The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : Thepchai Un-Nooh corners glory

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Thepchai Un-Nooh corners glory

Geet Sethi

Austria: Thepchai Un-Nooh, a 20-year-old Thai has become the 2008 IBSF World snooker champion. In a high quality contest against Republic of Ireland’s Colm Gilcreest on Saturday night, the Thai overcame an early 0-2 deficit and converted it into a well-deserved and hard-fought 11-7 victory. En-route, the current Thai National champion constructed a 143 in the fifth frame, the highest of the tournament, eclipsing his opponent’s 142 which the Irish made in the round-robin stage of the 13-day competition.

Thepchai had another big break of 139 in the 17th frame and four other efforts of 61, 91, 73 and 69. The 143 and 139, both total clearances provided overwhelming proof of his class and more importantly gave sufficient evidence of his proficiency and capability to face the stiffer and sterner tests, which lie ahead when he joins the fiercely competitive professional snooker circuit in 2009.

Thai President delighted

The Thai President, Mr. Sinthu was delighted and had predicted Thepchai’s title victory after the 20-year-old had clinched a 5-4 victory against compatriot James Wattana with a 111 clearance in the decider of their quarterfinal match. Wattana had performed with remarkable consistency in this championship and given his experience, it was a victory, which gave the necessary boost of confidence and conviction to Thepchai.

Colm compiled breaks of 69, 66, 55, 102, 59 and 56 in the match but after enjoying an early 2-0 and 3-1 advantage he was always trailing in the match. The distinct shift in the match occurred when Thepchai won five consecutive frames after the two players were locked at 4-4.

The 9-4 advantage in a best of 21 contest put the Thai in a position of great strength and simultaneously, provided a psychological blow to the Irishman. He failed to recover from the big deficit and even though he came back with three successive frames, the 139 in the 17th frame by Thepchai ended Colm’s aspirations and hopes.

O’Kane triumphs

In the final of the Masters event New Zealand’s Dene O’Kane defeated me 5-1 in a match, which did not rise to any great heights but was closely contested. The second, third and fourth frames were all decided on the pink or black ball. In the final analysis, the New Zealander performed with more consistency.

The ladies world title was won by England’s Reanne Evans, who defeated Wendy Jans of Belgium 5-3.

The good news for lovers of snooker is that India has been awarded the opportunity to host and organise the 2009 IBSF World championships in Hyderabad.

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