The field for the eight million baht SangSom 6-Red World Championship is so loaded with big guns that even the experts are struggling to make up their minds when it comes to picking a winner.
Thai star Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm. JOE JEEDJAD
The event gets underway at the Montien Riverside Hotel grand ballroom today and the title showdown will be taking place at the same venue on Saturday night.
Vying for the top purse of 2.5 million baht are stars from the professional circuit, top-performing amateurs from around the world and a band of very talented Thais. A total of 48 players are participating in the championship.
It is not just the presence of the top-notch players, including five former world professional champions, that makes it difficult to nominate a favourite. It is also because of the unpredictable nature of 6-Red snooker.
Since the inception of this lucrative 6-Red event in 2008, unfancied players have prevailed on all but one occasion. A young and up-and-coming player, a fading star of yesteryear and a veteran player often considered a journeyman have been victorious at this tournament.
In the 2008, it was young Ricky Walden who took the top honours and was followed by the ageing Jimmy White, who won in 2009. The 2010 tournament was dominated by Mark Selby, the only top seed to have won the crown so far. And then Mark Davis emerged victorious in the 2012 and 2013 editions.
Selby had to pull out of this year’s tournament at the last minute due to ill health, but Walden, White and Davis are again competing for the winner’s prize. However, they cannot be consider among the favourites.
They can all expect a stiff challenge from Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Mark Williams and Ken Doherty, all former world champions.
The Thai challenge will be led by Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm, fresh from winning the 2014 Thailand national 6-Red crown in July.
Dechawat Poomjaeng, the highest-ranked
Thai professional on the world tour, and flamboyant Thepchaiya Un-nooh are also aiming to deliver the goods.
Young guns like Noppon Saengkham, Ratchayothin Yotharuck, Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon, Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn and 2014 Asian 6-Red Championship runner-up Boonyarit Kiattikul are all capable of causing major surprises.
Five sessions are scheduled to be played on the opening day, starting 10am.