The 2012 Thailand Professional Circuit began earlier this week on Tuesday with the venue stages of the Songkhla Cup in southern Thailand. This is the first of seven ranking events for the Thai (and invited foreign) players.
As ever, the tournament opened with the wildcard round – though with the list of potential invitees limited to those not currently occupied in the UK for main tour events. The highlights of the day however came from Thai players, with Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon knocking in a 111 in a 4-1 win over southern local Somchai Chanloy, and Pramual Jantad opening his match with 97 and 90 as he polished off Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leung 4-2. Bandit Kiewsutthi saw off Ang Boon Chin in a decider, while another invited southern Thai, the billiards specialist Thawat Sujitthurakarn, beat Susipong Nimwongsa 4-2 to move into the last sixteen.
Wednesday’s matches included an intriguing tie between the world under-21 finalists Thanawat and Noppol Saengkham, and it was the younger player – Thanawat – who made the better start, opening up a 3-1 lead with an 85. Noppol hit back with a 130 of his own however, then drew level with a black ball decider and took the last for a 4-3 win. In other games, the evergreen Somporn Kantawang was in fine form as he brushed aside Mangkorn Sombat 4-0, while Bandit’s tournament came to an end with a 4-2 defeat to Somchai Kaowsamran. In the final game, Poramin Danjirakul compiled breaks of 80 and 59 to take a pair of frames from Nittiwat Kanchanasri, who otherwise controlled the match for a 4-2 victory.
Thursday proved interesting as Tai Pichit continued to defy age to beat Suchakree Poomjaeng 4-2. Suchakree had the consolation of giving himself a very good chance of the highest break prize however, with a 143 compiled at 3-1 down to keep himself in the match. Issara Kachaiwong also reached three figures as he added a 114 to breaks of 90, 69 and 45 in beating Pramual Jantad 4-2. Thawat was defeated 4-3 by Yutthapop Pakpoj, and Atthasit Mahitti rolled in an 86 as he came through 4-1 against Pisit Chansri.
Friday’s quarter final line-up is as follows:
Somporn Kantawang v Nittiwat Kanchanasri
Noppol Saengkham v Somchai Kaowsamran
Atthasit Mahitti v Yutthapop Pakpoj
Tai Pichit v Issara Kachaiwong