Ak Md Saiful Azri Pg Roslee makes a shot.Pictures: BT/Zamri ZainalJason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWANSaturday, December 5, 2009BRUNEI made it a hat-trick of wins in the cue sports event at the 3rd Borneo Games when Ak Md Saiful Azri Pg Roslee edged Ahmad Taufiq Murni 11-10 in a lively 9-ball singles category final yesterday.
Ak Md Saiful Azri’s third gold medal in as many categories, he beat Ahmad Taufiq 9-6 in the final of the 8-ball singles on Wednesday at the Billiards & Snooker Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
He also won the 9-ball doubles competition on Monday when he teamed up with Ahmad Taufiq to beat Sarawak.
The Sultanate has now won all three cue sports events at the Games, a fact all the more impressive considering that Ak Md Saiful Azri and Ahmad Taufiq competed in all the events in comparison to Sarawak and Sabah which fielded different players in the three categories.
“Of course I am very happy to have won Brunei all the events, especially since this is the first time cue sports is being contested at the Games,” said Ak Md Saiful Azri yesterday.
“I also feel very happy to have beaten Ahmad Taufiq since he played very well.
“He is a tough opponent and the final was a close game right up to 8-8,” he added.
It was a close and entertaining decider, with Ahmad Taufiq winning the first match and Ak Md Saiful Azri the second.
They would go on to win alternate racks until Ak Md Saiful Azri won the 16th rack to even the scores at 8-8 and take the next two racks to make it 10-8.
Ahmad Taufiq won the next two racks but faltered in the 21st rack when he did not get a look at the 1-ball after he broke and had to push out.
Safety play by both players ensued and after Ak Md Saiful Azri snooped Ahmad Taufiq, he went on to clear the table after the latter fouled.
“It is disappointing to have lost both finals,” said Ahmad Taufiq.
“It’s a real pity but I guess silver is alright too,” he added.
Ak Md Saiful Azri defeated Sabah’s Chong Jhun Heung 9-8 to reach the championship match while Ahmad Taufiq beat Sarawak’s Kang Seng Kwan 9-3 to book his berth in the final.
Chong went on to beat Kang 9-8 to win bronze.
The medal were awarded in the prize-giving ceremony held straight after the final.
The Brunei Times