to ask whether a spot in the field might be a possibility.

A reporter wanted to know Tuesday whether Williams took any satisfaction from proving doubters wrong.

“No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me. And I also have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I’m here for me, because I want to be here,” she said. “And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss.”