Bangkok: "F1" Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, the 2026 World Open snooker champion, has returned to Thailand and requested that the Thai government provide targeted support for snooker. After securing a win against former world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan of England with a 10-7 frames triumph in China, Thepchaiya has ascended to 22nd in the world rankings.

According to Thai News Agency, Thepchaiya expressed immense happiness and a sense of accomplishment upon winning the championship. He described playing against Ronnie in the final as a dream come true and acknowledged that he learned from Ronnie's playing style, which helped him improve his own skills. He extended gratitude to snooker fans in Thailand and globally for their unwavering support and encouragement.

Thepchaiya emphasized the importance of government support for snooker, highlighting that the sport brings fame to Thailand and enables Thai athletes to achieve world-class success, as evidenced by his own achievements. With this victory, Thepchaiya will climb to 10th in the world rankings for the one-year ranking period, securing a spot in the "Tour Championship 2026" in Manchester, England, from March 30th to April 5th, 2026. He will become the first Thai snooker player to qualify for this prestigious tournament.