Ahmed Aly Elsayed

Ahmed Aly Elsayed (born 14 December 1979) is an American former professional snooker player who has won the United States Amateur Championship a record six times, having won three consecutive titles between 2009 and 2011, and another three consecutive titles between 2018 and 2021 (no tournament was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Career

Born in Egypt, he began as a pool player, winning tournaments in Alexandria. His father, an officer in the Egyptian Army, introduced him to snooker, and Elsayed practiced the sport in an army club that featured snooker tables formerly owned by King Farouk. After earning a degree in civil engineering, he went to the United States, intending to compete in pool tournaments. He remained in the US, working at the New York Athletic Club, where he supervises the billiard room. He is a naturalized US citizen.

He participated in the 2022 World Seniors Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, becoming the first American to compete at the Crucible. He lost in the first round to Wayne Cooper. He turned professional in the 2023–24 season after earning a two-year tour card by winning the 2022 Pan American Amateur Championship. Former world champion Cliff Thorburn and top snooker coach Chris Henry advised him on playing professionally.

Outside snooker

In 2018, Elsayed played the part of a snooker player in The Nap at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway. The play was written by One Man, Two Guvnors playwright Richard Bean. Elsayed met his wife Amy, a stage manager, during his time appearing in the play.

Performance and rankings timeline

Career finals

Amateur finals: 12 (8 titles)

External links

• at WPBSA SnookerScores
• at WPBSA (archived)
• at the World Snooker Tour (archived)
• at Snooker.org