Noppon Saengkham was one of the last players to secure a spot in the last 32 of the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday in Belfast.
Last season’s Scottish Open runner-up prevailed from a thrilling all-Thai battle with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a dramatic deciding frame.
The best-of-seven fixture had ebbed one way and then other before their final-frame tussle saw Saengkham clinch it on the colours.
But perhaps more impressive was how he did it, with Saengkham having to play his opening match at the Waterfront Hall with another player’s cue.
With his trusted wand having not arrived at the venue, Saengkham was forced to ask a former world champion for some timely assistance.
Shaun Murphy, who was bizarrely ridiculed by some a couple of weeks ago for offering applause in response to an opponent’s strong play, once again showed his sporting side and duly obliged.
Noppon Saengkham won the opening frame of the match with a break of 66 and concluded it with a 64 clearance to book a spot in the next round against Mark Williams.
“I just ran into him last night in the hotel,” world number eight Shaun Murphy explained to the World Snooker Tour.
“He looked distraught, he looked in trouble. I just said, ‘is everything okay?’ He said his cue hadn’t arrived.”
“And listen, this week it was me, but that type of thing is certainly offered at any time that a player is in trouble like that.
“I can’t think of a player on tour who wouldn’t offer to help out another player if they were in need like that.
“I said to him, ‘listen if it doesn’t turn up, let me know.’ He let me know at breakfast this morning. He said, ‘it hasn’t turned up, can I use your cue?’
“I said, ‘yeah no problem, there it is.’ And I think he might have used it better than I did today to be honest.
“My tip is pretty much on its last legs, so an extra best of seven wasn’t really what it needed, but thankfully it’s seen us both home today.
“I was delighted that I was able to help him. As I say, this week it was my turn. But that type of offer is happening all the time.”
By the time Murphy got back the cue, he was soon scheduled to play his round-of-32 encounter with Zhou Yuelong.
The Shanghai Masters finalist got off to a slow start, perhaps derailed by his lack of preparation that afternoon, but fought back from 2-0 down to beat his Chinese opponent 4-2.
Elsewhere, defending champion Judd Trump was among the other players who safely advanced to the last 16 of the season’s seventh ranking event.
Trump was 2-1 down to Matthew Selt but finished strongly, compiling breaks of 74, 64, and a terrific 141 total clearance to move through.
Stuart Bingham, Tian Pengfei, and Louis Heathcote were the others to reach the last 16 following respective wins against Mark Davis, Robert Milkins, and Jimmy Robertson.
Earlier on day three in Belfast, the opening round of the venue stages reached its climax with Mark Williams setting up his game with Noppon Saengkham courtesy of a 4-0 defeat of Jamie Clarke.
World champion Kyren Wilson required all seven frames to get beyond David Grace, while Chris Wakelin, Oliver Lines, and Ma Hailong progressed as well.
By the end of Wednesday’s order of play, the full lineup for the last 16 will be determined.
2024 Northern Ireland Open
Tuesday, October 22nd
Results
Last 64
Ma Hailong 4-1 Ali Carter
Oliver Lines 4-1 Wu Yize
Chris Wakelin 4-2 Bulcsu Revesz
Kyren Wilson 4-3 David Grace
Noppon Saengkham 4-3 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Mark Williams 4-0 Jamie Clarke
Last 32
Louis Heathcote 4-1 Jimmy Robertson
Tian Pengfei 4-1 Robert Milkins
Judd Trump 4-2 Matthew Selt
Stuart Bingham 4-0 Mark Davis
Shaun Murphy 4-2 Zhou Yuelong
Wednesday, October 23rd
Order of Play
Last 32 (bo7)
10am UTC+1
Lei Peifan vs Tom Ford
Pang Junxu vs Luca Brecel
1pm UTC+1
Elliot Slessor vs Long Zehuang
Mark Allen vs Oliver Lines
Jimmy White vs Martin O’Donnell
Following 1pm games
John Higgins vs Barry Hawkins
Ma Hailong vs Chris Wakelin
7pm UTC+1
Neil Robertson vs Wang Yuchen
Anthony McGill vs Kyren Wilson
Following 7pm games
Mark Williams vs Noppon Saengkham
Stan Moody vs Jak Jones
Click here to view the full draw
(snooker.org)
Featured photo credit: WST
