Passing of Raist Chin aka Titlistsucker

Words cannot explain how the story of Raist touched me when Tate posted it awhile back. His courage was second to none and I'll always remember that phenomenal story. The world needs more people like Raist. I'm genuinely mourning his passing but I find solace in the fact that he's no longer in pain and he's no longer relegated to a hospital bed longing to do what he loved to do... shoot pool.

My condolences to his family and his close friends. May he rest in peace surrounded by all the cues and pool tables he could ever want and the ability to play as much as he wants.

Thank you Raist for being such an inspiration.
 
inspirational young man

Raist, his family, and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. AzBilliards has truly lost a good one in him. We will miss him dearly.
 
My condolence to his girlfriend and family. We've been friends for 7 years. He is always a nice gentleman and an avid cue collector. Gosh he is only 35 years old.
 
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Timberly said:
Words cannot explain how the story of Raist touched me when Tate posted it awhile back. His courage was second to none and I'll always remember that phenomenal story. The world needs more people like Raist. I'm genuinely mourning his passing but I find solace in the fact that he's no longer in pain and he's no longer relegated to a hospital bed longing to do what he loved to do... shoot pool.

My condolences to his family and his close friends. May he rest in peace surrounded by all the cues and pool tables he could ever want and the ability to play as much as he wants.

Thank you Raist for being such an inspiration.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind words Timberly.

He faced his life and his death with the same courage and matter-of-fact attitude. He was only 33.

To give you an idea of what Raist was all about, I am posting this e-mail. It is painful for me to read it and difficult to comprehend it. He suffered for 9 more months, underwent amputations, and chose to die earlier so that his family wouldn't suffer the financial burden. The last few months he couldn't hold a cue.

Please read this. Raist, if this was meant to be personal, I just can't hold it back. Please forgive me. People deserve to know what you were all about.



March 13, 2006




Hi Chris,

Thanks for the info on the Palmer. this cue grows on me so probably i will keep it :) .

well AZ is very addictive i would say.. if i would to stay away i doubt it be for too long a period of time.. keke

My health now is more or less stabilised. Frankly i do not know how long more the road is gonna go... when i was diagnosed with bone cancer in mar i was only given 6 months by doctors. they suggested hemipelvectomy which entails hacking the leg off with part of the pelvis. that would gave me an extra 12-18mths. This type of cancer is one of the most potent...most die within 18months. i weighted my options, and noting that i am orphaned from 20, and have no family, only a brother and 2 sisters (they are in their late 40s) with teen kids... i figured that the 100000USD surgery procedure, plus the additional stress of having my siblings taking care an invalid for a year is too much for me. Hence i never went for the procedure, nor chemo. i did some intense radiation though they were only to relieve my pain... i also spent a couple of months in a church retreat recuperating... So far ,apart from intense pain at times at the leg, controlled by ever growing amt of morphine i did alright...
Anyway i cant thing too much now..i keep myself cheerful and indulge in a little cue collecting for my wants..

My love of billiards began when i was 13, and i was pretty selftaught (hence the books) i started playing snooker and when i was 17 i was making 70s breaks. then i took a diploma in electronics and played less n less..its difficult to be good without spending the 4-8 hours daily at the table.. at 21 i joined the navy, and went sailing for 6 years. As pool was more popular at the ports of call i was visiting, i started getting interested in pool... also it was less demanding on technique and practise and sharpness, all which can only be achieved if one spend 8 hours on a snooker player..Pool has only began popularity in 97-98, and i was one of the pioneers playing it in Singapore.. by 2000 there was a pool boom here, and i became one of the better players in Singapore. i achieved pretty decent results in pool tournaments, and got ranked as one of the top 16 players in Singapore.. i also won the 8 ball league in 2002 and was semi in 2003..
i was always pretty vocal with how the whole game was run and i got into the bad books of the association. in a fit of anger i boycotted all state run competitions. i also got barred from playing all pub tournaments in 2003 and 2004 as i was top 16.
i was only allowed to play any pub tournaments late 2004 when i was finally ousted out of the top 64 list...
i would say i am a excellent 8 ball player..though actually 9 ball is more my cup of tea.. i spend many a nights playing money games in dangy poolhalls and sometimes make do with only 1-2 hours sleeps.. in the day time i was a successful sales engineer selling Radars and GPS, and even had the money to drive a heavily mod honda, own expensive cues, and own a private condominium (80% of singaporeans live in public housing estates).. all without any handouts from anyone..

but well things came crashing down in Mar 2005 .. but i managed realign my focus.. now i feel best doing charity work in my free time... and of course..cues..

i am 32 now, everyday is a bonus, and i guess its quality, not quantity of life that matters.. Glad to have known u...

Bgrds
Raist
 
Thank you for sharing Tate. A continuance of reaffirmation from the story you posted that I mentioned. His courage and selflessness... a modern day hero IMO. I'm jealous that I didn't know Raist on a personal level but genuinely grateful to know his story. Thank you.
 
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TATE said:
Thank you for the kind words Timberly.

He faced his life and his death with the same courage and matter-of-fact attitude. He was only 33.

To give you an idea of what Raist was all about, I am posting this e-mail. It is painful for me to read it and difficult to comprehend it. He suffered for 9 more months, underwent amputations, and chose to die earlier so that his family wouldn't suffer the financial burden. The last few months he couldn't hold a cue.

Please read this. Raist, if this was meant to be personal, I just can't hold it back. Please forgive me. People deserve to know what you were all about.



March 13, 2006




Hi Chris,

Thanks for the info on the Palmer. this cue grows on me so probably i will keep it :) .

well AZ is very addictive i would say.. if i would to stay away i doubt it be for too long a period of time.. keke

My health now is more or less stabilised. Frankly i do not know how long more the road is gonna go... when i was diagnosed with bone cancer in mar i was only given 6 months by doctors. they suggested hemipelvectomy which entails hacking the leg off with part of the pelvis. that would gave me an extra 12-18mths. This type of cancer is one of the most potent...most die within 18months. i weighted my options, and noting that i am orphaned from 20, and have no family, only a brother and 2 sisters (they are in their late 40s) with teen kids... i figured that the 100000USD surgery procedure, plus the additional stress of having my siblings taking care an invalid for a year is too much for me. Hence i never went for the procedure, nor chemo. i did some intense radiation though they were only to relieve my pain... i also spent a couple of months in a church retreat recuperating... So far ,apart from intense pain at times at the leg, controlled by ever growing amt of morphine i did alright...
Anyway i cant thing too much now..i keep myself cheerful and indulge in a little cue collecting for my wants..

My love of billiards began when i was 13, and i was pretty selftaught (hence the books) i started playing snooker and when i was 17 i was making 70s breaks. then i took a diploma in electronics and played less n less..its difficult to be good without spending the 4-8 hours daily at the table.. at 21 i joined the navy, and went sailing for 6 years. As pool was more popular at the ports of call i was visiting, i started getting interested in pool... also it was less demanding on technique and practise and sharpness, all which can only be achieved if one spend 8 hours on a snooker player..Pool has only began popularity in 97-98, and i was one of the pioneers playing it in Singapore.. by 2000 there was a pool boom here, and i became one of the better players in Singapore. i achieved pretty decent results in pool tournaments, and got ranked as one of the top 16 players in Singapore.. i also won the 8 ball league in 2002 and was semi in 2003..
i was always pretty vocal with how the whole game was run and i got into the bad books of the association. in a fit of anger i boycotted all state run competitions. i also got barred from playing all pub tournaments in 2003 and 2004 as i was top 16.
i was only allowed to play any pub tournaments late 2004 when i was finally ousted out of the top 64 list...
i would say i am a excellent 8 ball player..though actually 9 ball is more my cup of tea.. i spend many a nights playing money games in dangy poolhalls and sometimes make do with only 1-2 hours sleeps.. in the day time i was a successful sales engineer selling Radars and GPS, and even had the money to drive a heavily mod honda, own expensive cues, and own a private condominium (80% of singaporeans live in public housing estates).. all without any handouts from anyone..

but well things came crashing down in Mar 2005 .. but i managed realign my focus.. now i feel best doing charity work in my free time... and of course..cues..

i am 32 now, everyday is a bonus, and i guess its quality, not quantity of life that matters.. Glad to have known u...

Bgrds
Raist
Click to expand...


Tate.... Thank you for sharing this email with us. Although i did not personally know or ever talk with Raist it has given me a pretty good insight into what kind of person he is/was. If only in this world there were more people like him. This world would be a much better place to live. Rest in peace Raist and always take a fair game in heaven. Go with Gods speed and spot him the breaks.................mike
 
Rest in peace Raist!

your family will deffinatly be in my prayers...

in your short 32 years.. you touched alot of lives..

we will always remember you!

chris
 
My heart is truly heavy. I will always remember Raist as having great courage and grace. He is now free of the pain that attempted to bind him...may his spirit forever soar.

Lisa
 
What bittersweet news. We are all saddened by his passing, of course... but take comfort in the fact that he is now at rest, and no longer suffering.

Raist was one of the greats here on the boards. He will be missed by us all.

Rest in peace, Raist. We love ya.

Rat
 
My deepest sympathy and may Raist rest in peace. He will always be here in spirit as he was such a great part of the AZ family.
He will be truly missed by all of us...
His long battle of pain is over.
Murf
 
May his family find peace at this trying time. God bless Raist, thankfully he no longer suffers his horrible disease.

Peace, JBK
 
I got to know Raist in 2002 in a pool hall which I went to frequently.

He was a great guy to talk to about cues and he educated me quite a lot about the game and cues as well.
Back in those days(not that I am much better than he was currently), I was not up to his standards of play and could only admire his games from far. On the other hand, he was not proud even with his high standard of play. He often taught me quite a number of useful shots which can be crucial in a game.

I was taken aback when a friend told me about Raist's illness. I simply could not understand why such a nice guy could be taken down by cancer.
Maybe it is better for him to leave this world, given the amount of pain he was going through.

Rest in peace, Raist. You will be remembered in the pool circuit in Singapore.
 
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