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2014 King's Cup Commentary: Round 17

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, Round 15, Round 16, Round 17, Round 18, Round 19, Round 20, Round 21, Round 22, Round 23, Round 24, Round 25, Round 26, Round 27, Round 28, Round 29, Final Round 1, Final Round 2.

Round 17 Auto-Commentary

Panupol Sujjayakorn (THA) remains in the lead for the 9th consecutive round, 14.5-2.5 +1504. Nigel Richards (NZL) is 1.5 games behind at 13-4 +1598, remaining steady at #2 for 9 rounds. Odette Carmina Rio (PHL) is +1091, on a 5-game winning streak, remaining unchanged at #3. Worasit Suksansumran (THA) is 2.5 games behind the leader at 12-5 +346, #4 rising from #6. Wanchana Jirapitikul (THA) is +210, on a 5-game winning streak, #5 rising from #7.

High Win: Peter Kougi (AUS) 531-318 vs. Ken Smith (USA). Low Win: Dinna Lim (SGP) 356-304 vs. Kedarnath Awati (IND). High Loss: Charnwit Sukhumrattanaporn (THA) 452-462 vs. Marlon Prudencio (PHL). Low Loss: Arun Methaset (THA) 277-393 vs. Sanmi Odelana (NGA).

This morning, we move upstairs to the 2,500 square metre (25,000 square foot) Bangkok Convention Centre (BCC) Hall on the 5th floor of Central Plaza Ladprao. As in past years, we are on a central riser completely surrounded by few thousand schoolchildren densely crammed together at their game tables. There are another few thousand filling the nearby 4,000 square metre (40,000 square foot) Sky Hall, making for some logistical difficulties that thankfully do not directly affect us.

Several players were late arriving, even though the schedule was announced months ago, and verbal reminders made and printed copies posted all day yesterday. We have a fairly loose schedule today though, so those that wish to should be able to make up their games during breaks.

Nigel Richards (NZL) faces Panupol Sujjayakorn (THA) for the second time in this round, in the annotated game. He loses again, but by a closer score this round, 440-468. Panupol bingoes EAGER(L)Y, GENLOCK and BARONIES to Nigel's EROSIVE, INSPIRE and MAGnETO in this blowout game.

We take a one-hour break next for the Welcome Ceremony. We get to watch this year's video again, along with some news footage from the visit by our royal patron earlier in the week. A group of dancers perform onstage, followed by the magician from the reception last night, this time performing larger tricks involving making his assistant disappear. The chair of the organizing committee, from event sponsor Brand's, formally welcomes everyone, and thanks a representative of each participating country with a gift basket of Brand's products.