SangSom 6-red Snooker International

[NSF Admin]

With cricket taking off again with the popularity of the Twenty20 format, the cuesport fraternity is preparing for a new game ? six-red snooker.

On the outside, the SangSom six-red tournament doesn?t look much different from the original game. The only difference is that the 15 red balls have been reduced to six while the six coloured balls remain. The concept and the first international tournament is the brainchild of Sindhu Pulsirivong, the chairman of the Asian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker and the president of the Snooker Association of Thailand.

?I was watching the eight-ball and nine-ball pool tournaments on television and saw that the popularity of the new formats was increasing. Also the tournaments offered everyone an equal chance to win. So it was necessary to rethink on snooker,? said Mr Pulsirivong.

The new format was tried out on an inaugural basis at the South East Asian Games in Korat, Thailand, in December last year. Mr Pulsirivong admitted T20 was also an inspiration. Though the Indian Premier League was yet to be conceptualised, Mr Pulsirivong kept himself abreast with the county cricket in England and the Indian Cricket League.

The field for this tournament, which got underway at 10am today, is studded with big names like world No. 4 Mark Selby, former world professional champions Peter Ebdon and Ken Doherty, the people's champion Jimmy White and Thailand's own maestro Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm.

However, given the nature of the game, there are is an army of unranked contenders who are all capable of springing surprises during the course of the inaugural event, which offers more than 1.8 million baht in prize monies with 500,000 baht going to the winner.

Selby, winner of two world professional events last season, entered the fray as the pre-tournament favourite, with Ebdon and Doherty being the other two outright title favourites.

There are players like Joe Swail, Stuart Bingham, Nigel Bond, Dave Harold, Michael Holt and Ricky Walden, though ranked a rung or two lower on the list, should be taken as title contenders.

[NSF Admin]

DAY 1 RESULTS
 
Jimmy White MBE ? ENG (65) Martin Gould ? ENG (63) 5-0
Stuart Bingham ? ENG (21) Zaw Tun ? MYA 5-1
Yasin Merchant ? IND Keith E Boon ? SIN 4-5
Noppadon Noppachorn - THA Mohsen Aziz ? QAT 5-3
Nguyen Nat Thahn ? VIE Ian Wells ? SCO 1-5
Manan Chandra ? IND Ricky Walden ? ENG (35) 2-5
Itaro Santos ? GER Muhammad Sajjad ? PAK 5-3
Issara Kachaiwong - THA Aditya Mehta ? IND 2-5
James Wattana ? THA (66) Habib Subah ? BAH 5-2
Mark Selby - ENG (4) Gregory Kopec ? FRA 5-0
Dave Harold ? ENG (28) Daniel Wells - WAL 5-4
Akani Songsermsawat - THA Matthew Selt ? ENG (71) 5-2
Suchart Phookang - THA Michael Holt ? ENG (34) 5-3
Supoj Saenla ? THA (73) Chan Kwok Ming ? HKG 5-3
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - THA Au Chi Wai ? HKG 5-0
Marvin Lim ? SIN Tom Ford ? ENG (48) 5-4
Ken Doherty ? IRL (18) Mark Davis ? ENG (58) 2-5
Saleh Mohammad ? PAK Mike Dunn ? ENG (47) 5-3
Joe Swail ? NIR (20) Dene O?Kane ? NZL 5-3
Atthasit Mahitthi - THA Zaw Tun ? MYA 5-2
Nigel Bond ? ENG (23) Yutaka Fukuda ? JPN 5-2
Phaithoon Phonbun - THA Mohammed Shehab ? UAE 5-1
Steve Mifsud ? AUS Jimmy Michie ? ENG (45) 3-5
Keith E Boon ? SIN Stuart Pettman - ENG (62) 5-0
Peter Ebdon - ENG (9) Yasin Merchant ? IND  5-0
Issara Kachaiwong - THA Martin Gould ? ENG (63) 4-5
Stuart Bingham ? ENG (21) Mohammed Al-Jokar ? UAE 5-3
Supoj Saenla ? THA (73) Nguyen Nat Thahn ? VIE 5-0
Matthew Selt ? ENG (71) Manan Chandra ? IND 5-2
Habib Subah ? BAH Tom Ford ? ENG (48) 1-5
Chan Kwok Ming ? HKG Ian Wells ? SCO 5-2
Akani Songsermsawat - THA Ricky Walden ? ENG (35) 3-5
Joe Swail ? NIR (20) James Wattana ? THA (66) 5-1
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - THA Stuart Pettman - ENG (62) 5-3
Jimmy White MBE ? ENG (65) Gregory Kopec ? FRA 1-5
Daniel Wells - WAL Michael Holt ? ENG (34) 5-2
Atthasit Mahitthi - THA Saleh Mohammad ? PAK 0-5
Suchart Phookang - THA Muhammad Sajjad ? PAK 5-3
Noppadon Noppachorn - THA Jimmy Michie ? ENG (45) 5-3
Steve Mifsud ? AUS Mohsen Aziz ? QAT 5-3

