(AsiaGameHub) – Another prominent professional snooker player has voiced their support for a campaign aimed at removing the sport from Thailand’s gambling regulations.
These recent statements were made by 18-year-old Panchaya Channoi, also known as “Mind Sakol,” upon her return from securing the Women’s World Championship title, as reported by the Thai media outlet Siam Sport.
Channoi defied expectations by defeating the 12-time champion and world number four, Britain’s Reanne Evans, with a score of six frames to two in the tournament’s final held in Dongguan, China.
The young Thai player overcame Chinese competitor Bai Yulu and former Thai world champion Nutcharut Wongharuthai on her path to the final.
Earlier this month, the emerging talent also claimed the World Under-21 Women’s Championship.
However, snooker professionals and the sport’s governing body in Thailand have expressed dissatisfaction that snooker is still categorized as a “gambling-like activity” under a law enacted in 1935.
Snooker: Gambling Laws Still Apply
Channoi’s victory follows closely on the heels of Thai snooker superstar Thepchaiya Un-Nooh winning the men’s title just weeks prior.
Un-Nooh, nicknamed “F1,” also endorsed the proposal after his final match victory against Ronnie O’Sullivan, a legendary figure in the sport. He informed media representatives that snooker has “long been part of Thai society.”
Advocates against gambling in Thailand are also backing the initiative.
Upon her return from China, Channoi reportedly “urged the government and relevant parties to help push for snooker to be removed from the Gambling Act.”
The young champion stated that her experience competing internationally, particularly in China, demonstrated that many nations “seriously support” snooker’s standing as a sport.
Kongsak Yodmani, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), announced earlier this year that the SAT would formally request the Ministry of the Interior to revise 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 upon her arrival.
Jarumong informed the media that the cost of sending athletes to compete in professional snooker tournaments can reach up to 2 million baht annually (exceeding $61,000).
He suggested that removing the association with gambling could encourage private sector investment in supporting Thai athletes.
“I would like to appeal to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul […] to consider lifting the restrictions on snooker,” stated the association’s president. “This will open up more opportunities for the development of Thai sports.”
Under the existing regulations, snooker clubs are required to obtain special operating permits, a process that discourages smaller sports facilities from applying.
This classification also hinders the growth of snooker-related infrastructure, including programs for youth development.
Furthermore, it complicates the organization and funding of commercial snooker competitions.
Experts believe this situation deters many promising young players from pursuing the sport.
Match-fixing Concerns
The snooker world has experienced significant disruptions in recent years due to controversies surrounding match-fixing and illegal betting.
In 2023, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association imposed bans on 10 prominent Chinese players for their involvement in a match-fixing scheme.
Additionally, in 2013, a British professional player alleged that a betting syndicate based in Asia had offered him money to intentionally lose a match.
The same player also claimed that an unnamed player ranked within the world’s top 10 had deliberately lost a match against him.
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