The reigning world amateur champion Thepchaiya, who was only a pale shadow of his best, edged veteran Thawat Sujaritthurakarn 4-3 to set up a quarterfinal clash with experienced campaigner Phaithoon Phonbun, a 4-1 winner over Pramual Jantad at the 4,000-seat Gymnasium of the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Stadium.
Issara Kachaiwong, a former Asian champion, played with ease to hand a 4-1 defeat to Pisit Chansri and make the quarter-finals.
Issara faces the winner of the June 9 last 16 round night encounter between Supoj Saenla and Noppadol Sangnil in the quarter-finals on June 10.
Earlier in the tournament, leading Hong Kong player Fung Kwok Wai, whose 116-point break is the highest of the tournament so far, was shown the exit by former world amateur champion Chuchart Trairatanapradit.
Chuchart and Fung Kwok Wai (pictured above) were engaged in an engrossing tactical battle which ended 4-1 in the favour of the Thai veteran in over three hours.
Chuchart locks horns with Noppadol Noppachorn, both former world amateur title-holders, in the quarter-finals. Noppadon pipped two-time former Asian champion Karnchai Wongjan 4-3 in the last 16 round.
The overflowing crowds at the venue of the third ranking event of the 2009 Thailand Professional Circuit, co-sponsored by CAT Telecom and Sports Authority of Thailand, also saw world No. 29 Nigel Bond of England score an impressive 4-0 victory over Kobkit Palajin.
Bond takes on 2007 world amateur champion Atthasit Mahitthi, who edged Nitiwat Kanjanasri 4-3, in a quarter-final that is expected to draw even a larger crowd to the venue.
Frame scores
Last 16 round (June 9): Thepchaiya Un-nooh beat Thawat Sujaritthurakarn 4-3 (42-65, 89(58)-22, 13-63, 56-22, 84-36, 27-75, 64-35); Issara Kachaiwong beat Pisit Chansri 4-1 (61-42, 67-63, 0-94(89), 75(58)-29, 74-39); Phaithoon Phonbun beat Pramual Jantad 4-1 (69-13, 75(75)-35, 62-30, 16-60, 64-1) |
