Oman today_ The Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee has announced that it will host two major international tournaments: the Muscat Nights International Snooker Championship and the Muscat Nights International Billiards Championship, scheduled to take place from January 14 to 18.
The announcement was made during a press conference in collaboration with the organizers of Muscat Nights 2026. These tournaments reflect the growing popularity of billiards and snooker in Oman and highlight the country’s ability to attract professional international players.
Khalid Al Subhi, Chairman of the Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee, stated that this year’s events will feature players from 18 different countries, including Oman, Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, the Philippines, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Eritrea. He added that this diverse participation underscores the increasing importance of the Muscat Nights tournaments on both the regional and international sporting calendar.
The number of participants has also increased from 92 last year to 124 this year, reflecting greater confidence among players in the quality and organizational standards of the events.
Al Subhi explained the tournament formats:
The snooker championship will begin with a group stage played in a “best of five frames” format, with the top two players from each group advancing to the round of 16. From the round of 16 to the finals, matches will be knockout rounds played with referees, in a “best of seven frames” format.
The billiards championship will be played in the preliminary rounds using a 10-ball alternate break system. The round of 16 will follow a knockout format, “Race to 11,” and the finals will be “Race to 13.”
The total prize fund for both tournaments is OMR 6,770, with OMR 3,420 allocated for the snooker championship and OMR 3,350 for the billiards championship. This represents one of the largest prize packages offered in the Muscat Nights events.
Al Subhi emphasized that these tournaments are not only a major sporting opportunity but also a significant tourism and economic opportunity for Oman. The participation of international players and teams boosts hotel occupancy, restaurants, and other tourism services, positioning Muscat as a reputable destination for international sporting events.
Hussein Al Rumhi, Supervisor of the Beach Events Committee at Muscat Nights, said that hosting these two tournaments adds a high-quality sporting dimension to the festival. He highlighted that the partnership between Muscat Nights and the Oman Billiards and Snooker Committee demonstrates the importance of collaboration between government entities and specialized sports organizations in delivering professionally organized international events.
He concluded by reaffirming that Muscat Municipality will continue to support and expand such initiatives, further embedding sports into the cultural and social fabric of the city and strengthening Muscat’s position as a leading destination for global sporting events.