Ronnie O'Sullivan earns unique tribute from fellow snooker speed merchant after epic World Open final battle

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Thepchaiya Un-Nooh described Ronnie O'Sullivan as his "snooker idol" after completing the greatest victory of his career against the seven-time Crucible winner in the World Open final in March.

Watch in FULL as Un-Nooh makes 'genius' 147 in World Open final against O'Sullivan

Video credit: TNT Sports

The rapid Thai potter reeled off the final four frames from 7-6 behind to complete a 10-7 win over O'Sullivan with three centuries, including a quickfire 147, to secure the £175,000 first prize.

It was a final of the highest quality with Un-Nooh also producing breaks of 132, 131, 83, 82, 80, 77, 50 and 50 with O'Sullivan rolling in 136, 124, 114, 102, 73 and 51.

It came after Un-Nooh, who ended the season at 18th in the rankings, had defeated world No. 1 Judd Trump 6-4 in the semi-finals with three centuries.

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"This is some of the best snooker I've ever seen," said former world No. 3 Neal Foulds on TNT Sports commentary.

"I don't think you can play better than this under pressure. I really don't. It's just incredible. You can't play better than this.

"He was seeded 41 for this event. How on earth is he that low? He's a very special player and this has been quite something."

‘What a story’ - Un-Nooh 'stuns' O’Sullivan to become World Open champion

Video credit: TNT Sports

Un-Nooh and O'Sullivan are widely regarded as the two fastest players in the sport with average shot times between 16.6-18 seconds on the main professional circuit.

But Un-Nooh has always been quick to salute O'Sullivan's influence on his career and style of play in the game.

"He was my snooker idol when I was younger and thank you to Ronnie as well for improving my game and for all his time," said the former Shoot Out winner.

It looks like his admiration for Rocket Ronnie continues with a message spotted during a few frames with Stephen Hendry on his YouTube channel that said: "Ronnie O'Sullivan is God."

"When I started to play snooker and came to the UK, it was Ronnie [who was my idol]," he told O'Sullivan's fellow seven-time world champion Hendry.

"Ronnie didn't play quite as well but it was a good chance to beat him in a final for the first time.

"The 15-minute break helped me [when I was 7-6 behind] just to hit a few balls on the practice table. The 147 was just to entertain the crowd."

Un-Nooh, who has registered seven 147s, says it will be difficult to overtake O'Sullivan's fastest maximum of all time, registered at five minutes and eight seconds in the 1997 World Championship.

"Difficult to break the record," he said. "My quickest was seven minutes and 20 seconds I think."

Un-Nooh with seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.

Image credit: Getty Images

The prodigious potter, who turned professional in 2009, can see the funny side after being left crestfallen in missing out on £44,000 when he failed to hole the final black against Neil Robertson at the 2015 UK Championship in York.

He has also missed the final blacks against Anthony McGill in the 2016 World Championship qualifiers and against Lei Peifan in the 2024 International Championship qualifiers.

‘What an extraordinary finish’ - Un-Nooh sinks ‘great black’ to dispatch Trump

Video credit: TNT Sports

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