Former world champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh of Thailand staged a spectacular comeback from 2-5 down to notch up 7-6 victory over reigning world champion, Hossein Vafaei Ayouri of Iran, in the marathon final to win the Jubilee Insurance seven-nation international snooker championship here on Friday.
Hossein, who won the semi-final against Pakistan’s Mohammad Sajjad in almost similar fashion the other day, paid a heavy price for not maintaining the pace, when needed, and succumbed to his opponent.
Thepchaiya took about four hours and 15 minutes to win the battle 61-83, 44-80, 0-75, 28-69, 59-28, 57-54, 52-65, 80-50, 78-30, 19-87, 76-42, 91-36, 92-0. He trailed 2-4 at the end of first session.
“I was feeling uncomfortable in the start and settled down after the break which turned the tide in my favour,” the 27-year-old Thai, who won the world amateur snooker title in 2008 at Austria, told Dawn after capturing the title.
Thepchaiya, who is also Thai No 1, said his next target was Asian championship being held at Doha next month.
For Hossein, this is the first defeat in the final after crowning the world title at Bangalore in December last.
“Hossein will be travelling to Goa for Asian under-21, followed by his trip to Doha for Asian snooker championship and 6-Red at Thailand in May,” his interpreter said.
Hossein, 17, he said, will fly to England in June to turn professional.
Initially, the final presented a one-sided picture as Thepchaiya, who topped group B to qualify for knockout round, was in hot waters losing successive frames to trail 0-4. However, he managed to reduce the deficit by taking the fifth and sixth frames before going for the break.
Hossein, who was on song, enhanced his lead to 5-2 only to lose the following two frames to his opponent who made it 4-5.
Needing two frames to wrap up the tie, Hossein won the tenth frame to go 6-4 up in the best of 13 final but that proved to be the last laugh.
Playing cool, a rejuvenated Thepchaiya made things difficult for Hossein by grabbing the last three frames to turn the table on his opponent.
Thepchaiya earned a purse of US$2,000 and winners’ trophy while Hossein received US$1,000 and runner-up trophy from the chief guests, Tahir Ahmed and Javed Ahmed, of the Jubilee Insurance amidst thunderous applause.
Pakistan’s top cueist, Mohammad Asif, got a prize of US$100 for piling up highest break of 136 against the eventual champion.
POA president Lt Gen (retd) Syed Arif Hasan, IBSF secretary Mohammed El Kammah, provincial secretary Youth Affairs Shoaib Siddiqui, PBSA patron S.M. Muneer, PBSA president Alamgir Shaikh, Javed Karim and Munawwar Hussain Shaikh, were among others who graced the occasion.
Apart from prize money and trophies, mementos were presented to the officials.
Final result: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Thailand) bt Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (Iran) 7-6 (61-83, 44-80, 0-75, 28-69, 59-28, 57-54, 52-65, 80-50, 78-30, 19-87, 76-42, 91-36, 92-0).
Referee: Shabbir Hussain Daruwala.
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