The lonely war
Sunday, October 25, 2009

Today is the day of the tournament. I woke up this morning with kinda the same feeling like a day of the promo exams. That same kinda nervousness. I had a little tummy ache too. Its called a "Luak-over"

A Luak-over (pronounced /"lwak-oh-ver/) describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of Oyster Omelette.

Had a 10 dollars plate of orh luak yesterday with siodis.

Siodi Tower of Death

20 dollars worth of Oyster Omelette in one picture. SLURPP

So I lay in bed, playing with my itouch apps. Mafia Wars, Street Racing and Vampires. Then I stupidly played tap tap 3. The accelerator goes nuts when you play with an upside down itouch.

Went to bathe and got ready to head down to Toa Payoh Snookerzone. It was kinda different today. Instead of the usual bustle of a crowded pool hall, it was just a few players, one at each table, glove on the servant-hand(opposite of master hand), their eyes.. as serious as sirius black.

I went to look at the chart. It was an open 8-ball tournament, which means people of any age and any seeding can play. I didn't recognize the name of my first opponent, which I presumed was a good thing. "Your table is table 7. Stay there and practise first before your opponent arrives" So I took the set of balls, and made my way to table 7.

"Erm excuse me, didn't I call you tell you yesterday that you were supposed to be in long pants?"

"Oh really? I only remembered you telling me to wear a collared shirt and covered shoes."
So I phoned my mum to bring a pair of jeans down for me. I did my usual warm-up sequence. starting with long-pots. My form sucked. Kinda lowered my moral for the tourny. So my mum came to pass me my jeans, and I changed.

"All players please close the table and gather at the front counter. The tournament will commence soon"

I wasn't ready. I didn't have a choice either.

"Hey, you're playing at table 7, right?"

I turned back, standing in front of me was an 8 feet tall man. Almost the length of a pool table. He was really big sized, and I knew I was in for some deep shingz. Big people are usually some mad ownage at pool. Just like Benjamin "Sumo" See-toh. I could only manage a soft "yeah."

It was a race to 4. He won the coin toss, and was first to break. I had already set up all my cues, including the jump which I don't usually use. It shouts: Don't bother trying to snook me. I can simply jump over the obstacle. It was a wet(not dry) break, and he took the first shot of the match. He missed. I was surprised.

So I went up to table, reciting my textbook basics in my mind. Right leg one o clock, left leg parallel to cue, elbows 90 degrees, take note of pullback speed and distance, stay down on shot. My mind was flooded with information. So I pot the first ball, then the next, then the next, then the next, then the next, then the next, literally. One last solid ball left before the black. It was frozen to a striped. Complacency set in when I decided to just contact the solid ball. Never did I expect it to cost the game. All the striped balls were open, and he cleared all of them. The black included. First rack to him.

The first game is usually deciding, as it shows who's is better, and the leading player would have a better moral. I remembered a quote from pool legend Peter Goh. He once said:"Never have the mentality that your opponent is better than you, and that it is ok for you to lose. If you think that way, you are already defeated."

With that in mind, I made the break for frame 2. I have gotten into the mood already, the competition mood. My concentration and form was at its peak, and I took every chance I had seriously. Frame 2 was to me.

For the following games, I started to feel restless, and somehow I lost my concentration. I took the shots really simply, and all the basics had started to go haywire. I guess I lacked competition stamina. Eventually, I lost the race to 4.

So I went to the counter to punch for the table. Knowing that I had lost, the counter lady told me that he was a really good player, and a regular at Klassic. Klassic is where all the top players in Singapore train, and that place has a very strong competitive aura.

It was a good experience overall, and I have learnt a great deal. Competitive pool is not about being sharp and placing well, but also tons of safety play and snooking, something which I have never really been working on. I guess that's the reason for my lost, a lack of experience. I never regretted joining this competition, and it was a $10 well spent. More worth it than the orh luak I had yesterday. Make me kena Luak-over summore.

I will become a better player.

I will never give this dream up.

I decided to walk home. I reflected about the game, and the reasons why I lost. On the way home, I met old people. Then I thought about life. Why do people fight so hard all their lives, only to end up so frail, so helpless, so weak? I took my gaze off them.

I reached home, and placed my cue case at where it usually sits. I then sat down at the computer, and started to blog. It started with something like this: Today is the day of the tournament. I woke up this morning...

12:16 PM
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