Fu wins in Grand Prix Warm Up

World No. 22 Marco Fu (Hong Kong) defeated Issara Kachaiwong 5-3 to win the SangSom-Hua Hin Thailand Masters on Sunday.

Fu was rewarded with a cash prize of 100,000 baht and a glittering trophy that he received from the Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptaphanlop. Issara, a Chanthaburi native, received 50,000 baht for his second-place finish.

Fu once again impressed at the Hua Hin Grand Hotel Ballroom, packed to its capacity with local snooker fans, in a match that saw two players exact amazing pots, miss simple balls and trade punches in engrossing safety tussles.

It started as a promising battle, as the two finalists shared the first two frames. But the Fu shifted his game up a gear and played the next two without easing pressure on the throttle. The outcome was a 3-1 lead in the favour of Fu, who has the honour of bagging the world under-21 and world amateur championship titles in the same calendar year of 1997.

Issara, the reigning Asian champion, was not willing to give in easily and after a marathon clash in the fifth he stole the frame on the black ball to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Fu maintained his upper hand on the game by taking the sixth, but then Issara hit back with a 56 point run to capture the seventh. Issara potted a difficult red, but the cue ball struck the blue, which, much to the chagrin of everyone at the venue, disappeared into the centre pocket. This paved the way for Fu cruise home successfully and seal the fate of the match.

A beaming Fu claimed later: "I didn't play as well as I had in the semifinals, but it still proved enough. Issara played very well and has the potential to do well on the professional tour.

"He missed a few balls here and there and that in fact enabled me to win today. I hope that I will be here again for another tournament next year."

Issara said: "I was under a lot of pressure. Fu has been to the world professional champion semifinal this year, and that speaks volumes of his class. It was always going to be a difficult match and I am happy that I was able to take three frames from him."