While April has seen all eyes focused upon the action here in Sheffield, a couple of weeks ago there was also an important event taking place in Beijing as Thailand’s Akani Songsermsawad claimed victory at this year’s Asian u-21 Championship.
The 19-year-old, otherwise known by his nickname ‘Sunny’, defeated China’s Yuan Sijun 6-4 to succeed countryman Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon as champion and becomes the eighth Thai player to win the event, third consecutively after Thanawat and Noppon Saengkham.
Akani will now be nominated for a place on the main tour next season, earning a two-year professional card.