Nutcharut Wongharuthai, known as Mink on the circuit, secured a dramatic triumph in the 2022 Women’s World Snooker Championship on Monday in Sheffield.
The young Thai star fought back brilliantly from the brink of defeat against Wendy Jans, retrieving a 5-3 deficit to force a final-frame decider in which she prevailed on the final black.
Jans, a seven-time winner of the IBSF World Amateur Championship, initially looked strong and compiled a high break of 84 in orchestrating a commanding advantage.
But the Belgian couldn’t get over the winning line, and Wongharuthai stormed back to collect a second piece of silverware in as many months.
In January, the 22 year-old captured the Women’s British Open crown by defeating women’s world number one Reanne Evans in the final.
With success in the Women’s World Snooker Championship, Mink will next receive a two-year tour card to compete on the professional circuit.
She also becomes the first new world champion since 2015, overcoming three-time winner Ng On Yee in the quarter-finals and Rebecca Kenna in the last four.
Jans followed up her landmark victory over favourite Evans in the last eight with a semi-final win against Jamie Hunter, but the 38 year-old ultimately fell just short in the dramatic title decider.
Featured photo credit: WWS