[NSF Admin]

DAY 2 RESULTS

Phaithoon Phonbun - THA Akani Songsermsawat - THA  5-4
Yutaka Fukuda ? JPN Mohsen Aziz ? QAT 0-5 
Aditya Mehta ? IND Gregory Kopec ? FRA 5-4
Dene O?Kane ? NZL Marvin Lim ? SIN  5-3
Mohammed Al-Joker ? UAE Mike Dunn ? ENG (47)  2-5
Au Chi Wai ? HKG Keith E Boon ? SIN  5-2
Supoj Saenla ? THA (73) Ian Wells ? SCO  5-1
Matthew Selt ? ENG (71) Mohammed Shehab ? UAE  1-5
Mark Selby - ENG (4) Jimmy White MBE ? ENG (65)  4-5
Ken Doherty ? IRL (18) Nguyen Nat Thahn ? VIE  5-3
Suchart Phookang - THA Daniel Wells - WAL  3-5
Zaw Tun ? MYA Saleh Mohammad ? PAK  0-5
Muhammad Sajjad ? PAK Michael Holt ? ENG (34)  5-3
Joe Swail ? NIR (20) Habib Subah ? BAH 5-1 
Yasin Merchant ? IND Stuart Pettman - ENG (62)  3-5
Dave Harold ? ENG (28) Itaro Santos ? GER  5-2
Nigel Bond ? ENG (23) Noppadon Noppachorn - THA  5-4
Peter Ebdon - ENG (9) Au Chi Wai ? HKG  5-2
Steve Mifsud ? AUS Yutaka Fukuda ? JPN  5-1
Matthew Selt ? ENG (71) Ricky Walden ? ENG (35)  4-5
Phaithoon Phonbun - THA Manan Chandra ? IND  5-3
Mohsen Aziz ? QAT Jimmy Michie ? ENG (45)  2-5
Aditya Mehta ? IND Martin Gould ? ENG (63)  4-5
Chan Kwok Ming ? HKG Mark Davis ? ENG (58)  2-5
James Wattana ? THA (66) Tom Ford ? ENG (48)  5-4
Issara Kachaiwong - THA Jimmy White MBE ? ENG (65)  1-5
Stuart Bingham ? ENG (21) Saleh Mohammad ? PAK  4-5
Akani Songsermsawat - THA Mohammed Shehab ? UAE   
Itaro Santos ? GER Daniel Wells - WAL  3-5
Habib Subah ? BAH Dene O?Kane ? NZL  3-5
Dave Harold ? ENG (28) Suchart Phookang - THA  5-0
Zaw Tun ? MYA Mohammed Al-Joakar ? UAE  4-5
Peter Ebdon - ENG (9) Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - THA  5-4
Nigel Bond ? ENG (23) Jimmy Michie ? ENG (45)  5-0
Ken Doherty ? IRL (18) Chan Kwok Ming ? HKG  3-5
Mark Selby - ENG (4) Martin Gould ? ENG (63)  5-3
Noppadon Noppachorn - THA Steve Mifsud ? AUS  3-5
Atthasit Mahitthi - THA Mike Dunn ? ENG (47)  5-1
Joe Swail ? NIR (20) Marvin Lim ? SIN  5-1
Nguyen Nat Thahn ? VIE Mark Davis ? ENG (58) 1-5

[NSF Admin]

