Snooker player saved by former world champion after arriving at tournament without cue
Snooker star Noppon Saengkham had his blushes spared shortly before his opening match at Northern Ireland Open.
The Thai player bizarrely arrived at the tournament without the most vital piece of kit – his cue.
After realising it had gone missing in transit during his journey from Manchester to Belfast, Saengkham pleaded for help from his peers, which initially fell on deaf ears.
His failure to secure a replacement cue left his first-round match against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in serious doubt, until one star came to his rescue.
Cue the emergence of triple crown-winning great Shaun Murphy, who came up trumps for Saengkham with time running out.
The 32-year-old paid an immediate debt of gratitude to Murphy before going on to win his opener 4-3.
"I have to really thank Shaun because I asked a few other players, but they couldn't lend me a cue because they were practicing," said Saengkham.
"Then I saw Shaun and he gave me his cue this morning.”
Murphy later revealed that his act of kindness came at the expense of his own match preparations.