China’s Ding leads cast at 6-red worlds

Six Thai players including former winner Thepchaiya Un-nooh carry the hopes of the host nation at the SangSom 6-red World Championship which starts this morning at the Bangkok Convention Centre, Central Ladprao.

Last year’s winner, Ding Junhui heads the 32 strong field in an event which this year carries a record 10 million baht in prize money with the winner receiving 3.5 million and the runner-up taking home 1.3 million.

The World Snooker-sanctioned tournament has been revamped this year as the organisers have tightened the selection criteria and added an extra two million baht to the prize money pot.

The field this year has been reduced to 32 players with only three slots each being made available to the international amateur and Asian federations respectively.

The number of Thai players in the event has also been trimmed from eight to six this year.

The participating players have been divided into eight groups of four each. Top two ranked players from each group will qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament.

A large majority of the big names in the world professional snooker have entered the tournament.

Ding begins his title defence with a tricky assignment against talented Thai professional Noppon Saengkham this afternoon.

The match will be televised live by TrueSport HD1 and TrueSport 7 channels at 1.30pm.

Thepchaiya, the top ranked Thai player on the world professional circuit who made history by becoming the first Asian since 2008 to win the championship two years ago, will also be in action on the opening day.

Thepchaiya should not expect an easy going against Kyren Wilson of England, who is enjoying a fine form at the moment.

The match will also be beamed live on the same channels, starting 6.30pm.

The four other Thai players taking part in the event are Akani Songsermsawad, Passakorn Suwannawat, Atthasit Mahitthi and the country’s snooker legend Ratchapol PuOb-Orm, who is better known to his fans as James Wattana.

Ratchapol begins his quest with a match against arch rival Mark King of England at 1.30pm today, when Passakorn faces a tough battle in his first game against Anthony McGill of Scotland.

Akani and veteran Atthasit will be the first two local players in action at 11am.