Snooker star who shocked Ronnie O’Sullivan quit sport and is now running to be an MP | Other | Sport

A snooker player who beat Ronnie O’Sullivan to win a ranking title against the odds is now running to be an MP in his home country. James Wattana is among the sport’s most celebrated overseas players, having reached two World Championship semi-finals during the 1990s. He has racked up victories against some of the best players in history, including Steve Davis as well as The Rocket.

Wattana beat a young O’Sullivan at the Humo Masters in Belgium, less than a year after the seven-time world champion turned professional. Later in his career, the man from Thailand triumphed when they met again in the final of the Thailand Open. It marked his eighth and final ranking title victory, with Wattana eventually dropping off the tour circuit in 2020.

Now, he is eyeing a new career in politics with the Bangkok Post reporting that he will run for public office in the country’s upcoming general election.

Wattana is said to have joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, a far-right ultra-conservative nationalist party, as an MP candidate.

The election is scheduled for February 8 and the 50-year-old will be hoping to gain entry into office as he eyes a new challenge following the end of his snooker career.

Wattana helped to pave the way for overseas players at the peak of his powers, winning over £1million in prize money over the course of his career.

He even set the record for the quickest 147 in history, achieving the feat at the British Open in 1992. He took just seven minutes and nine seconds, setting a benchmark that went unbeaten until O’Sullivan bettered it in 1997.

Wattana was hailed by The Rocket after their most recent meeting at the six-red World Championship in 2023, with O’Sullivan claiming a 5-2 victory.

“I played James out here in his peak,” he said. “I played him in a match, and we had to stop for the adverts, and he was on every advert, Nescafe, Thai Airways, and I was sitting there thinking: ‘This geezer is unbelievable’.

“I’ve never ever hung out with anyone so famous. When he was in his prime, he couldn’t go anywhere and needed a security police escort to go everywhere.

“He’s been massive for Thai snooker. Thailand snooker is very strong. They’ve got some fantastic players and that is because of James and what he has done in the game.”

Wattana’s success in the game has inspired a number of players from Asia, including the likes of Ding Junhui and Marco Fu.

Thailand remains strongly represented on the main circuit by players like Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Noppon Saengkham and former women’s world champion Mink Nutcharut.