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NEWS & EVENTS
Brunei duo ready for Jogjakarta challenge
Friday, September 27, 2013

The national cue sports team in a
group photo with Brunei Cue
Sports Association president
Awang Musa Hj Awang Bagol (C)
prior to their departure for the
New Hanggar International Open
Tournament in Jogjakarta,
Indonesia last night. Picture:
BT/ Yee Chun Leong

The duo of Ahmad Taufiq Murni and Hj Md Alirani Hj Besar are ready for the challenge ahead of them.

The national cueists will fly the flag for Brunei at the New Hanggar International Open Tournament in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

Their last tournament was the 5th Golden Break 9-Ball Invitational Championship 2013 in Kuala Lumpur back in August whereby both were eliminated in the last-32.

Taufiq is looking to get back on track and hopes to put up some good games at the New Hanggar Billiard.

"I'm trying to get my game back on track after the last tournament. I'm looking to get out of the first round and take it one game at a time," said Taufiq prior to departure at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas last night.

"I don't know who will be present but I know that it is going to be tough," he said.

Asked about his preparations, the 25-year-old replied: "Training, training and more training."

"I will keep playing and hopefully I'll be able to do well there," said Taufiq, who finished fifth out of 48 players at the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in South Korea back in July.

Hj Md Alirani is looking to get the best out of the competition and to improve his game further.

"I'm looking to gain more experience and exposure," said Hj Md Alirani.

"The tournament will be tough because there will be a strong field of players," he said.

"Training has been going on as normal and I feel that there has been improvement. My game is more stable now and I've managed to gain more knowledge from my last outing," he added.

National cue sports coach Lim Tat Hwe wants his charges to play to their best capabilities.

"This is going to be tougher than in KL because there are a lot more players coming from the Philippines," said Lim.

"The players have been improving after their last trip but most important is (for them to) play to their best efforts and learn more about the game,"added the coach.

A total of 128 players from Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Dubai, the Philippines, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are expected for the Sept 27 - Oct 4 competition.

Dennis Orcollo, who is ranked fourth in World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) and second in Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU), and Efren Reyes, who is 21st in the world and 27th in the APBU rankings, will feature in the competition as special guests.

The tournament offers a cash prize of US$20,000 to the winner while the runner-up will take home US$8,000.

Third-place will get US$4,000 while fourth placing will be awarded US$1,800.

Fifth to eighth place finishers will get US1,000 while those from ninth to 16th will get US$500.

Those from 17th - 32nd will receive US$200.

Present to see the team off at the airport was the president of the Brunei Cue Sports Association (BCSA) Awang Musa Hj Awang Bagol.

Courtesy from Brunei Times