The Thai star failed to secure a maximum whilst on 140 for the third time since turning pro (Image: WST)
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh has set a new, unwanted record in the world of modern – becoming the first player to miss the final black in three separate attempts at a maximum break, having already held the previous feat with two. The 39-year-old Thai star, highly regarded for his quick play on the baize, suffered his latest agony at the International Championship qualifiers in Sheffield.
Having claimed the first frame, the speedster stormed into the second, putting his rapid potting to good use as he swept opponent Lei Peifan away.
As he approached his final two shots, the pink was sunk, but the white overran. Faced with a conundrum – a cutback into a top pocket or an attempt at the right middle – it became Un-Nooh’s third time unlucky.
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Un-Nooh opted for an incredibly thin cutback, having left himself an agonisingly difficult final attempt. Alas, the black struck the jaws and teetered on the verge of falling before the realisation set in that a third faltered 147 had just occurred.
The Thai ace looked devasted. He threw his head back in disgust and even went to the pocket to examine just how close he was to maximum glory.
This didn’t phase the world number 38, though, as he, of course, claimed the second frame and the third before being pegged back to 3-2. A battle ensued, with both players trading blows on the table before Un-Nooh put the contest to bed with his second century break – coming away the 6-4 victor.
Not again, Thepchaiya! ??????
— WST (@WeAreWST)
Despite the win, Un-Nooh will no doubt be cursing his luck after his third final black miss, the first of which came nine years ago at the UK Championship in York.
The stakes during this affair were high, as a maximum would have seen him claim a £44,000 prize – a reward he looked set to snatch when racing away in the sixth frame of an eventual 6-2 loss to Neil Robertson.
This final black, a far easier make into the top left, was fluffed. Un-Nooh struck it perhaps harder than necessary and revealed after: “There was too much pressure. I am so disappointed. I have never done a 147 in a big tournament like this before.”
Un-Nooh has made four 147’s during his professional career (Image: Getty)
He would have to taste agony again later that season, missing the final black into the exact same pocket in a similar fashion whilst on 140 against Anthony McGill in the fourth frame of a World Championship qualifier, which he also went on to lose 10-7.
However, he has mustered a quite impressive maximum tally since that second miss – which would have also seen him win a hefty prize, this time a nearly £10,000 bonus – and only had to wait a few months before his first career 147 in August 2016.
Prior to this latest choker, he has made four career maximum breaks in tournament play since turning pro in 2009 – the same amount as current world No.3 Mark Allen and one less than 2010 world champion Robertson.