“Tong Sitchoi and Big Saraburi,” two legends of Thai snooker, have stepped forward to serve the nation in the political arena.,
“Tong Sitchoi,” Wathana Phooubo-om, a Thai snooker legend and former world No. 3, has decided to run for a party-list seat in the House of Representatives with the United Thai Nation Party. He is listed 48th on the party list. This marks the first time "Tong" has volunteered to work for the people and the country as a politician, after a long career bringing fame to the nation as an athlete.
For the 2026 general election scheduled for 8 February 2026 GMT+7, the Election Commission opened party-list candidate registrations from 28 to 31 December 2025 GMT+7. The United Thai Nation Party was assigned party-list number 6. Meanwhile, “Big Saraburi,” or Atthasit Mahitthi, a hero in Thai snooker who made history by winning the 2007 World Amateur Snooker Championship, recently announced his candidacy for the House of Representatives in Saraburi Province’s 3rd district under the People’s Party.
It is worth watching which representative from the Thai snooker community will be elected to serve the public and use their political position to elevate the sport, especially snooker, which boasts world-class players but has struggled for decades to be officially removed from the gambling law.