**Thai Snooker Player Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon Cleared to Compete Again Following Match-Fixing Ban**
Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon, a professional snooker player from Thailand once renowned for his record-breaking 147 maximum break, has been given the green light to resume his career after completing a lengthy ban for match-fixing. This development signals a new chapter for the former world number 67, whose career was disrupted by both disciplinary issues and unsettling off-table incidents.
Tirapongpaiboon, who burst onto the snooker scene as a teenager, made headlines in 2010 by becoming the youngest player to record a 147 break on the professional circuit, aged just 16 years and 312 days. However, his promising career trajectory was derailed when he admitted to manipulating the outcomes of six snooker matches between 2013 and 2015.
The match-fixing saga took a dark turn in August 2013, with speculation rising that a firebomb attack at a house in Rotherham, where Tirapongpaiboon and compatriot Passakorn Suwannawat had stayed, may have been motivated by these incidents. The property, owned by snooker academy director Keith Warren, suffered fire and smoke damage, but both players had already left for Thailand. No injuries were reported, but the event left a shadow over the sport, underscoring the concerns over integrity in professional snooker.
Tirapongpaiboon’s last appearance in professional snooker dates back to December 2015. Although he showed flashes of his talent in Q School Asia and Oceania events in 2022, reaching the semi-finals and earning theoretical eligibility for a tour card, authorities decided against awarding him a place. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) cited ‘serious disciplinary matters’ from his previous career, leading to a formal charge later that year.
Following an investigation, Tirapongpaiboon received a ban effective from June 2022 to March 2025, along with an order to pay £1,925 in costs. WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson commented at the time that the sport was committed to rooting out corruption, regardless of when offences occurred. He noted Tirapongpaiboon had expressed genuine regret for his actions, choosing to cooperate with the association’s anti-corruption initiatives and support player education efforts, which was recognised in the final ruling.
With his suspension now fully served, and following continued assistance with WPBSA’s anti-corruption campaigning, the ban has concluded. This means Tirapongpaiboon is free to return to competition, should he choose to make the most of his second chance in the professional ranks.
The issue of match-fixing has been a recurring concern for professional snooker in recent years. Notably, Zhao Xintong, this year’s World Snooker Championship winner, was among a group of Chinese players who faced suspensions linked to one of the sport’s largest corruption scandals. Zhao received a 20-month ban after admitting involvement in match manipulation and betting activities. Despite the penalty, Zhao returned to the sport as an amateur, remarkably defeating Welshman Mark Williams to claim the world title – a historic moment as he became the first amateur and the first Asian player to secure the championship.
These high-profile cases have emphasised the vulnerability of snooker to corruption and the ongoing efforts by governing bodies to safeguard the sport’s reputation. The WPBSA maintains that its determination to impose strict sanctions on misconduct, while encouraging rehabilitation and education, is central to protecting the integrity of the game.
As for Tirapongpaiboon, his path back to the professional stage serves as both a cautionary tale and an opportunity for redemption. His willingness to participate in educational outreach is seen as a positive step not only for himself, but also for the wider snooker community.
The return of such a talented and, at times, controversial figure will be closely watched by fans and administrators alike, as the sport continues to grapple with balancing second chances against the imperative to maintain trust in professional competition. It remains to be seen whether Tirapongpaiboon can recapture his early promise, but his return marks a significant moment for snooker’s ongoing journey towards integrity and redemption.