Noppon Saengkham has his eyes on a potential huge payday after compiling the season’s first 147 break at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
Saengkham compiled his third career maximum break as he orchestrated a routine 4-1 victory over Amir Sarkhosh in Riyadh on Sunday.
The popular player from Thailand will pocket a bonus worth £50,000 if the feat isn’t matched during the rest of this week’s ranking event.
But Saengkham is targeting an even bigger prize as he puts himself into a stronger position to land a separate 147 jackpot that’s in place during this term’s majors.
The new tournament in Saudi Arabia has been given major status by the World Snooker Tour – a controversial decision that immediately takes it on par in terms of prestige with the World Championship, the UK Championship, and the Masters.
There is a £147,000 bonus if a player can compile two maximum breaks in those events during this campaign.
“The feeling when I pot the first red, I tried to make the maximum,” Noppon Saengkham told the World Snooker Tour.
“I knew that this is a big event and big money also. When I pot the first red, I asked myself, ‘can I try to make a maximum?’ and then I went for it.”
“I just tried to do my routine every shot. If you have pressure, try to go back to your routine. I tried to make everything normal.
“When I practice, I do it well. I can make 147s, maybe sometimes I can make it two times a day.
“I make a lot in practice, but in the match for so many years I didn’t. This time, I think I was calm.
“It’s my dream and my target (to get the £147,000 bonus). I try my best in every event, and if I have a chance, I will try again to make the 147.”
Saengkham will next take on Yuan Sijun as he bids to reach the last 32 of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
Among the others to reach the fourth round at the Green Halls were Neil Robertson, Jack Lisowski, Ryan Day, and Si Jiahui.
The latter beat Jimmy White 4-2 while Day matched that scoreline in his triumph over Stan Moody.
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Saudi Masters draw + results
Lisowski was taken the distance before ultimately outlasting Andrew Pagett in a decider, with Robertson enjoying an easier 4-1 success against Paul Deaville.
Hossein Vafaei, David Gilbert, Stephen Maguire, and former world champion Stuart Bingham also progressed.
Matthew Selt, who had to make drastic late repairs to his cue after it snapped in transit, pipped Allan Taylor 4-3.
The winners of Sunday’s matches play again on Monday in a final effort to join the top 16 seeds in the last 32.
Sunday’s Results (Rd 3)
Robert Milkins 3-4 Rory Thor
Fan Zhengyi 3-4 Jimmy Robertson
Anthony McGill 1-4 Ashley Carty
Ricky Walden 1-4 Liu Hongyu
Jamie Jones 2-4 Anthony Hamilton
Stuart Bingham 4-2 Xing Zihao
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-1 Artemijs Zizins
Chris Wakelin 4-2 Robbie McGuigan
Hossein Vafaei 4-1 Ishpreet Singh Chadha
Joe Perry 0-4 Ben Woollaston
Joe O’Connor 4-3 Louis Heathcote
Robbie Williams 3-4 Lei Peifan
Matthew Selt 4-3 Allan Taylor
Pang Junxu 4-3 Stuart Carrington
Graeme Dott w/o Sam Craigie
Si Jiahui 4-2 Jimmy White
Jack Lisowski 4-3 Andrew Pagett
Matthew Stevens 3-4 Martin O’Donnell
Stephen Maguire 4-0 Ben Mertens
Wu Yize 4-0 Antoni Kowalski
Jackson Page 2-4 Gong Chenzhi
Neil Robertson 4-1 Paul Deaville
Jordan Brown 4-3 Bulcsú Révész
David Gilbert 4-0 Alfie Burden
Zhou Yuelong 4-2 Jiang Jun
Elliot Slessor 4-2 Haydon Pinhey
Noppon Saengkham 4-1 Amir Sarkhosh
Yuan Sijun 4-1 Sanderson Lam
Xiao Guodong 4-3 Duane Jones
Lyu Haotian 4-3 Marco Fu
Scott Donaldson 4-2 Tian Pengfei
Ryan Day 4-2 Stan Moody
Monday’s Matches (Rd 4)
12pm UTC+1
Rory Thor vs Jimmy Robertson
Ashley Carty vs Liu Hongyu
Anthony Hamilton vs Stuart Bingham
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh vs Chris Wakelin
Hossein Vafaei vs Ben Woollaston
Joe O’Connor vs Lei Peifan
Matthew Selt vs Pang Junxu
Graeme Dott vs Si Jiahui
6pm UTC+1
Jack Lisowski vs Martin O’Donnell
Stephen Maguire vs Wu Yize
Gong Chenzhi vs Neil Robertson
Jordan Brown vs David Gilbert
Zhou Yuelong vs Elliot Slessor
Noppon Saengkham vs Yuan Sijun
Xiao Guodong vs Lyu Haotian
Scott Donaldson vs Ryan Day
Click here to view the full draw, including updated results.
Featured photo credit: WST
