Haider Maroom claims Billiards U21 9-Ball title
Haider Maroom produced a dominant display to claim the title at the 2026 Bahrain Billiards U21 9-Ball Ranking Championship, defeating national junior team player Faisal Al Malki 7-0 in the final.
The tournament was organised by the Bahrain Billiards and Darts Federation at its headquarters in Al Ahli Club in Al Mahooz, with 18 players competing for the top honours.
Al Malki finished as runner-up to secure the silver medal, while Yousif Bader and Mohammed Daabil claimed bronze.
Maroom enjoyed an outstanding run throughout the competition, winning all of his matches and dropping just one rack in his second match against Mohammed Rashid Hussain.
The champion continued his impressive form throughout the tournament, producing a series of strong performances that saw him overcome every challenge from his opponents.
In the final, Maroom immediately took control after breaking and clearing the opening rack without allowing Al Malki an opportunity at the table. He also capitalised on his opponent’s inability to pocket a ball from the break in the second and seventh racks.
Despite the different circumstances in each rack, Maroom maintained his composure and tactical advantage. In the final rack, he executed a precise safety shot, placing the cue ball in a position that blocked Al Malki’s direct view of the target ball before eventually sealing the victory.
Maroom’s tactical approach played a key role throughout the final, as he won three racks through intelligent play, including the third and seventh racks using similar strategies. He also forced Al Malki into attempting a jump shot in the fifth rack, which the runner-up was unable to convert.
The champion consistently applied pressure on his opponent and took advantage of mistakes, including a scratch from Al Malki in the fourth rack that allowed Maroom to extend his advantage.
Although Maroom made an error in the sixth rack by missing an easy shot, Al Malki was unable to capitalise and later missed an opportunity to claim a consolation rack after failing to sink the nine ball despite having a favourable position.
Bahrain Billiards and Darts Federation board member Mohammed Yousif praised the level of competition, highlighting that the participation of 18 players contributed to a strong tournament from the early rounds.
"Haider Maroom produced impressive victories despite facing strong opponents, which reflects his improvement and his ability to compete for the top positions in the men's national rankings," Yousif said.
He added that the final was highly competitive despite the 7-0 scoreline, noting that Maroom maintained a high level of concentration throughout the match.
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