This is the shocking moment a snooker player was attacked by his friend with an axe following an argument over the rules.

Burmese national Myo Min, 40, was struck with the weapon when tempers flared over a game at a billiards club in Samut Prakan province, Thailand, on March 5 evening.

Onlooker Win Maung, 38, said Myo Min had been playing with the unnamed suspect but they disagreed over the notoriously complex rules - the cause of many a bar room fight.

Myo Min claimed victory in the game and the two friends exchanged "strong words" before the loser walked away from the table. However, the attacker - still bearing a grudge - returned to the grotty snooker club wielding an axe.

CCTV footage shows how the shirtless attacker swung the weapon down on Myo Min who had his back turned, hitting him several times on the back before knocking him down with a blow to the head.

Others tried to intervene but were cowed when the suspect raised his weapon to strike. The man was seen striding away, leaving the stunned players behind.

Win Maung said: "Everybody was playing snooker without any issues. I noticed they started arguing about whether there was a foul. I thought everything was solved when he went away."

Police Captain Pannapat Kumkiam of the Phra Pradaeng Police Station received a report of the attack and went to the scene with paramedics.

They found Myo Min with a 5cm wound on his head, two cuts on his back, and several bruises. They bandaged him up and rushed him to the Bangpakok 3 Hospital for treatment.

Policeman Pannapat said: "Based on the footage, the suspect is an overweight male around 165 to 170 centimetres tall. He was wearing only black shorts while committing the attack.

"The attacker and the victim were friends before the attack. They are both from Myanmar. It happened because of a dispute between the two of them that started because of the snooker game.

"This case is difficult for police to investigate because they are both foreign nationalities. They want to resolve it themselves but we are not closing the case. The suspect must be found to give his version of events."

Officers are gathering CCTV recordings in the area to track the thug's whereabouts.

This is the shocking moment a snooker player was attacked by his friend with an axe following an argument over the rules.

Burmese national Myo Min, 40, was struck with the weapon when tempers flared over a game at a billiards club in Samut Prakan province, Thailand, on March 5 evening.

Onlooker Win Maung, 38, said Myo Min had been playing with the unnamed suspect but they disagreed over the notoriously complex rules - the cause of many a bar room fight.

Myo Min claimed victory in the game and the two friends exchanged 'stong words' before the loser walked away from the table. However, the attacker - still bearing a grudge - returned to the grotty snooker club wielding an axe.

CCTV footage shows how the shirtless attacker swung the weapon down on Myo Min who had his back turned, hitting him several times on the back before knocking him down with a blow to the head.

Others tried to intervene but were cowed when the suspect raised his weapon to strike. The man was seen striding away, leaving the stunned players behind.

Win Maung said: 'Everybody was playing snooker without any issues. I noticed they started arguing about whether there was a foul. I thought everything was solved when he went away.'

Police Captain Pannapat Kumkiam of the Phra Pradaeng Police Station received a report of the attack and went to the scene with paramedics.

They found Myo Min with a five-centimetre wound on his head, two cuts on his back, and several bruises. They bandaged him up and rushed him to the Bangpakok 3 Hospital for treatment.

Policeman Pannapat said: 'Based on the footage, the suspect is an overweight male around 165 to 170 centimetres tall. He was wearing only black shorts while committing the attack.

'The attacker and the victim were friends before the attack. They are both from Myanmar. It happened because of a dispute between the two of them that started because of the snooker game.

'This case is difficult for police to investigate because they are both foreign nationalities. They want to resolve it themselves but we are not closing the case. The suspect must be found to give his version of events.'

Officers are gathering CCTV recordings in the area to track the thug's whereabouts.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is currently taking part in the World Six-Reds Championship on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand.