Pandan Lake Club Open 2009

Im back. It was a hectic week trying to prepare for Pandan Lake Club Open. I don’t think I was the only one worried for this tournament. Lim was just as worried, if not worrying even worse than I was. He developed a jam on Thursday night’s usual training session. He couldn’t release his dart. So it was mine last week and his the week after that. What else could go wrong?

Anyway, we gathered at the club approximately at about 10am and everyone was ready. Hearts were pumping, the hands were eager and the competition around us looked tough. There was Dream Team Malaysia, Zouk Darters, Cee Jay’s Aristos, Flukers and Kiambang. 18 teams in total participated. It was 2 groups of 4 and 2 groups of 5. The format was the top four teams of each group to qualify for the second knockout phase on Sunday. Yes, technically we were through but it was about being top of the group to ease our way to the top 8. It was going to be tough one. Our goal was simple and realistic. Just to reach the quarter finals.

We managed to top the group that day, winning all our matches in quite a destroying manner. Everyone played their part in the team topping the group. Ricky Rozario, who joined us for this tournament as our fifth player played his part as well. If day one was tiring, tomorrow would be an even greater challenge. This was our scorecard at the end of the day;

I was a bit worried on Sunday. The Saturday afternoon was hot, the night continued its reign. I had problems sleeping. I was constantly waking up in the middle of the night, sweating, etc. Still, I managed to get 8 hours of interrupted sleep. I was still worried. I knew from past experience that it was the most important element of playing a dart tournament, good rest. Replaced my worries with some McD’s breakfast set and I knew that would keep my energy level. But for how long? Later that Sunday would tell.

The draw was made, and we were drawn with a team called Unicorn. A guy named Simon was the only one that worried the team actually. He is a player capable of playing some devastating darts. He is a 15 to 18 dart average player according to some players there the day before. The game started and we were off to a 5-2 lead before Jimmy Lee sealed it off in the second singles against Simon 2-1, making it 7-3 for a place in the quarters. At the other corner, the Aristos also made it through their match edging out Turbo Perfect.

Our next match was against the same team we played with during our preliminary rounds. Kiambang ‘B’, led by Lim and I’s former team mate, John Ravee. We decided to go with a different approach, which turned out having us losing 2-4 before Jimmy Lee could play his singles. That is where things got heated up. Jimmy Lee managed to stamp out a 2-1 win leaving things down to Lim and I at 4-5. Lim and I started out shaky but managed to crawl our way back from a topsy-turvy intense match and leveling the overall scores to 6-6 with our 2-1 win. This meant Lim needed to win his last singles against Kiambang team manager Ibrahim. Lim won convincingly at 2-0. We achieved our quarter final goal and were now in the semis.

If that wasn’t intense enough, our next match was against Kiambang ‘A’ who had an even stronger side than their ‘B’ team. That Kiambang side had the likes of 2 Malaysian Players, Selbaraju and Subra. So things were not going to get easy. We started the foursome with a bang and managed to nick the point for the 1-0 lead. Lim went up first this time, playing against Selbaraju. I couldn’t watch. Next thing I knew while I was resting outside the hall was Lim beating Selbaraju 2-0. This meant we had a 3-0 lead. Jimmy Lee and Lim partnered up front this time and proved to be too strong for the pair of Selbaraju and Subra, winning 2-1. This brought the total to 5-1 by the time Jimmy Lee played the second singles. Jimmy edged out Subra 2-0 and we were in the FINALS. This matched seemed easy but both sides played well and fortunately we came out tops.

By the time we played our back to back matches, the team was already showing signs of exhaustion. SkK and Jimmy Lee were slouching outside pumping water into their dehydrated bodies. Lim and I crashed at a nearby couch under the air-con. We got the news. We were going to play Dream Team Malaysia, Malaysia’s number one team. They comprised of Malaysian team players Tengku, Amin and Anandan, and led by former Malaysia team captain Ravi Sandiran. At this point I could feel the migraine I feared so much slowly building up in my head. I knew this was bad news. I was spot on, by the time we reached the finals, my head was throbbing. All I did was focus so hard at the board, that I would forget the pain. It worked, for a while. The team knew it had achieved its goal and surpassed it, now it was time to just go and give it our best shot.

The finals started and our foursome came out strong and we managed to scratch a point off Dream Team giving us the perfect start to the finals. Lim went up next and put up a great fight and lost 0-2 to Amin. Jimmy Lee and Lim also took charge of their doubles match only to be beaten 1-2. We were 2-4 behind with Jimmy Lee coming up. Jimmy Lee went up against Tengku, and he too put up a great fight that was appreciated by the crowd and lost his singles 1-2. This means we were 3-6 behind and needed to win the next 2 games to win. Unfortunately the pairing of Amin and Anandan proved too strong for SK and me and we were beaten 0-2. We had lost our first final together. At this point my head felt like I was going to explode and we were congratulated for our efforts in the tournament.

Overall it was the second time the team played in a tournament together and we achieved a semi final and a final. This is looking to be a great start for team HI5. Now the pressure is on us to maintain our level of darts and try and have a go at whatever comes our way. I would personally like to thanks the Aristos boys and Flukers for all of their support for the team and to Lim, Jimmy Lee, SK, and Ricky for all of their effort put into the team. Ram, even though you weren't here physically, you were in our heart. This is a special shout-out to Robin whose voice pushed us on every step of the way and Sugu who wanted me to mention him in the blog. Thanks and enjoy the pictures.

