Al Malki wins Under-18 billiards title

 TDT | Manama

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Faisal Al Malki beat Mohammed Al Shuroqi 7-3 to win the first Under-18 billiards ranking event held by the Bahrain Billiards and Darts Federation at its hall in Al Ahli Club.

The Bahrain junior player halted Al Shuroqi’s run in the final after building an early lead, losing ground in the middle of the match and then regaining control at the table.

Yousif Ibrahim, the event supervisor, gave Al Malki the winner’s cup and handed Al Shuroqi the silver medal. Ali Mohammed Jaafar took bronze for third place, while Ali Hassan was given the medal for fourth.

Al Malki made the sharper start, moving 3-0 ahead. He was helped by Al Shuroqi’s misses late in the second and third racks, with balls left on for the Bahrain player to clear.

Al Shuroqi, still new to the sport, then found his range. He won the fourth rack after Al Malki potted the cue ball, and took the fifth in similar fashion before ending the rack on the nine ball.

That cut the gap to 3-2, but Al Malki hit back. Two racks in a row moved him 5-2 clear and left Al Shuroqi chasing the match again.

The seventh rack gave Al Malki more room. He cleared from the break, leaving Al Shuroqi without a visit to the table. Al Shuroqi took the next rack to make it 6-3, but the comeback went no further.

In the last rack, Al Malki laid a snooker which Al Shuroqi could not escape cleanly. The runner-up was then given one last chance, but could not take it.

Al Malki returned to the table, cleared the rack and sealed the title.