Another high-profile snooker pro has pledged support to a campaign to remove the sport from Thailand’s gambling regulations.
The latest comments came from the 18-year-old Panchaya Channoi, also known as “Mind Sakol,” upon her return from winning the Women’s World Championship, the Thai media outlet Siam Sport reported.
Channoi upset the odds when she defeated the 12-times champion and world number four-ranked player, the Briton Reanne Evans, by six frames to two in the competition’s final in Dongguan, China.
The Thai teenager beat Chinese star Bai Yulu and the former Thai world champion Nutcharut Wongharuthai on her way to the final.
The rising star also secured the World Under-21 Women’s Championship earlier this month.
However, snooker stars and the sport’s Thai governing body have bemoaned the fact that snooker is still classified as a “gambling-like activity” under the terms of a 1935 law.
Snooker: Gambling Laws Still Apply
Channoi’s success comes just weeks after the Thai snooker superstar Thepchaiya Un-Nooh clinched the men’s title.
After a final where he defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of the sport’s all-time greats, Un-Nooh also backed the proposal. The star, who goes by the nickname “F1,” told media representatives that snooker “has long been part of Thai society.”
Thai anti-gambling advocates also support the bid.
After returning from China, Channoi reportedly “urged the government and relevant parties to help push for snooker to be removed from the Gambling Act.”
The young star said that from her experience competing in China, it was clear that many countries “seriously support” snooker’s status as a sport.
Kongsak Yodmani, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), said earlier this year that the SAT would formally ask the Ministry of the Interior to amend the 1935 act.
1935 Law a Barrier for Commercial Support
Executives from the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand, including its president Sunthorn Jarumong, met Channoi at the airport on her return.
Charumong told media representatives that sending athletes to compete in professional snooker tournaments requires annual budgets as high as 2 million baht (over $61,000).
Removing the stigma of gambling could help the private sector support Thai athletes, he suggested.
“I would like to appeal to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul […] to consider lifting the restrictions on snooker,” said the association’s president. “This will open up more opportunities for the development of Thai sports.”
Under the current rules, snooker clubs must apply for special operating permits, which deters smaller sports centers from applying.
The classification also limits the development of snooker-related infrastructure, including youth development initiatives.
And it also means that commercial snooker competitions are harder to organize and fund.
Experts say this deters many high-potential youth players from taking up the sport.
Match-fixing Concerns
The world of snooker has faced several shocks in recent years amid match fixing and illegal betting controversies.
In 2023, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association banned 10 leading Chinese players for their involvement in a match-fixing ring.
Back in 2013, meanwhile, a British pro player alleged that an Asia-based betting syndicate offered him money to deliberately lose a match.
The same player also claimed an unnamed world top 10-ranking player deliberately lost a match against him.
