Manan Chandra of India breezed into the semifinals of the 2008 SangSom Suphan Buri Cup after hammering first-time qualifier Thatchai Suksamran 4-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Also making their way to the semifinals, although through a different route, were Thai snooker star Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm and Noppadon Noppachorn.

Chandra played with ease and confidence and it became quite clear in the first two frames of the match that Thatchai had little ammunition to pull off an upset.

Thatchai had earlier made waves by edging 2007 Asian champion Supoj Saenla, a two-time winner of the same event, 4-3 in the last 16 round on Wednesday.

Chandra, a former No. 3 at the IBSF world championship, is now scheduled to face Noppadon, winner of the world amateur title in 1991, in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Khum Suphan Hotel.

Noppadon showed nerves of steel as he edged past Chan Kwok Ming of Hong Kong, a former world under-21 champion. It took Noppadon more than three hours to score the 4-3 victory.

Ratchapol, also a former world champion, succeeded in avoiding a shock defeat at the hands of young Chinnakrit Yaowannasiri, walking away with the narrow 4-3 victory.

Ratchapol next plays on Saturday at 1 pm against the winner of last evening clash between Issara Kachaiwong and Xiao Guodong.

Frame scores

Thursday night last 16 round: Surathep Phoochalam lost to Xiao Guodong 3-4 (23-70, 60-32, 49-67, 91(53)-23, 17-83(72), 58-53, 46-67)

Friday quarter-finals:  Manan Chandra (India) beat Thatchai Suksamran 4-0 (65-15, 72-22-, 88-32, 66(65)-33); Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm beat Chinnakrit Yaowannasiri 4-3 (64-22, 41-83(53), 67-44, 113(113)-0, 26-79(51), 50-67, 61-10)