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Published on November 23, 2007

On Day 12, the former survived, while the latter drove home to Bangkok.

The going got tougher at the Sima Thani Hotel yesterday as the championships entered the knockout stages, and Passakorn managed to pass his first acid test as he edged out Chan Wai Ki of Hong Kong 5-4 to make it to the last 16 round of the men's section.

Chinnakrit, who was one of the most impressive players in the tournament in the marathon first round, could not get going and was beaten 5-2 by Andrew Pagett of Wales to bow out in the last-32 round.

In a big boost to Thai hopes, the experienced duo of Atthasit Mahitthi and Noppadol Sangnil won their respective last-32 matches with considerable ease. Atthasit, not yet close to his best, did enough to hand a 5-1 rout to last year's runner-up Daniel Ward of England, while Noppadol defeated John Torpey of the Republic of Ireland 5-3.

Former world and Asian under-21 runner-up Kobkit Palajin was expected to do well against young Chinese debutant Li Hang, but failed to deliver. To the disappointment of local fans, Kobkit lost 5-0.

Mohamed Shehab of the United Arab Emirates once again displayed his form by defeating former world under-21 champion Chan Kwok Ming of Hong Kong 5-2, while Zhang Anda of China came a cropper against Bobby Cruickshanks of Scotland, losing 5-1.

India's two-time former Asian champion Yasin Merchant and Pakistan's top cueist Saleh Mohammed also succeeded in taming the opposition in the last-32 round.

In the masters (over-40 years), five out of six Thais made it to the last-16 stage, with Praprut Chaithanasakul putting them on course with a 4-0 victory over Egypt's Hani Mazen.

Chuchart Trairattanapradit, Karnchai Wongjan and Wowawit Suriyasriwan joined Praprut in the next round, all winning their respective matches 4-0.

Somporn Kunthawung was the only Thai to suffer a loss in the masters competition yesterday, losing to compatriot Sakchai Simngam.

Agencies

Nakhon Ratchasima