Snooker: Thailand's Noppon sends World #1 packing in surprise 1st round result

Snooker's China Open 2026 began with a bunch of surprises on the first day, as David Gilbert defeated Ding Junhui and Mark Williams fell to Zhou Yuelong. More of the same was on the cards to start out the second day, courtesy of Thailand's Noppon Saengkham.

It's only been a couple of weeks since world #1 Judd Trump's dominant triumph at the Shanghai Masters, but this time out China or especially Thailand's finest wasn't treating him so welcomingly.

Noppon quickly established a 2-0 lead, but the world number 1 rallied to equalize the scores at 2-2. Describing himself as "flat and tired", Trump struggled to maintain his composure, taking just a solitary frame out of the following five to go out with a whimper.

The final score was therefore 6-3 to Mr. Saengkham, with just his solitary century break of 120 to go in to the stats books. However, with him being ranked just 45th in the world and taking down the number 1, we're sure he won't mind any missing style points.

In the other matches on Day 2 of the China Open home hero Xiao Guodong defeated Scot Anthony McGill 6-3, Shaun Murphy whitewashed fellow Englishman Matthew Selt 6-0 and living legend Ronnie O'Sullivan dispatched Jackson Page of Wales 6-2.

The China Open continues tomorrow with yet more 1st round matches, with the biggest names opening their journey being the likes of Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby. The matches start at 07:00 and 12:30 UK time.

You can find all the results & schedule from the China Open below.













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