Un-Nooh Crowned Players' Player of the Month After Stunning World Open Triumph
A Dream Realised in Yushan
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh has been recognised by his peers as the WPBSA Players' Player of the Month for March, and frankly, it would have been a travesty had anyone else taken the honour. The Thai potter produced one of the most memorable individual performances of the entire 2025/26 season at the World Open, defeating none other than Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 in the final to claim the second ranking title of his career. For a player who has long been celebrated for his breathtaking break-building speed, this was the moment that cemented his place in snooker history.
What made Un-Nooh's run to the title all the more extraordinary was the manner in which it was achieved. During his campaign in Yushan, the 40-year-old rattled in three consecutive century breaks, one of which was a maximum 147 — the sport's most coveted single-frame achievement. Stringing together a perfect break alongside two further centuries in succession is the kind of form that comes along rarely, and it underlined just how locked-in Un-Nooh was throughout the entire tournament. This wasn't a fluke run; this was a player at the very peak of his powers.
Historic Achievement for Thai Snooker
Un-Nooh's World Open victory carries significance well beyond personal glory. He becomes only the second Thai player in history to win a full-format ranking event, joining the legendary James Wattana, who was blazing a trail on the tour long before most of today's players picked up a cue. That is remarkable company to keep, and the wider implications for snooker in Thailand should not be underestimated. As Un-Nooh himself put it after lifting the trophy: "I want to make snooker come back to be as famous as it used to be in Thailand. Like the old times." Given that Thailand once had a genuine snooker culture built around Wattana's exploits, there is every reason to believe Un-Nooh's triumph could serve as a real catalyst for renewed interest in the sport back home.
His words after the final were genuinely touching. Reflecting on what it meant to defeat O'Sullivan in a world-ranking final, he said: "It is like a double dream final now. This has always been my dream, to lift the title against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final. For the rest of my life this is something I'm not going to forget." For a player who spent years lighting up arenas with his speed and flair but occasionally falling short at the decisive stages, this was the culmination of a long and determined journey. His only previous ranking title, the Shoot Out crown in 2019, was a testament to his talent but a relatively short-format event. The World Open — a full-distance, best-of-19-frames final — represents a different level of achievement entirely.
Dominant Vote Reflects Overwhelming Performances
The Players' Player of the Month vote is conducted among Un-Nooh's fellow professionals, which makes the result all the more telling. These are people who understand the game's demands better than anyone, and they gave the Thai star a commanding 75% of the vote — a landslide by any measure. Welsh Open champion Barry Hawkins and five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan each picked up 12.5%, but there was simply no competing with what Un-Nooh produced in Yushan this month.
The award itself, launched by WPBSA Players, is judged by an independent panel that includes respected snooker voices such as David Hendon, Abigail Davies, Phil Haigh, and WPBSA Players Director Tian Pengfei. A shortlist is compiled each month covering all completed events, and the final decision rests with the players themselves — giving the accolade a genuine authenticity. Un-Nooh takes his place on a distinguished roll of honour for the 2025/26 season, joining previous winners including Marco Fu, Stephen Maguire, Kyren Wilson, and Zhao Xintong.
As a direct consequence of his World Open victory, Un-Nooh also climbed to 22nd in the world rankings — his highest position in some time and a reflection of the consistency he has shown this season. At 40, some might question how much longer elite-level snooker can sustain that kind of performance, but on the evidence of March 2026, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh looks very much like a man with unfinished business. The dream has been realised once; there is every indication he intends to dream again.