A look back at 'Tong Sith Choi' in 1995 after Thepchaiya Un-Nooh defied expectations to triumph at the 'World Open 2026' snooker championship.
On 23 Mar 2026 GMT+7, reflecting on 'Tong Sith Choi'—Wattana Pu-Ob-Orm—in 1995, after 'Fan Wai' Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Thailand's renowned cueist, announced his dominance by stunning all experts to claim the 'World Open 2026' title in Yushan, China.
If you recall, back in 1995, 'Tong Sith Choi' Wattana Pu-Ob-Orm was the last Thai snooker player to win a major tournament, taking the 'Thailand Open 1995'. His opponent that day was none other than Ronnie O'Sullivan, a 19-year-old rising star from England who was rapidly emerging in the global snooker scene and has since become a living legend still active today.
That victory was Thailand's last major snooker title until 31 years later—over three decades—when Thai cueist 'Fan Wai' Thepchaiya Un-Nooh won the aforementioned 'World Open 2026', bringing Thailand's snooker scene back into the global spotlight.
After the tournament, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh could barely contain his joy, posting on Facebook, “Which way is the district?” Fans flooded his post with likes and congratulations. Even Ronnie O'Sullivan commented, saying the Thai player performed incredibly well today.