ADVANI BREAKS ONG'S BIG RUN

Cool Indian punishes errors by home hope to win Singapore Snooker Open 5-1

- David Lee

After producing a stunning 4-1 win against Malaysia's 2022 World Amateur Snooker Championship winner Lim Kok Leong on Oct 5, Singapore's Jaden Ong was in the mood for another giant-killing act in the Songhe Singapore Snooker Open final.

On Oct 6, the 35-year-old held the lead late in the first, second and fifth frames at the Safra Toa Payoh's Lagoon Billiard Room against three-time world amateur champion Pankaj Advani, but rued big misses as his Indian opponent won 5-1 for his first snooker title in Singapore.

Ong, a full-time player since 2022, told The Straits Times: "I'm surprised I could make it all the way to the final with such a strong field as I had been struggling with my form and consistency.

"But things started to click again and I played well this week. So, it was a pity I couldn't win it. It would have been special to beat such a well-known player in the final at home, but I still gained a lot of positives, and learnt a lot from his composure and shot selection as I work towards doing well at the 2025 SEA Games."

The Singapore Snooker Open featured 123 players from five nations, including Thailand's 2010 world amateur champion Dechawat Poomjaeng, and a prize pool of $27,000.