Ronnie O'Sullivan Accepts 'Good Hiding' in World Open Final Defeat
Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has gracefully accepted what he described as a 'good hiding' in the World Open final, after a stunning comeback from Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh secured victory in Yushan, China. The seven-time world champion was defeated 10-7 by his opponent, who produced a majestic performance to claim just his second ranking title.
Un-Nooh's Remarkable Comeback and Historic 147 Break
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, aged 40, staged an extraordinary turnaround after trailing 4-0 early in the final. The Thai snooker star won six consecutive frames to seize control of the match, culminating in a perfect 147 break during the penultimate frame of the showpiece event. This remarkable achievement against a player of O'Sullivan's calibre added significant prestige to his victory.
O'Sullivan, who had been seeking his first title win since January 2024, could only watch as Un-Nooh compiled significant breaks at decisive moments. The 50-year-old Englishman, who made history earlier in the tournament with snooker's first recorded 153 break, was full of praise for his opponent's performance.
O'Sullivan's Gracious Response to Defeat
"I just want to say well done to Thepchaiya today - unbelievable snooker," said O'Sullivan after the match. "I watched him last night against Judd [Trump in the semi-finals], and I was like, 'Wow.' Judd's obviously the No.1 in the world and he made him look second best. I was hoping that he didn't play like that again today but he did."
The Rocket added: "He gave me a good hiding really. I was sitting in that chair for quite a long time. But well done to Thepchaiya, brilliant, amazing talent. Thepchaiya was flowing and had every shot in the book. I have to accept that is how it is."
Despite the disappointment of defeat, O'Sullivan found positives in reaching the final, stating: "If I found that bit extra I could have made it tougher than him. I am in a much better place than I was even two weeks ago. I'm taking each day as it comes."
Un-Nooh's Dream Victory Against His Idol
For Un-Nooh, who pocketed £175,000 for his victory, beating O'Sullivan in a final represented the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition. "This has always been my dream, to lift the title against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final," he said. "For the rest of my life this is something I'm not going to forget."
The tournament's 41st seed revealed how he managed his emotions during the match: "I went to the practice room in the interval, spoke to myself and managed my emotions. After being sat on my chair watching Ronnie make three centuries, I told myself this is a great final and to enjoy it. I don't know how what happened after the interval came true."
Un-Nooh expressed astonishment at his own performance: "I can't believe it. I'm still stunned with my performance. How did I do that? Sometimes snooker is one-way traffic. To make a 147 in the final against Ronnie O'Sullivan in a final is a great honour."
The victory marks a significant milestone in Un-Nooh's career, while O'Sullivan's gracious acceptance of defeat and positive outlook suggest the snooker legend remains competitive at the highest level despite this setback.