HI5. The Journey has now begun.

HI5 Vs Pandan Lake Club

2nd friendly of the year. It was against the team which is organising the Pandan Lake Club Open being held on the 18th and 19th of April. Yes, that is next week. The team is looking great at the moment. With our latest addition Ram, who was a former team mate of mine not a while back ago. A man with great spirit and never die attitude, Ram is an excellent addition to the now complete 5 of HI5.

The game was set to start at 8pm. The Pandan Lake boys were raring to go and we were ready. We took the foursome by storm and were at a comfortable 200+ point lead and although the opponents crawled back, Team HI5 managed to secure the first point of the day. Lim was up next for his single and although he couldn't find the right balance to his darts, he adjusted constantly and with a focus mind pull 2points from the opponents to give the team a 3-0 lead. Finally i was up partnering Lim and confidence were sky high. Every dart i felt in my hand were sure but it didn't show. I don't know how to explain it. No matter what i did, i just couldn't throw the dart properly. I felt right, the standing felt right, the mind felt at ease but the hand wouldn't listen. Surprisingly enough Lim provided marvelous scoring and i provided the confident enough checking. I even managed to pull a 68 check in an unfavoured manor to secure the game. Hit the 5, went for the 13, and confidently checked it in the bull. Score at the moment 5-1. Jimmy Lee stepped up on the line and obviously pulled a victory. Without dropping a sweat, smiling and laughing all the way to a 2-1 win. This already secured the game at 7-2 but for friendly sake Jimmy Lee and SK finished up their doubles 2-0. And Ram in his official debut for HI5 lost 0-2 for a total of 10-4. What a victory and this looks to be like a great build up for the tournament next weekend.

More updates soon. Happy Darting.

Sepang 3some Challenge

First outing for the fresh team of Hi5. Representing the team was Jimmy Lee, SK and Lim HP.

Format was a Threesome Best of 1 - 801. Doubles Best of 3 - 501 and Singles Best of 3 - 501. Approx 40 teams went.

Conditions were bad. Very cramped and hot.

However, Team Hi5 managed to reach the semi's and lost out by 2 points. A great result for a team who recently formed. Next tournament to look out for, for the team is the Pandan Jaya Team Event in mid-April.

Enjoy some of the pictures taken by myself;

Team for the day; SK, Jimmy Lee and Lim HP

Team with their trophies.

Trophies and Prize Money.

The whole team picture.

1st Game of the Season

Albeit it was a friendly match between the 2 teams from the same pub, to me, it was the first competitive game of many more to come this year.

It was between the newly formed high5 and Suzuki. Line-up was;

Lim, SK, Kyle, Jimmy Lee VS Ron, Albert, Thomas, MS Raja
Kyle VS Ron
Lim/Kyle VS Ron/Thomas
Lim VS MS Raja
Jimmy Lee/SK VS MS Raja/John Chew
Jimmy Lee VS Thomas

Job was simple. Just play my darts, no worries, know that the bottom would cover me a*se in case in lost and enjoy myself. Mind was ready, although could have been better if warmed up more.

4some was practically a stroking practice to me. Threw an average of 60 in 9 darts. Eventually team winning at the end.

Singles was up now and watching Ron in a couple of games earlier that day didn't really help much. I knew he could hit those ton's and ton 40's easily. All i told myself was 'just throw your darts'. Started off well with a simple 60. Ron replied 140. Hit a ton and he replied 40plus. Game went on to him setting himself a house but couldn't finish with me sitting on a 95. I knew what i had to do. Semi, 20, bull was all that was on my mind. Give myself a shooting chance at least. First dart - Bull, then a 13 to set up a 32 and without any hesitation i checked the d16. There was a roar from the crowd. At this point of time, my heart was beating as fast as you can say check dart! Second game was Topsy-turvey. Ron seemed shattered losing the first leg and i just couldn't hold myself together managing only a ton and some 40 scores. Again he set himself up and again i had an out shot to play. 108. Again i set my mind to a t19, 19 and d16 finish. True enough, first dart 19, then the t19 and just a hairline miss from the 32. Ron looked worried and pressure i guessed got to him and he went from house to house to set himself up a d1(madhouse). By this time in 2 darts i sealed the game for a team lead of 3-0.

Doubles came and Lim and I score looked like we were throwing cock-eyed darts. But here and there managed to pull an 85 or ton. 1st leg went to us and 2nd went to them. 3rd leg was tightly contested and they looked earliest to set up a house, Lim leaving me with a 130 to check. Confidence was high. First dart a 60, then 20, and just a whisker away, hit the semi-bull. Ron came to the board and couldn't set the 90plus score leaving Thomas with a 77 to play. Lim went up, safely hit a 3 and missed his d11. Thomas went up confidently hit his 57 to set up a d10 and hit both his darts on the wire. By my second dart, it was all wrapped up.

Lim went on to lose to former Malaysia number 1, MS Raja 0-2 and Jimmy Lee/ SK finished the job with a 2-0 victory. Final score ended 7-3.

Happy with the win. Happy with the darts. A lot of bits and bolts need to be adjusted. Like, calmness, eagerness, and mind frame. Oh well, next up is Sepang 3some and Johore 3some. Let's move on from there shall we. Happy Darting!