Executive 3 Snooker Centre director Tan Eng Choon (left) handing over the championship trophy to Sim. Looking on are SDBSA advisor Danny Wong (left) and vice president Mark Yeo.
SIBU: Kuching’s Ricardo Sim came back from the dead twice to edge Sibu’s Jee Chau Hui 4-3 (40-56, 18-73, 62-36, 54-13, 38-55, 51-32, 57-38 ) to lift the Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship title at Executive 3 Snooker Centre here on Friday.
Sim took home the prize money of RM1,500 with Jee picking up RM800.
The two losing semi-finalists James Giam and Francis Liaw pocketed RM400 each while losing quarter-finalists Mark Yeo, Jet Lee, Edmond Bong and Jacob Wong collected RM100 each.
“I really have one objective and that is to win the title. Everything else is less important to me,” Sim told thesundaypost after his victory.
After he stunned tournament favorite Giam 4-2 (52-44, 55-29, 23-66, 49-7, 41-48, 52-18) in the semi-final, the 44-year-old businessman felt he had it in him to take the title.
“I just have to keep going and the belief in myself that I can do it, even after trailing behind Jee 2-0 and later 3-2,” said the 2013 Kuching Open champion.
Sim admitted he played under tremendous pressure but managed to remain level-headed.
“This is close and thank goodness it is all over now. I can relax, recoup and re-evaluate myself before thinking over my next strategy,” he added.
For Jee, the defeat proved too bitter to swallow and he could only blame himself for making some silly mistakes in the final frame that allowed Sim to capitalize on.
“It was so near and yet so far. It’s so sad. Nevertheless, I will continue to train hard and polish my game, hopefully to win a title for myself sometime someday.
Sim rushed to an early lead at 7-0, 14-4, 20-6 before Jee found the rhythm to reduce the gap to 18-21.
It was a ding dong battle from then onwards with both players adopting the defensive style and set-pieces.
Jee went into the offensive and took the lead at 41-37 and with four coloured balls remaining, both slowed down their play as it could still be anybody’s game.
Jee suddenly sensed the right opportunity with the brown ball loitering at the right corner pocket and he went for the long shot. Luck was with him when he not only potted the brown ball but enroute to the pocket, the brown ball also somehow grazed the blue ball and pushed it to the middle pocket.
It was routine as Jee cleared the table to take the first cue at 56-40.
Jee followed up with an easy break in the second frame and immediately surged to a big lead at 14-0, 22-0, 53-8 and with breaks of 31 and 28 to take the second frame.
Undeterred with the two defeats, Sim remained composed and continued his defensive style of play in the third frame.
He took an early lead at 5-4, 19-6, 25-7, only for Jee to play catch-up again. This time, however, Sim denied a Jee comeback and hung on to win 62-36.
Jee took the fourth frame at 55-38 and in his haste to finish off Sim in the fifth frame, Jee miscalculated when he failed to pot a red ball.
Sim capitalized on the opportunity and he made a break of 21 points to win the frame at 51-32 to set up an intriguing final showdown.
In the final frame, Sim again had the upper hand before Jee crawled back to reduce the gap.
Leading by seven points and with only the pink and black balls, Jee somehow found himself `snoked’.
He failed to rescue the ball and Sim stepped in to clear the table and wrapped up the game at 57-38.
A total of 32 top players from throughout the state took part in the championship organised by Executive 3 Snooker Centre for the second consecutive year.
All the prizes were sponsored by Executive 3 Snooker Centre.