Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan, also known as Baipat, has won the World Women’s Snooker Championship, beating China’s Bai Yulu 6-3 in the final in Thailand.
It was a lengthy struggle between the two players who were both competing in their first world final, having beaten former champions on their way to the showpiece match.
It was the Thai star who eventually got over the line though and who is crowned world champion for the first time at the age of 23.
Baipat had beaten defending champion, and compatriot, Mink Nutcharut in the semi-finals after downing the likes of Jamie Hunter, Maria Catalano and Mongolian star Bayarsaikhan Narantuya in earlier rounds.
She looked to be up against it in facing Bai in the final, with the 19-year-old from China having been very impressive throughout the competition.
Bai made the highest break in Women’s World Championship history earlier in the week when she knocked in a 127, and her 5-3 win over 12-time champ Reanne Evans in the semis set her up as favourite to lift the trophy.
However, she came up short against the home favourite and Baipat’s win will be very popular in Bangkok, where the event was held.
The prize money is certainly not huge in the Women’s World Championship, with Baipat getting £6,000 for her victory, but there are benefits on top of that.
The new champion wins a two-year tour card to compete on the World Snooker Tour, so we should see her take on the top men in the world over the next two seasons.
She will also likely get a place in next season’s Champion of Champions, which Mink Nutcharut did this season and Evans has in the past.
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