Ali Abdul

“	Sang-woo. Sang-woo, where are you? Sang-woo. Sang-woo! I checked everyone. Sang-woo! Sang-woo!	„
	― Ali's last words before getting shot by a Soldier

Ali Abdul (Korean: 알리 압둘, Urdu: علی عبدل), also known as Player 199, was a contestant in the 33rd Squid Game. An immigrant from Pakistan, he had a young wife and a one-year-old son, whom he struggled to support after his employer withheld his wages for six months.

Desperate to provide for his family, Ali entered the Squid Game in hopes of winning the prize money. During Red Light, Green Light, he saved Seong Gi-hun’s life, forming a bond with him. After the first round, Ali confronted his employer over the unpaid wages, leading to a violent altercation in which the factory owner’s hand was caught in a rolling machine. Seizing the opportunity, Ali took an envelope of cash before fleeing.

In the games, Ali allied with Gi-hun, Cho Sang-woo, Kang Sae-byeok, and Oh Il-nam, successfully advancing through the second and third rounds. However, during the fourth game, Marbles, he partnered with Sang-woo, who deceived him into handing over his marbles, ultimately leading to Ali’s elimination.

Names	Ali Abdul Savior (Seong Gi-hun) My angel (Seong Gi-hun) Illegal Alien (Han Mi-nyeo)
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human
Occupation	Factory worker (formerly)
Origin	Squid Game Season 1 Episode 1: Red Light, Green Light (무궁화 꽃이 피던 날 Mugunghwa Kkoch-i Pideon Nal)
Alignment	Good
Age	33
Created By	Hwang Dong-hyuk
Height	173cm (5ft 8in)
Weight	79 kg (173 lbs)
Personality Type	ISFP, 3w2 (Enneagram)
Portrayed By	Anupam Tripathi

Appearance

Ali is a man of slightly below-average height, with brown skin, curly black hair, and brown eyes. He has a faint stubble and two missing fingers on his left hand due to a past work accident. Despite his lean frame, Ali possesses remarkable strength, as demonstrated when he effortlessly lifted Gi-hun by his jacket to save him from elimination in Red Light, Green Light, even using his injured hand. He also showcased his physical prowess by carrying a heavy steel beam during the lights-out brawl in the dormitory.

Personality

Ali is a polite and deeply grateful individual, known for his altruism and selflessness. He risked his own life to save Gi-hun during Red Light, Green Light, despite barely knowing him. Ali consistently expressed gratitude for even the smallest acts of kindness, such as Sang-woo lending him his phone and covering his bus fare. Among the players, he was one of the kindest and most genuine, though his trusting nature sometimes made him naive, leading to unfortunate consequences. Typically calm and composed, Ali could also be deeply emotional, as seen when he desperately tried to retrieve his overdue paycheck or when he broke down upon realizing Sang-woo had betrayed him during Marbles.

Biography

Background

Ali immigrated to South Korea from Pakistan in pursuit of stable employment, leaving his parents behind. He found work under an unnamed factory owner but was denied his wages for six months, leaving him struggling to support his wife and young son.

33rd Squid Games

Desperate to improve his family’s financial situation, Ali agreed to participate in the 33rd Squid Game. During the first round, Red Light, Green Light, he saved Seong Gi-hun’s life, showcasing his strength and selflessness.

Initially, Ali was among the majority who voted to leave the competition. However, after confronting his employer about his unpaid wages, the situation escalated—Ali accidentally pushed his boss into a rolling machine, crushing his fingers. Panicked, he seized the opportunity to take an envelope of cash, fleeing the scene and giving the money to his wife, urging her to return to Pakistan with their child. He promised to reunite with them soon before deciding to re-enter the Squid Game.

Unfamiliar with traditional Korean games, Ali was at a disadvantage from the start. However, his trusting nature led him to form an alliance with Gi-hun, Cho Sang-woo, Kang Sae-byeok, and Oh Il-nam. Among them, he particularly admired Sang-woo, who had shown him kindness outside of the competition.

For the fourth game, Marbles, players were instructed to form pairs. Unaware of what the challenge entailed, Sang-woo strategically chose Ali, recognizing him as one of the strongest competitors. Believing they would be an unstoppable team, he convinced Ali to partner with him. Trusting Sang-woo’s judgment and kindness, Ali agreed, seeking Gi-hun’s approval before finalizing the decision.

To begin the game, the guards distribute small bags containing ten marbles to each player. Moments later, the loudspeaker announces a shocking twist—the teams will not compete together but instead face off against each other in a one-on-one marble game of their choice. The losers will be immediately eliminated.

Unfamiliar with traditional marble games, Ali allows Sang-woo to decide their game and ends up playing a guessing game where they must predict whether their opponent is holding an odd or even number of marbles. When Ali initially struggles to understand the concept of "odd" and "even," Sang-woo explains the rules to him. They take turns guessing, with the winner keeping the opponent’s marbles.

Despite never having played before, Ali quickly gains the upper hand, winning multiple rounds. Frustrated, Sang-woo accuses him of lying and cheating. A frightened Ali insists he has been playing fairly and apologizes. After calming down, Sang-woo tells Ali he’s sorry for losing his temper and claims he has devised a strategy to outsmart the system so that they can both survive.

Having trusted Sang-woo throughout the game, Ali believes in his plan. Sang-woo takes Ali’s sack of marbles and uses fabric from his shirt to fashion a makeshift cloth necklace, claiming it will help Ali carry them more securely. He then suggests they split up to observe the other players, promising to regroup with three minutes left in the game.

Unbeknownst to Ali, Sang-woo’s "plan" is a deception. While Ali waits, Sang-woo secretly swaps his real bag of marbles with a bag filled with pebbles. As time runs out, Sang-woo presents Ali’s stolen marbles to the guards, securing his own survival. Moments later, Ali realizes the betrayal too late, and he is executed. His body is placed in a coffin and later incinerated.

Trivia

• Despite missing two fingers, Ali possesses immense strength due to his work as a factory laborer. This is demonstrated in Red Light, Green Light, the Special Round, and Tug of War.
• He and Player 276 are the only non-Korean contestants, both being Pakistani. Coincidentally, both are eliminated in the Marbles game, and neither of their actors share their characters' nationalities. Ali is Pakistani, while his actor, Anupam Tripathi, is Indian.
• If Ali had never participated in the Squid Game, Seong Gi-hun would have been eliminated in Red Light, Green Light, as Ali saved him from falling.
• Ali’s player number, 199, is a prime number.
• He has approximately 15 minutes of total screen time.