Hong Kong’s Ng On-yee surrendered her world crown after losing to Thailand teenager Nutcharut Wongharuthai 4-1 in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Snooker Championship in Bangkok on Saturday.
Three-time champion Ng sailed through the first frame and looked imperious but the Thai star, playing in her home club and the venue where she made a maximum 147 break in March, put on a strong show of potting and safety play to deny Ng a place in the semi-finals.
World number two Ng had plenty of chances of her own but mistakes at crucial times in her break-building allowed “Mink” to come back each time.
Ng clearly felt cold under the air conditioning and wrapped her hands around a cup of hot water to keep them warm. But Mink was even hotter.
World No 1 Reanne Evans, seeking her 12th title, also had a fight on her hands against another Thai, Waratthanun Sukritthanes but emerged a 4-2 winner to advance to the last four.
Although it was a comprehensive scoreline for Mink, the last three games were close affairs and could have gone either way.
Ng offered no excuses for her loss. “She played pretty well and put me under a lot of pressure,” Ng said.
“Actually, I had a lot of chances but she kept fighting and I started to feel a bit of pressure and my hands were unable to deliver like they could in the first frame. But that’s the game, she played well and I made more mistakes and that’s why I lost.”
Ng said playing in Asia was different to when she won titles in Europe because there was more interest. “It did feel a bit different because in Asia more people are watching and this is Mink’s club and the table we played is her practice table. But it is a good challenge and I will learn from it.”
The Thais were expected to be strong in the competition because most of them practise at the Hi-End Snooker Club.
