Sport | Other Sports
Thepchaiya seals title and a prize berth
Thailand's third-ranked Thepchaiya Un-noo prevailed over countryman Issara Kachaiwang by 5-4 frames in a pulsating final which not only gave him the snooker crown in Armed Forces Officers Club's 12th Open Sports Festival, but also earned him a berth in his national squad for the world championship.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:07 September 24, 2008
- Thepchaiya, winner of the snooker competition, receiving the winner's trophy from Lt General Mohammad Hilal Al Ka'abi, chairman of the higher organising committee of the Games.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Thailand's third-ranked Thepchaiya Unnoo prevailed over countryman Issara Kachaiwang by 5-4 frames in a pulsating final which not only gave him the snooker crown in Armed Forces Officers Club's 12th Open Sports Festival, but also earned him a berth in his national squad for the world championship.
Un-noo beat Kachaiwang, who is ranked number two in Thailand 0-89, 74-1, 10-55, 88-18, 66-51, 8-71, 63-57, 20-85 and 70-8 here on Monday night at the AFOC snooker hall.
Earlier, just before the final, Thai coach Pawat Vangkiattipora announced that the winner of the final will join James Wattana as the number two in the national team for the 2008 IBSF World Snooker Championships to be held in Austria. The third Thai player will qualify after a domestic tournament before the November event in Austria.
"I am delighted with this win. The first four frames did not go as I wanted but soon I found my touch," said the 23-year-old Un-noo.
Un-noo, who received Dh 50,000 for his win on Monday night, said it was his biggest prize money so far in his career. "I have been playing for about 10 years now. This is my third success against Kachaiwang," said the new champion.
Kachaiwang said he still could not fathom out why he keeps losing to Un-noo who is ranked below him. "Of course there is not much to choose between us as I think we are of the same level. But I hope to change the record against him," said the 25-year-old runner-up.
The UAE's Ahmad Saleh Al Hashemi received the winner's cheque for his triumph in the amateur snooker event.
The 33-year-old dentist at the Abu Dhabi Police Clinic said he was keen to get back into the UAE team: "I was part of the 10-man UAE team but my form dipped. I hope after this win, I can get back my form and fight for a place in the team," he said.
Meanwhile, Ras Al Khaimah schoolboy Mohammad Tariq Al Badawi was crowned PlayStation champion with Abdullah Mohammad Abdul Hamid placed second and Mohammad Abdullah Sharif third.
"I did not even expect to reach the final," said the grade 12 student of Saeed Bin Haidar Secondary School of Ras Al Khaimah.
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