The evergreen Danny Wong beat Aaron Teo 3-0 to qualify for the last 16.
SIBU: Three more seeded players fell by the wayside as the battle for the last 16 of the Sibu Executive 3 Invitational Snooker Championship entered its second night at Sibu Executive 3 Snooker Centre on Friday night.
Miri’s top player Jeremy Ku, Sarikei’s top player Yu Hung Kai and Wong Huang Kong were all unceremoniously dumped from the championship by lesser known opponents in the likes of Jee Chua Kim, Daniel Seman and Yong Kung Cai respectively.
Jeremy, sporting his usual coolness, was on course for victory when he secured the first two frames against Jee. However, Jee surprisingly took the third and fourth frame to set up the final frame.
Jeremy again had the upper hand in the deciding match but the stubborn Jee just refused to give up and eventually took the game at 3-2 (34-54, 9-62, 64-19, 56-49, 56-48).
Elsewhere, it was plain selling for the other five seeded players as they qualified for the last 16.
Last season’s Sarawak Closed champion Ricardo Sim dumped Sibu Ting Siew Chon 3-0 (65-35, 46-15, 65-28) to announce his bid for the title.
“Hopefully, I can continue to maintain a fine balance and keep my feet firmly on the ground,” Sim added.
Sarawak oldest snooker player, Sibu-born Danny Wong, 64, also had it easy when he swept aside little known Aaron Teo 3-0 (42- 20, 56-50, 57-18).
It was nevertheless a hard fought victory and Danny himself admitted that with age catching up, it was no longer the same for him as the sport required fitness and endurance.
“I may not have the strength and the endurance but hopefully, I can lift my game when it matters most,” Danny added. Kuching’s James Giam, one of Sarawak’s best known snooker player, also stamped his mark when he demolished Law Chik Tiing 3-0 (61-30, 69-37, 61-37).
It was no less an easy victory for Giam but the affable player refused to be complacent as he polished his potting skills with bigger matches ahead.
Over 60 players from throughout the state took part in the week-long tournament organized by Sibu Executive 3 Snooker Centre.
The champion will get RM1,000, the first runner-up RM500, the two semi-finalists will get RM250 and the quarterfinalists RM100 each.
The highest break with a minimum of 50 points will earn RM300 while the century break gets RM500.
The results for the last 16 are as follow: Jee Chua Kim bt Jeremy Ku 3-2 (34-54, 9-62, 64-19, 56-49, 56-48); Daniel Seman bt Wong Huang Kong 3-2 (41-70, 45=41, 57-40, 16-47, 49-17); Danny Wong bt Aaron Teo 3-0 (42-40, 56-50, 57-18); Ricardo Sim bt Ting Siew Chon 3-0 (65- 36, 46-15, 65-28); Yong Kung Cai bt Yu Hung Kai 3-2 (60-58, 27-61, 49-47, 31-51, 65-31); David Wong bt Raymond Chew 3-1 (46-55, 55-27, 57-19, 67-31); James Giam bt Law Chik Tiing 3-0 (61-30, 69-37, 61-37); Sim Hong Hui bt Nazirul Hadi 3-0 (69-39, 60-39, 51-19)