Thepchaiya Un-Nooh hit a 147 maximum break on his way to a 10-7 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in a rollercoaster of a final to the World Open in Yushan, China.
Un-Nooh won six straight frames to dig himself out of a 4-0 early deficit before the two players traded blows, but after the Thai cueman hit the maximum to go 9-7 up, there was only going to be one winner.
O’Sullivan, whose run to the final was highlighted by his all-time record break of 153 in his quarter-final victory over Ryan Day, had taken control with early breaks of 73 and 124.
Un-Nooh benefited from some moments of good fortune as he reeled off six straight frames in response, with a pink rattling around the pocket before going in during the seventh frame and a missed red rebounding in during the eighth.
From 6-4 down, O’Sullivan responded with three consecutive century breaks – 114, 102, and 136 – to nudge back in front, but Un-Nooh quickly rediscovered his groove and hit back with three century breaks of his own.
A break of 132 preceded the 147 and he finished it off with a 131 to become only the second Thai to win a full format-ranking event after James Wattana.
