Congratulations to Thailand’s Issara Kachaiwong who has today regained the Asian Championship crown that he first took back in 2006 and in the process ensured that he will return to the main tour for a third season among the professionals…
Having eased through his group stage with little trouble, winning three of his four matches without the loss of a single frame, Issara carried that form through the knock-out stages with victories over Mohammed Al Joakar, Passakorn Suwannawat and Yasin Merchant to reach the final of the event for the second time in his career.
There he would face Pakistan’s Mohammed Sajjad, who had also impressed during the tournament as evidenced by having made the tournament high break of 134 during his quarter-final match, surpassing the 133 of Kachaiwong made earlier in the week.
Both players had played well to get to the final but perhaps it was to be Issara’s greater experience which proved to be the difference as he knocked in consistently high breaks of 78, 65, 81, 80 and 61 to come through and take the trophy in what was the 26th final of the competition.
Having had four Thai players on the circuit during 2009/10, next season will again see the nation relatively well represented as Issara will join James Wattana and 2009 World U-21 Champion Noppon Saengkham inside the 96. Having already experienced two seasons as a professional between 2006-8 it will now be interesting to see how Issara gets on next season. In comparison to some of the young players who will be joining the tour, he has a level of experience which should set him in good stead to compete and possibly even retain his place on the circuit beyond 2010/11.
Nine places left…
Mohammed Sajjad (Pak) 3-7 Issara Kachaiwong
49-17, 15-78(78), 73-65(65), 40-94, 6-66, 64(51)-43, 30-85, 1-81(81), 8-123(80), 1-120(61)
Full scores available at Global Snooker.