DAY 3 RESULTS

Peter Ebdon - ENG (9) Keith E Boon ? SIN 5-4
Phaithoon Phonbun - THA Ricky Walden ? ENG (35) 5-2
Issara Kachaiwong - THA Gregory Kopec ? FRA 5-3
Zaw Tun ? MYA Mike Dunn ? ENG (47) 2-5
Habib Subah ? BAH Marvin Lim ? SIN 5-4
Dave Harold ? ENG (28) Muhammad Sajjad ? PAK 5-0
Au Chi Wai ? HKG Stuart Pettman - ENG (62) 0-5
Suchart Phookang - THA Itaro Santos ? GER 2-5
Atthasit Mahitthi - THA Mohammed Al-Joakar ? UAE 5-3
Joe Swail ? NIR (20) Tom Ford ? ENG (48) 4-5
Ken Doherty ? IRL (18) Ian Wells ? SCO 5-0
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - THA Yasin Merchant ? IND 5-2
Nguyen Nat Thahn ? VIE Chan Kwok Ming ? HKG 0-5
Mark Selby - ENG (4) Aditya Mehta ? IND 5-2
Nigel Bond ? ENG (23) Steve Mifsud ? AUS 5-2
Yutaka Fukuda ? JPN Jimmy Michie ? ENG (45) 1-5
James Wattana ? THA (66) Dene O?Kane ? NZL 5-3
Supoj Saenla ? THA (73) Mark Davis ? ENG (58) 4-5
Dave Harold ? ENG (28) Michael Holt ? ENG (34) 2-5
Peter Ebdon - ENG (9) Stuart Pettman - ENG (62) 3-5
Muhammad Sajjad ? PAK Daniel Wells - WAL 1-5
Mohammed Shehab ? UAE Ricky Walden ? ENG (35) 0-5
Stuart Bingham ? ENG (21) Mike Dunn ? ENG (47) 1-5
Akani Songsermsawat - THA Manan Chandra ? IND 1-5
Mark Selby - ENG (4) Issara Kachaiwong - THA  5-3
Phaithoon Phonbun - THA Matthew Selt ? ENG (71)  4-5
Nigel Bond ? ENG (23) Mohsen Aziz ? QAT  3-5
Noppadon Noppachorn - THA Yutaka Fukuda ? JPN  5-1
Jimmy White MBE ? ENG (65) Aditya Mehta ? IND  5-4
Gregory Kopec ? FRA Martin Gould ? ENG (63)  0-5
Saleh Mohammad ? PAK Mohammed Al-Joker ? UAE  5-4
Au Chi Wai ? HKG Yasin Merchant ? IND  5-4
Ken Doherty ? IRL (18) Supoj Saenla ? THA (73)  5-4
James Wattana ? THA (66) Marvin Lim ? SIN  5-0
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - THA Keith E Boon ? SIN  4-5
Stuart Bingham ? ENG (21) Atthasit Mahitthi - THA  5-4
Ian Wells ? SCO Mark Davis ? ENG (58)  0-5
Manan Chandra ? IND Mohammed Shehab ? UAE  5-3
Itaro Santos ? GER Michael Holt ? ENG (34)  4-5
Dene O?Kane ? NZL Tom Ford ? ENG (48) 0-5

[NSF Admin]

LAST 32 & LAST 16

Michael Holt beat Phaithoon Phonbun (Tha) 6-3 in the last 32 and then Keith Boon (Sin) 6-5 in the last 16.  In his match against Boon, Holt made a maximum break (75) in just 3 minutes 31 seconds.  Holt will now play Saleh Mohammed in the quarter-finals.

Other quarter final draws:

Ricky Walden v Jimmy Michie
Nigel Bond v James Wattana
Martin Gould v Stuart Bingham

[NSF Admin]

QUARTER FINALS & SEMI FINALS

Michael Holt beat Saleh Mohammed 7-3 in the quarter-finals to set up a semi-final clash with fellow englishman Stuart Bingham.  However, despite making another maximum break, Holt bowed out of the tournament with a 3-7 defeat to Bingham.

Bingham will now play Ricky Walden in the final.

[NSF Admin]

THE FINAL

SangSom 6-red Snooker International came to an end when world No. 21 England's Stuart Bingham threw in the towel to concede his title showdown with compatriot and world No. 35 Ricky Walden 8-3 at the Montien Riverside Hotel.

Walden, who had been impressive throughout the inaugural event, received the trophy from Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat, and also walked away with the winner's purse of 500,000 baht.

Bingham was rewarded with a cash prize of 250,000 baht for his brilliant effort in the tournament.

Saleh Mohammed of Pakistan added US$2,000 to his earlier haul of almost 70,000 baht as his maximum 75-point break recorded in the first round in just two minutes and 54 seconds proved to be the fastest of the tournament.

Walden, who had dashed the local hopes of seeing their own hero Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm featuring in the final with a 7-6 victory over the Thai in the semi-final on Saturday night, was in fine touch from the start of the match.

Bingham, who entered the final after beating Michael Holt (No. 34) of England in the semi-final, had his chances during the course of the final, but missed crucial pots time and again.

Walden, capitalising on the misery of his rival, had the upper hand throughout the clash, which was witnessed by an overflowing crowd at the venue.

And when Walden, already 7-3 up, was in the process of gunning for the final black, Bingham threw in the towel, which landed on the blue ball spot precisely, signalling an end to his final campaign. The tournament had been a major success from many counts.

SangSom, the title sponsors, have already confirmed to the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand that they would like to sponsor the event for three more years in a row, offering a much bigger purse to the participating players.

A total of 48 players, including 17 Main Tour professionals, from around the world took part in the tournament, which offered total prize money in excess of 1.8 million baht. The big names included reigning world No. 4 Mark Selby and former world professional champions Peter Ebdon and Ken Doherty. The enthusiasm of the international snooker community for the event was not limited to players alone.

For the first time in history, top ranking officials of the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association (WPBSA), International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) and European, African and Asian bodies all gathered on one platform in Bangkok to attend the tournament.

Frame Scores
Ricky Walden beat Stuart Bingham 8-3 (31-13, 59-8, 0-60, 60(52)-0, 22-42(42), 34-21, 46-17, 71(64)-10, 1-35, 38-1, 43(43)-0)