Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports


Date : 10 May 2009

Asian C'ship: Ratchapol Scores Historic Feat

	Thai veteran Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm made history in the Chinese city of Tangshan on May 10 by becoming the first player to have won the Asian Championship crown three times.

	Ratchapol, known internationally as James Wattana, played like a maestro to beat host country's 27-year-old Mei Xiwen 7-3 in the title showdown. Ratchapol's previous triumphs in the Asian Championship had come in the years 1986 and 1988, both in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The illustrious Thai later went on to capture the 1988 IBSF World Championship crown in Australia and turned professional the following year. He also has three world professional ranking tournament titles under his belt. Just out of a long spell of monk-hood, Ratchapol was handed a shocker in his very first match of the tournament by little-known Chinese Shi Yanqing, who won the clash 4-0. He then recovered and improved to move into the final, his fourth in the Asian Championships in as many appearances. Playing in the Asian event after a lapse of almost 22 years and that in front of a large local crowd, Ratchapol saw Mei Xiwen sink a break of 75 in the second frame to level the score at 1-1. Ratchapol hit back with a 60-point run in the following frame to go one-up again and later consolidated his lead to 4-1. The score at the end of the six-frame first session was 4-2 in favour of the Thai player. Mei Xiwen threatened a recovery by capturing the first frame after the break, but Ratchapol had other plans and won three successive frames to spell an to his Chinese rival's challenge. The victory has also assured of a return to the Main Tour, the world professional circuit which gets underwat on August 3. Meanwhile, in the SangSom Hua Hin Cup 2009, the first ranking event of the Thai professional circuit, Vorawit Suriyasriwan edged Pramual 4-3 and defending champion Liu Song of China beat Sompol Saetang 4-1 to move into the last 16 round. ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS FINAL: Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm (Thailand) beat Mei Xiwen (China) 7-3 (56-23, 34-88(75),89(60)-7, 63-43, 77-11, 37-66, 46-78, 57-40, 76-1, 72-33) Third-place playoff: Shi Hanqing (China) lost to Au Chi Wai (Hong Kong China) 2-3 (69(69)-25, 41-87, 64-46, 55-67, 0-77(69)) Please *click here* for latest knockout chart Please *click here* for the list high breaks in the tournament so far

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