Referee intervenes to correct Noppon Saengkham 'wardrobe malfunction' in China Open semi-final against Zhou Yuelong - 'I don't think he knows!'

Intently focused as he attempted to pot a red, the 34-year-old failed to notice that a part of his attire had come undone during the last four meeting.

Noppon's bow tie had come loose around his neck, giving him the look of a jaded office worker after a long week.

"It's hanging around his neck there," TNT Sports commentator Dave Hendon observed.

"You can get dispensation not to wear one, but you don't have it untied, you just don't wear one."

"I don't think he knows!" replied co-commentator Joe Johnson.

Noppon was soon informed of his breach of the dress code by the referee, and quickly re-adjusted his bow tie.

"Strange old bow ties, those, not the traditional ones," added Hendon, who dubbed the incident a "wardrobe malfunction."

The Thai player was unperturbed by the minor disruption, though, putting together an excellent 86 break shortly after and going on to win the second frame to lead 2-0 in the semi-final.

"Unlike his bow tie, he's not come undone," Hendon quipped. "Playing the snooker of his life."

Zhou fought back, though, taking the next two frames to level, before forcing a final-frame decider. But Noppon held his nerve to make a 134 total clearance when it mattered most to book his place in the final.

You can watch every day of the China Open live on TNT Sports.

It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.

Winner: £250,000 
Runner-up: £100,000 
Semi-finalist: £50,000 
Quarter-finalist: £25,000 
Last 16: £15,000  
Last 32: £10,000 
Last 48: £7,500  
Last 80: £5,000 
Last 112: £2,500 
High break: £15,000 
Total: £1,205,000.

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