RONNIE O’SULLIVAN tipped 16-year-old Stan Moody for the top after their Thai tussle.
The Rocket topped Group H of the Six Red World Championship in Thailand with three wins out of three.
On Wednesday, the world No1 beat Halifax teenager Moody 5-2 and then repeated the same scoreline against home favourite James Wattana to qualify for the knockout stages.
It was his first contest with youngster Moody, who last month clinched the WSF junior snooker world championship in Sydney to earn a two-year World Snooker Tour card from the 2023-2024 season.
The seven-time world snooker champion said: “Stan is going to be good. He has composure and that’s always a sign.
“If they look a little bit vulnerable out there, then you think, can they handle the pressure?
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“But he certainly looked really comfortable out there. He just needs some experience. He will win tournaments I’d imagine for sure.”
O’Sullivan also had kind words to say about Thai King Wattana, hailing him as the most famous person he has ever hanged out with.
The pair have a long history on the baize and Wattana, 53, got the better of O’Sullivan, 47, in the 1995 Thailand Open final in Bangkok.
After this latest encounter, O’Sullivan and Wattana shared a bear hug and were all smiles following seven frames in Pathum Thani.
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Reigning world champion O’Sullivan said: “James has been massive for snooker in Asia. I played him out here when he was in his peak.
“In one match, we had to stop for the adverts and he was on every one! Nescafe, Thai Airways. I’m sitting there, thinking this geezer is unbelievable.
“I have never ever hanged out with someone so famous when he was in his prime. He couldn’t go anywhere. He needed security, police escorts everywhere.
“He has been massive for Thai snooker. You see all the other guys coming through off the back of him. Thai snooker is strong.
“They talk about China but Thailand snooker is very strong, they have some fantastic players and that is because of James and what he has done in the game.”
The last 16 and quarter-final matches will take place on Thursday on day four of this unique non-ranking tournament.
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