ABU DHABI // Thipchaiya Un-Nooh got double rewards for winning the final of the Armed Forces Officers Club's Ramadan snooker tournament against compatriot Issara Kachiawong. Ahead of the final, the Thai coach Pawat Vongiattiporn announced that the winner of the country's second and third-ranked players will get an automatic entry into a team of three for the World Amateur championship in Austria.
Un-Nooh, ranked No 3, not only sealed his place for the Austria trip in November, he collected a cheque of Dh50,000 for winning the final 5-4. Un-Nooh won 0-89, 74-2, 10-55, 88-18, 66-51, 8-71, 63-57, 20-85, 70-8. "The announcement by the coach put a lot of pressure on our game. Tonight I was very lucky," Un-Nooh said later. Kachiawong said: "It has always been close between us. Thus the final had more at stake and the pressure was on both of us."
Kachiawong started well with a break of 50 to claim the opening frame, but Un-Nooh took the next and it turned into a ding-dong battle. The event drew some of the leading players from the Gulf, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand. apassela@thenational.ae