Allie is Crowned South African National Snooker Champion for a Second Time

Mutalieb Allie dethroned defending champion Michael Davids 6-4 in a thrilling final to win the 2025 South African National Snooker Championship at the Goodwood Sports Club in Cape Town.

It is the second time that 51-year-old Allie has secured South Africa’s most prestigious domestic snooker title having initially claimed it in 2018.

Now organised by Snooker and Billiards South Africa (SABSA), the competition is one of the world’s oldest national titles with it being first won in 1937. This year’s edition featured players split into round robin groups before a knockout phase to its conclusion.

Allie breezed through the groups stage by winning all four of his fixtures 3-0 to qualify for the knockouts. There, he eliminated Faraad James 4-1, Mikey Russouw 4-2, Faizel Mukaddem 5-0, then Munier Cassim 5-0 in the semi-finals.

Title holder Davids reached back-to-back national finals after also not relinquishing a single frame in the groups before advancing through the knockout draw, defeating Rafique Limbada 5-3 in the last four.

In the showpiece tie featuring two cueists from the Penlyn Estate in the host city, Davids deposited the opening frame but Allie responded with efforts of 58 and 69 as he went 2-1 ahead. Momentum swung again as Davids took the next three frames – including successive frames decided by a re-spotted black – to gain control at 4-2 up.

However, Allie was not to be denied as he strung together the last four frames – helped by breaks of 65 and 79 – reclaiming the prestigious crown on the final black ball in frame 10.

A professional player for one season in 1996/97 when he won several matches, Allie compiled two century breaks during this year’s competition, including the biggest overall contribution of 124.

Last year, Allie reached the final of the African Seniors Championship held in South Africa, losing to fellow countryman Charl Jonck. That continental triumph qualified Jonck for the recent World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre where he defeated Ken Doherty in the opening round before bowing out to Australia’s Hassan Kerde in the quarter-finals.

Allie also reached the semi-finals of the open-age African Championship, going out to eventual trophy winner Hatem Yassen from Egypt who accepted the two-year World Snooker Tour on offer.

Earlier this year in Saïdia, Morocco, Allie made it to the last 32 of the World Snooker Federation Championship.

Also at the Goodwood Sports Club, Kiashan Moodley and Latchman Moodley won the South African pairs title after defeating Mervin Donnelly and Rafique Limbada in the final.