General
Noppon Saengkham Finishes Runner-Up at 2026 China Open
Thai snooker player Noppon Saengkham secured a second-place finish at the 2026 China Open in Taiyuan after a hard-fought final against Mark Selby.
On August 16, 2026, Thai snooker professional Noppon Saengkham, ranked 45th globally, concluded his impressive run at the 2026 China Open held at the Riverside Sports Center in Taiyuan, China. Competing in his first major ranking final, Noppon faced four-time world champion Mark Selby, ranked 9th in the world. Despite a valiant effort, Noppon ultimately fell to Selby, earning a consolation prize of 4.4 million baht from the tournament's total purse of approximately 53.6 million baht.
Noppon’s journey to the final was marked by a series of high-profile victories, as he defeated three former world champions—Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Shaun Murphy—before narrowly edging out local favorite Zhou Yuelong 6-5 in the semi-finals.
For residents and visitors in Thailand, Noppon’s performance highlights the growing competitiveness of Thai athletes on the international snooker circuit. His ability to overcome top-tier global talent has drawn significant attention from local sports fans. While the tournament has concluded, the specific details regarding the final scoreline and the exact match statistics remain to be fully detailed in official post-match reports. This event serves as a notable milestone for Thai snooker, showcasing the country's rising presence in professional cue sports.