Noppon Saengkham defeated home favourite John Higgins 6-3 in Edinburgh to secure his spot in the Scottish Open final. The Thailand player is excited to play the reigning champion Gary Wilson over two sessions on Sunday in his first-ever ranking final. Watch live snooker action, including the Scottish Open, on eurosport.com, the Eurosport app, and discovery+.
An emotional Noppon Saengkham confessed he was told to give up snooker after defeating John Higgins to make it to the Scottish Open final.
Noppon survived an early onslaught from Higgins—he was behind 3-1 at the interval—and played some outstanding snooker to win the next five frames and earn a 6-3 victory.
Noppon’s victory gave him his first taste of a ranking final, and on Sunday he will play two sessions against the reigning champion, Gary Wilson.
Following the victory, the Thailand player broke down in tears and confided in Higgins that he had been told he would not succeed in the sport.
“I have been a professional for ten years already,” Noppon declared in the Eurosport studio. “Many people advised me to quit snooker and find another job because I can’t succeed.”I’m thrilled to be in the final right now.
When Ronnie O’Sullivan was a pundit for Eurosport, he dismissed the notion that Noppon would not succeed at the greatest level.
“I have been a professional for ten years already,” Noppon declared in the Eurosport studio. “Many people advised me to quit snooker and find another job because I can’t succeed.”I’m thrilled to be in the final right now.
When Ronnie O’Sullivan was a pundit for Eurosport, he dismissed the notion that Noppon would not succeed at the greatest level.
“He is such a good player,” O’Sullivan said. “Anyone who told him he should stop playing, they are crazy.
“He hits the ball so well, he scores well. No one works harder than Noppon.”
Making the final, in O’Sullivan’s opinion, will boost Noppon’s standing in his snooker-crazed native Thailand.
The world number one stated, “James Wattana and Thepchaiya [Un-Nooh] are big fans of snooker in Thailand.” “Noppon will be such a big star in Thailand to make it to the final, which is amazing. He will be a superstar in Thailand. He is deserving of it.
The world number one stated, “James Wattana and Thepchaiya [Un-Nooh] are big fans of snooker in Thailand.” “Noppon will be such a big star in Thailand to make it to the final, which is amazing. He will be a superstar in Thailand. He is deserving of it.
