Ronnie O'Sullivan responds to doubters of 'superstar' Noppon Saengkham - 'No one works harder'
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Updated 17/12/2023 at 09:10 GMT
Noppon Saengkham booked his place in the final of the Scottish Open with a 6-3 win over home favourite John Higgins in Edinburgh. It is the Thailand star's first ranking final and he is looking forward to taking on defending champion Gary Wilson over two sessions on Sunday. Stream top snooker action, including the Scottish Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
'I am in the final and very happy' - Noppon thrilled with win over Higgins
After beating John Higgins to reach the Scottish Open final, an emotional Noppon Saengkham has revealed he was advised to walk away from snooker.
Noppon withstood an early barrage from Higgins - he trailed 3-1 at the break - and produced some brilliant snooker to win the final five frames to secure a 6-3 win.
Victory earned Noppon his first taste of a ranking final and he will face defending champion Gary Wilson over two sessions on Sunday.
The Thailand star cut an emotional figure in the aftermath of the win - he fell into Higgins’ arms - and he revealed people told him he would not be a success at the sport.
“I am already a 10-year professional,” Noppon said in the Eurosport studio. “ A lot of people said I can’t be a success and I should stop snooker and change job.
“Now I am in the final and very happy.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan was on punditry duty for Eurosport, and rubbished the thought of Noppon not making it at the highest level.
“He is such a good player,” O’Sullivan said. “Anyone who told him he should stop playing, they are crazy.
“He hits the ball so well, he scores well. No one works harder than Noppon.”
O’Sullivan feels making the final will elevate Noppon in his snooker-mad nation of Thailand.
“Snooker is so big in Thailand, James Wattana, Thepchaiya [Un-Nooh]," the world No. 1 said. "To make the final, Noppon is going to be such a big star in Thailand.
“He is going to be a superstar in Thailand, which is great. He deserves it.”
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