- Alshammari sent shockwaves across the international professional pool landscape on Monday with famous victory over Spanish world #8 and two-time World Pool Masters champion David Alcaide
- World Pool Championship taking place in Jeddah until June 8; 13 Saudi players competing against world's top 100 marksmen
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 4 June 2024: Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Alshammari has opened up on his incredible first round victory at the 2024 World Pool Championship in Jeddah, labelling the achievement as 'a dream come true'.
In a sensational upset that sent shockwaves across the international professional pool landscape, Alshammari overcame Spanish star and world #8 David Alcaide in true 'David vs Goliath' fashion on Monday evening.
A huge underdog heading into the contest, Alshammari entered the tournament as one of 13 local wildcard entrants and made his World Pool Championship debut against the heavily fancied Alcaide, a two-time World Pool Masters champion.
However, the 35-year-old from Al Khobar produced a career-best performance to the delight of an electric hometown crowd inside the Green Halls. A sublime display of potting accuracy, cueball control, and outstanding safety play secured a 9-7 win which etched Alshammari's name into Saudi sporting folklore forever.
Reflecting on his performance, Alshammari credited the atmosphere inside the venue and his own self-belief as the key factors behind his win. He said: 'Sporting history tells us that anything is possible – you just have to believe in yourself, play with confidence, and embrace and enjoy the moment. That was my mindset heading into the match with David. He's one of the best in the world and has won many titles in his career. It was always going to be tough and this is why confidence was essential. Fortunately, I managed to get the win and I must say, the support I received from the crowd was unbelievable. They really inspired me to give it absolutely everything out there – and atmosphere they created is something I'll never forget. The experience was a dream come true.'
In partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SABSF), Ministry of Sport, and Matchroom Multi-Sport, Saudi Arabia is the new home of the World Pool Championship with 2024 the first of 10 successive editions over the next decade.
With the 'Crown Jewel' of the WNT being staged in the Kingdom until 2033, Alshammari insisted that this year's inaugural Saudi-based edition will come to be remembered as legacy-defining – paving the way for up-and-coming talent to compete moving forward.
Alshammari continued: 'In the years ahead when other Saudi Arabian players compete in the World Pool Championship, people will ask what inspired them to pick up a cue and play pool for the first time. I'm certain many will reply by saying that the Kingdom's first-ever professional global tournament was the catalyst. For those of us here this year, this is the main hope we harbor – to inspire youngsters and lay solid foundations for them to follow in our footsteps and shine on the world stage. As players today, we are so fortunate to be in this position. Vision 2030 has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.'
After his victory on Monday, Alshammari edged closer to a place in the last 64. The World Pool Championship's double-elimination format means each player from the 128-strong field must win two matches to progress past the first round.
Alshammari faces Ko Ping Han of Chinese Taipei next with a host of local talents and the world's top 100 players also in action over the coming days.
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