Beijing: "Moo Paknam" Noppon Saengkham, the 34-year-old Thai snooker player, showcased his incredible sharpness by scoring a 134-point break in the deciding frame, narrowly defeating Zhou Yulong to advance to the China Open final.
According to Thai News Agency, Noppon Saengkham moved closer to his first ranking title after a thrilling 6-5 victory over Chinese snooker player Zhou Yulong in the semi-finals. This week's competition marks the best week of Noppon's professional snooker career since he turned professional in 2010. His impressive journey to the final included victories over snooker legends and world champions such as Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Shaun Murphy. The arrival of former world champion Peter Ebdon as his coach has significantly boosted Noppon's confidence, helping him adjust his attacking style and achieve noticeable results.
Noppon, currently ranked 45th in the world, is set to play the biggest match of his life this Sunday. The final will be a best-of-19 frames game, where he will face the winner of the match between Mark Selby and Stuart Bingham. The victor will take home the trophy and a prize of £250,000, approximately 11.2 million baht.
Previously, Noppon had only reached the final of a ranking tournament once, at the 2023 Scottish Open, where he finished as the runner-up. Reaching the China Open final guarantees him a minimum prize money of £100,000, approximately 4.5 million baht, marking the highest prize money for a single tournament in his career. This accomplishment will also elevate his world ranking from 45th to 27th, with the potential to climb as high as 17th if he wins the championship.