Azeddine Shadi, an international snooker player representing the Central Bank team, beat actor Hesham El Meligy in an exhibition match at the Suez Petroleum Company's billiards hall. The event, part of the ongoing corporate Olympiad, drew attention for pairing a professional player with a well-known figure from film and television.
El Meligy is best known for his role as "Hashem" in the 1998 film "صعيدي في الجامعة الأمريكية". While his acting career includes films like "بوحة" and the series "العصيان", his connection to snooker is less public. In "صعيدي في الجامعة الأمريكية", he shared a billiards scene with Mohamed Henedy, a nod to his real-life interest in the game.
According to available open sources, there is no verified official report confirming the existence, score, date, or organizer of the Azeddine Shadi vs Hesham El Meligy exhibition match.
This match was not part of the main tournament but was set up to highlight the crossover between the arts and cue sports. Spectators at the Suez Petroleum Company venue saw a friendly but competitive game. Shadi's experience and skill gave him the edge, though El Meligy showed the composure and tactics of a practiced amateur.
For the corporate Olympiad, the exhibition aimed to show snooker's growing popularity in UAE corporate circles and its appeal to people from different backgrounds. Having a film and television actor like El Meligy involved brought extra attention, showing that cue sports can reach beyond the professional scene.
Open-source snooker calendars and official tournament records for late August to early September 2026 do not confirm the existence of a corporate Olympiad featuring this match as an official event. Available results pertain to standard professional World Snooker competitions, and no official statements or disciplinary outcomes regarding this exhibition have been reported.
El Meligy may not have the same public profile as some of his peers, but his ongoing connection to snooker, both on screen and off, adds credibility to his participation. Facing a player of Shadi's level shows his respect for the sport and its community.
Shadi's win was expected, given his international background. Still, the match reflects how cue sports in the UAE are growing at both grassroots and corporate levels, and how they can bring together people from different fields. When a well-known actor and a top player share the table, it highlights snooker's changing place in the Emirates. Cue sports in the UAE are reaching new audiences as more personalities get involved.
