Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Misses Final Black for Third Time

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh made unwanted headlines by missing the final black ball for a maximum break for the third time in his career. The 39-year-old faced off against China’s Lei Peifan in the qualifying round for the International Championship in Sheffield, winning the match 6-4. However, Un-Nooh’s moment of disappointment came in the second frame when he narrowly missed a challenging cut on the black.

This latest miss adds to Un-Nooh’s frustrating history as he previously missed out on a £44,000 prize when he failed to pot the last black at the 2015 UK Championships. At the time, he expressed that “there was too much pressure,” acknowledging the intense stakes involved. A year later, in a World Championship qualifier against Anthony McGill, Un-Nooh again fell short of achieving a 147 break, missing the black once more.

This unfortunate track record has already positioned him as the only player in snooker history to miss the black ball for an official 147 break more than once. Now, eight years later, his record has been extended with this recent miss. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh’s repeated near misses serve as a poignant reminder of the pressure players face in high-stakes situations and the thin line between success and failure in professional snooker.

While he remains a talented player with significant skills, these incidents highlight the mental challenges that come with striving for perfection in the sport. As he continues his career, fans and analysts alike will undoubtedly watch closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could allow him to finally achieve that elusive maximum break.