SaLi

SaLi is the slash ship between Cho Sang-Woo and Ali Abdul from the Squid Game fandom.

Canon
Sang-Woo and Ali first met during the after result of the first game, Red-Light, Green-Light. Sang-Woo was amazed on Ali's physical strength when he saved Gi-Hun from tripping during the first game. They met again in the convenience store after they were given the choice to leave or rejoin the game. Sang-Woo noticed that Ali didn't have any cash with him so he gave Ali some food and drinks along with a bus permit to go home. Ali appreciated Sang-Woo's generosity and even considered him as a friend right after that. They even had the chance to have a short conversation together outside and later departed ways to go back to their homes. Both of them then decided to rejoin the game and later on formed a squad along with Gi-Hun, Il-Nam and Sae-Byeok later on to win the upcoming games and to survive all together.

Ali was very attached to Sang-Woo since he's the person to be able to communicate with out of all the players who participated. During their free times, they would have some conversations about one another even though Sang-Woo is a little timid in doing it. Gi-Hun and Il-Nam would also join their conversation as a team. The two also tried to help one another during the second and third game. Ali was impressed with Sang-Woo and Il-Nam's technique to win the third game, which worked and all of them were alive. He later thanked Sang-Woo for helping the team and letting him do some of the work too.

The two also helped each other during the Lights Off event. Along with their other friends, they set up a fort together in order to defend themselves from the other players who wanted to kill them. Ali even insisted to carry the heavy bunk beads instead of Sang-Woo. Sang-Woo was thankful because of his strength as well.

During the fourth game, it was announced that every player should have atleast one partner in order to play the game. Ali instantly went up to Sang-Woo and told him that they should be partners. Sang-Woo agreed later on. When they first walked in the room where the fourth game is being held, the host announced that the game that they are going to play is Marbles and that if one of the players loose, they will be eliminated. When both heard this, they knew that one of them needs to die so the other could survive the game. Sang-Woo still insisted for them to play but Ali hesitated since he doesn't want any of them to die. Sang-Woo told Ali that they should focus on the game first and find a solution before the time runs out.

Sang-Woo and Ali started to play marbles together. After a while, Sang-Woo noticed that he was loosing the first round while Ali was being lucky in his perspective. Ali noticed this too and continued to tell Sang-Woo that they need to stop playing and he doesn't want to see his friend die. Sang-Woo didn't answer but instead screamed at Ali for being lucky and asking him multiple questions on why he's winning. One of the guard stopped Sang-Woo when he was going too far. Sang-Woo apologized immediately and told Ali that he was just scared that he might die and he still has many things to do in life.

They continued to play their game until Sang-Woo came up with an idea. Sang-Woo told Ali that they should just stop playing and find other players to team up with so both of them can possibly survive. Sang-Woo teared up his shirt and hid the two packs of marbles under them. The sad thing is that Sang-Woo switched Ali's marbles into stone and put Ali's remaining marbles on his sack. He then gave Ali's sack back to him and told him to find another partner before the timer ends. Ali agreed happily.

Ali tried his best to look around and find players that could replace Sang-Woo. Sang-Woo was just left standing there waiting for the time to run out. Sadly, Ali didn't have enough time to find one and one of the guards ordered him to show his marbles. Ali did it instantly and opened his sack although inside was full of stones. Ali was shocked and felt betrayed by just looking into his eyes and saw Sang-Woo walking out of the room. Ali had tears on his eyes and has one last glance of Sang-Woo until one of the guards pulled his gun and shot him in the end. Sang-Woo was also ashamed of what he did but instead pushed away those feelings and went back to the dorms.

Fanon
SaLi is one of the most popular ships within the fandom. Many fans really liked Sang-Woo and Ali's relationship during the first episodes because how sweet their relationship was, noting the way Sang-Woo always took care of Ali by first giving him transport money, then giving him a bread, and insisting to be in the same team with him; Ali also seemed to Adore Sang-Woo very much; but their relationship changed in episode six, "Gganbu", where Sang-Woo betrayed Ali in order to win the fourth game. Some of the fans abandoned the ship because of that scene, although some of them believed that Sang-Woo only did that out of confusion and grief and that their relationship would've developed more if they weren't in the game but rather in the outside world. Some has also describe SaLi as the "Right person, wrong time" trope. It's main rival ship is SangHun or possibly even AlHun, the slash ship between Gi-Hun and Ali. It is currently Sang-woo's second most written and Ali's most written ship on AO3.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * In an interview with Anupam Tripathi, the actor who plays Ali, said that his favorite character through the whole series is Sang-Woo.