All games played last evening at Everest in their version of the Tangga Malam, that for the mid to lower table, though, and as you will see from the Ladder, with 5 regulars now having set up camp in the Tangga Teens, this appellation is becoming rather out-of-date.
A welcome visitor making a return to the Blok after more years than he cares to remember was Paul Cross who was quickly up and facing a Challenge from Keith Miller, one in which he was to prevail 3-2 and according to one observer “rather enjoying the rub of the green”. Terrific fight wherever the luck lay which left both players rather exhausted by the battle, while Keith took some consolation in running the table after Crossy’s break in the second frame. He doesn’t do that every day.
Mark Sims, who had been quite brilliant in a couple of practice frames then went down rather lamely by 0-3 in his Challenge to a Suresh Lingam enjoying not being the top ranked player at the Tangga Malam for once; Suresh hen going on to make a significant move to #15 on the Tangga in a successful Challenge to Paul Cross by 3-2. Crossy immediately demanded and got a re-Challenge and won it and, yes, immediate re-challenges are possible after a recent rule change – just needs the Challengee to agree to it.
Late arrival Ken Boon then challenged, played and defeated Suresh in a very tight 3-2 to take over what was by now Suresh’s #16 Rung before going down in turn by 3-1 in a Challenge from Keith Miller.
Galen Hong, another late arrival saw off a Challenge from Mark Sims in a 3-0 before beating Suresh by the same score. Other games included Steve Smith playing his debut games with that occasional player Mark Kilner, and Rob Lock and going down 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. It will get better Steve!! Rob also defeated CJ Yum 3-1 to gave clear warning that he is going to be nobody’s Darrell in Saturday’s Big Challenge – 17-32 Shoot Out.
Players now in the range 15-24 have played an average of 7 Challenges each with less than half the month gone – it is dog eat dog there right now.
Alex McMillan and Brian Capel – finalists in the first TBJ Big Challenge
Finally, the date of the long promised pre-Bangkok Top 16 Big Challenge has been fixed for Saturday, September 8th, with participation invited from
the Top 16 Players as at the end of August.
Further details including location and start time will be advised later however the format will otherwise be identical to the first TBJ Big Challenge played in what seems like half an eon ago in the Crossroads of fond memory.
