Hatem Yassen is the All-African Snooker Champion
Egypt’s Hatem Yassen defeated fellow countryman Abdel Shaheen 6-5 in the final of the 2024 All-African Snooker Championship.
The Egyptian cueist secured the title for the second time in his career in a dramatic title match which came down to the final black of the deciding frame.
Yassen, who previously competed as a professional between 2015 and 2017, will be nominated for a return to the World Snooker Tour (WST) as a result of lifting the continental crown.
Organised by the African Billiards & Snooker Confederation (ABSC), the All-African Snooker Championship is the flagship of an event that also featured Women’s, Seniors and 6-red competitions from 12-21 August in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Yassen stormed through the initial group stage without dropping a single frame against opponents from the host nation and Mozambique, before overcoming Farhad Sayfoo from Mauritius 4-2 in the first knockout round.
Victory in a dramatic deciding frame against host nation cueist Mervyn Donnely saw Yassen book his place in the quarter-finals where he then comfortably whitewashed Mozambique’s Mahomed Idrisse to reach the last four.
African Seniors Championship runner-up Mutalieb Allie put up a strong fight in their semi-final contest, but Yassen once again proved too strong as he ran out a 5-3 victor to set up an all-Egyptian final against Shaheen.
Shaheen had also topped his initial group before defeating Graeme Britten, Omar Ramy, South African national champion Michael Davids and Kiashan Moodley to reach the final.
The best-of-11 frame title match was a dramatic contest that ultimately came down to the very last ball and it was Yassen who was able to pull out a stunning pot on the black to take the title and secure a nomination to return to the professional tour this season.
Chantelle Penny Storms to African Women’s Title
South Africa’s Chantelle Penny defeated Amy-Claire King to win the the All-African Women’s Championship title in her home country.
The event was played under double-elimination rules and it was Penny who impressively remained undefeated in her five matches to claim the crown.
Having beaten Anmari Kruger, King and Nishami Surajlall on two occasions to reach the title match, Penny then defeated ‘losers bracket’ winner King once more to lift the continental title.
Charl Jonck Wins African Seniors Championship
South Africa’s Charl Jonck defeated fellow countryman Mutalieb Allie 4-2 in the final of the 2024 All-African Seniors Championship in Johannesburg.
Jonck was in stunning form during the event, dropping just three frames and compiling the high break of 128 as he earned the title and a place at the Crucible Theatre for next May’s World Seniors Championship.
Click here for a full report on the World Seniors Snooker website.
Omar Ramy is African 6-Red Champion
Egypt Omar Ramy defeated Mohamed Ibrahim 6-4 to win the All-African 6-Red Championship crown.
Ramy topped his initial group phase, dropping just a single frame, before overcoming Latchman Moodley, Kiashan Moodley, Michael Davids and Arjun Ashok Lavingia to reach the title match.
There he would face Ibrahim, who had beaten Naitali Mourad 5-2 in the semi-finals to reach this stage.
The final was a close contest but ultimately it was Ramy who ran out a 6-4 victor to secure the title in Johannesburg.
Click for more information on the All-African Snooker Championships
