Un-Nooh stuns O'Sullivan to claim snooker's World Open title in Yushan

In a thrilling championship match at the World Open in the Chinese city of Yushan, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh pulled off a stunning upset, defeating snooker titan Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 in Jiangxi Province on Sunday to capture the biggest title of his career.

The final, played in a best-of-19 format, saw England's O'Sullivan dominate early, living up to his "Rocket" nickname by blitzing through the opening four frames and notching an impressive century break. The dynamics shifted, however, after the interval.

Thailand's Un-Nooh found his rhythm, reeling off six consecutive frames to establish a 6-4 lead, characterized by a series of impressive half-century runs. His legendary English opponent, not to be outdone, responded with fervor, delivering three successive centuries, including a jaw-dropping 136, to regain the lead at 7-6, seemingly reasserting control.

But the closing stages of the match belonged to Un-Nooh. He seized the spotlight with a maximum 147 break in the 16th frame, a standout moment that electrified the crowd. Maintaining his composure under mounting pressure, the 40-year-old Thai took the final four frames in succession, reversing the momentum and wrapping up the remarkable 10-7 victory.

The triumph not only marked Un-Nooh's second ranking title, but also helped solidify his place in snooker history, as he looks to emerge from the 50-year-old O'Sullivan's formidable shadow.