Suwannawat claims Sangsom Lop Buri Cup
Passakorn Suwannawat captured the first national ranking title of his career when he recorded a crystal clear 5-1 victory over close friend Kobkit Palajin in the SangSom Lop Buri Cup final.
The outcome also earned former professional Passakorn, the 2007 IBSF World Championship runner-up, the highest payday of his career on the local scene as he walked away with a handsome purse of 100,000 baht.
Palajin received 50,000 baht for his second place finish in the first ranking event of the 2010 season.
The contrast in confidence and form could not have been any clearer in the final where Passakorn controlled the game well from the word go and scored with great ease, while his rival missed at crucial junctures.
Apart from the second frame, Passakorn had in fact little trouble in capturing a massive 4-0 lead and it seemed that he would deliver the first whitewash in a final of the national circuit history.
However, Kobkit at least succeeded in denying that honour to Passakorn as he captured fifth frame to make it 4-1.
Kobkit could have narrowed the margin further in the sixth, but Passakorn, for the second time in the match, stole the frame with a clearance to wrap up the match.
An elated Passakorn said: “Many people compare my form with 2007 and say that I am not playing as well. I may not be scoring as many big breaks, but I have grown far mature and now I know how to handle pressure. This is what that has helped me win here.
“I am now spending more time on the practice table, but I can’t predict any more successes in the remaining five tournaments, as there are a number of good players on the circuit and then we also get some quality wildcard players as well.”
For Kobkit, it was yet another heart-break. It is the second successive time he has lost 5-1 in the final of a national ranking event.
Earlier in the season, he was defeated by Supoj Saenla in the title showdown of the 2009 Thailand National Championship in Nong Khai in September.
Final frame scores: Passakorn Suwannawat beat Kobkit Palajin 5-1 [79-42, 71-66(62), 67-8, 80(79)-8, 28-66, 69-61(61)]
