A former snooker star is trading the baize for the ballot box after announcing his intention to stand as an MP in the upcoming general election.
James Wattana, 55, who once rose to world number three, reached two World Championship semi-finals and recorded three maximum 147 breaks during his career. The Thai legend enjoyed major success in the 1990s, famously defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan and Steve Davis in Thailand Open finals on home soil.
Turning professional in 1989, Wattana became one of the most influential figures in Thai snooker before retiring from the sport in 2020. Now, he is embarking on a new challenge away from the table.
According to reports in Thailand, Wattana has joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and is standing as a party-list MP candidate, placed at number 48. If successful, he could enter parliament following Thailand’s general election on February 8.
Widely regarded as a trailblazer, Wattana helped usher in a golden era for snooker in Thailand, raising the sport’s profile and inspiring future generations. His Thailand Open victories in 1994 and 1995 came between his memorable runs to the semi-finals at the Crucible, while his first ranking title arrived at the 1992 Strachan Open after defeating John Parrott.
In addition to ranking success, Wattana claimed several non-ranking titles, beating the likes of Jimmy White, Steve Davis, Parrott and Ken Doherty, though he was beaten by Stephen Hendry in the 1993 Masters final.
O’Sullivan has previously spoken about Wattana’s immense popularity in Thailand, recalling how the former star appeared in countless advertisements and required police escorts due to his fame. He credited Wattana as a central figure behind the strength of Thai snooker today.
Wattana is not the only former cue sports figure entering politics. Fellow Thai and ex-world amateur champion Atthasit Mahitthi is also contesting the election, standing for Saraburi’s Constituency 3 under the People’s Party banner.
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