Chuchart Trairatanapradit, popularly known as Tai Pichit (born 10 January 1963) is a Thai former professional

snooker Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sports, cue sport played on a Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, rectangular table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets, one at each corner and o ...

player. Pichit participated at the

World Snooker Championship The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker. It is also the wealthiest, with total prize money in 2022 of £2,395,000, including £500,000 for the winner. First held in 1927 Wor ...

three times, reaching the first round in

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

. Pichit's best overall ranking finish was at the 1994 Thailand Open, where he reached the last 16 stage.

Career

Pichit turned professional in 1991. His first tournament was the 1991 Thailand Open, where he was eliminated 4–5 in the first round by

Allison Fisher Allison Fisher (born 24 February 1968) is an English professional pool and former professional snooker player. Biography Fisher was born on 24 February 1968 in Cheshunt and grew up in Tonbridge, Kent and lived later in Peacehaven, East Sussex ...

. Pichit's best run came in 1994, when he participated in the Thailand Open, beating Colin Morton and

Stephen Hendry Stephen Gordon Hendry (born 13 January 1969) is a Scottish professional snooker player who dominated the sport during the 1990s, becoming one of the most successful players in its history. After turning professional in 1985 at age 16, Hendry ...

5–2, before losing to Morgan 4–5 in the second round. One year later, he participated at his first World Snooker Championship, qualifying for the 1995 edition of the tournament. In so doing, Pichit became the second Thai player, after

James Wattana James Wattana (; born January 17, 1970, as วัฒนา ภู่โอบอ้อม ''Wattana Pu-Ob-Orm'', then renamed รัชพล ภู่โอบอ้อม ''Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm'' in 2003) is a Thai former professional snooker pl ...

, to play at the

Crucible Theatre The Crucible Theatre (often referred to simply as "The Crucible") is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England which opened in 1971. Although it hosts regular theatrical performances, it is best known for hosting professional snooker's m ...

. Pichit defeated Mark Whatley 5–3, Adrian Rosa 5–1, Mike Dunn 5–2, Warren King 10–0, Stuart Reardon 10–8,

Alex Higgins Alexander Gordon Higgins (18 March 1949 – 24 July 2010) was a Northern Irish professional snooker player who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the game. Nicknamed "Hurricane Higgins" because of his fast play, he was Wor ...

10–5,

Euan Henderson Ewen, Ewan or Euan Henderson may refer to: *Ewen Henderson (artist), artist * Ewen Henderson (musician), fiddler and bagpiper *Euan Henderson (snooker player) Euan Henderson (born 30 June 1967) is a retired Scottish professional snooker player. ...

10–6 and

Mike Hallett Mike Hallett (born 6 July 1959) is an English former professional snooker player and commentator. Career Hallett was born in Grimsby on 6 July 1959. Having won the national under-16 title in 1975, he turned professional in 1979. His world ran ...

10–8 to set up an encounter with

Willie Thorne William Joseph Thorne (4 March 195417 June 2020) was an English professional snooker player. He won one ranking title, the 1985 Classic. He also reached the final of the 1985 UK Championship, losing 16–14 to Steve Davis after leading 13–8 ...

. In the event, Pichit led 2–0 and held Thorne to 4–4 and 6–7, but eventually lost 6–10. He also participated in the

1996 UK Championship The 1996 UK Championship was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Guild Hall in Preston, England. The event started on 15 November 1996 and the televised stages were shown on BBC between 23 November and 1&n ...

, defeating

Jimmy White James Warren White (born 2 May 1962) is an English professional snooker player who has won three seniors World titles. Nicknamed "The Whirlwind" because of his fluid, attacking style of play, White is the 1980 World Amateur Champion, 2009 ...

9–7 in the first round, and advanced to the second round, where he was defeated by Joe Johnson 6–9. In 1998–99, Pichit was ranked 124th, the highest ranking in his career, but ended the season at 150th, with his final tournament at the 1999 China International, where he lost 0–5 to John Giles. He lost his professional status immediately thereafter, aged 36.

Personal life

Pichit was a Buddhist monk before he became a professional snooker player.

Performance and rankings timeline

Career finals

Pro-am finals: 2

Amateur finals: 6 (2 titles)

References

External links

Profile on ''Snooker Database''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pichit, Tai Living people

Tai Pichit Chuchart Trairatanapradit, popularly known as Tai Pichit (born 10 January 1963) is a Thai former professional snooker player. Pichit participated at the World Snooker Championship three times, reaching the first round in 1995. Pichit's best over ...

Asian Games medalists in cue sports Cue sports players at the 1998 Asian Games 1963 births

Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games