The senior Noppadon showed great composure and class as he washed out a 4-2 deficit to score a brilliant 5-4 victory in front of an overflowing crowd at the Klang Plaza to lift the SangSom Korat Cup 2009 in style.
The way his younger rival had played in the tournament and the way he was cueing in the title showdown, there weren't many in the crowd who had given the 1991 world amateur champion a chance of the stealing the glory.
It was the third time that the two cueists had clashed in the final of a ranking event and Noppadon Noppachorn it made it three in a row.
Disappointment was clear in the post-match gestures of Noppadol Sangnil, but it was only to be expected.
He had played brilliantly to first defeat world No. 33 Stuart Pettman of England, then ended giant-killing Songkiert Raybankoh's run and registered a crystal clear victory over former Asian champion Supoj Saenla in the semifinals.
He carried the form into the final and there was nothing much his senior rival could do to stop him from cruising to a massive 4-2 lead.
It was at that point that the things started going in Noppadon Noppachorn's favour.
He kept the scoreboard ticking with the help of small and crucial breaks and was rewarded with a hard-earned 4-4 tie.
Noppadon Noppachorn then scored some awesome pots with his rival only sitting in his corner and seeing the match slip from his hands. A run of 39 followed by another 43 points spelled an end to Noppadol Sangnil's dream of scoring his first title in five years.
Noppadon Noppachorn, besides receiving the glittering SangSom Korat Cup 2009 from Dr. Sam-ngern Yaengkarhoke, Chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organisation, also walked away with the winner's purse of 100,000 baht.
Noppadol Sangnil took home runner-up prize of 50,000 baht together with another 15,000 baht for scoring the highest break -- 130 points -- of the tournament.
The fifth ranking event of the Thailand professional ranking circuit, which is co-sponsored by CAT Telecom and Sports Authority of Thailand, will take place at the KP Grand Hotel in Chanthaburi on August 1-7.
Final frame scores: Noppadon Noppachorn beats Noppadol Sangnil 5-4 (0-39, 80-34, 63-17, 1-135, 35-87, 28-71, 72-18, 74-17,82-0) |
