Singapore v Finland Round 2
Winner to play winner of England B v Philippines
Singapore: Aloysius Yapp & Chan Keng Kwang
Finland: Mika Immonen & Petri Makkonen
Yapp wins the lag.
Frame 1: Yapp breaks, 1 in the side. Very fine cut on the 2 if he wants it. Safety leaves Finland hooked, but jump chance. Mika messes up the jump and fouls, not getting height. Layout looks fine for Singapore. The young Singapore guns are running through the layout like a hot knife through butter. They clear and go to a lead of 1-0.
Meanwhile Ted Lerner continues his socialist rant about how great government support of sports is.
Frame 2: Chan breaks dry and Finland are straight into clearing up. Mika loses the line on the 5 and Makkonen swerves and misses but leaves the 5 tricky. Yapp tries the bank, almost scratches and makes a triple. Chan misses a pretty easy 8 cut into the side. Table is tightening up. Finland clear to even it at 1-1.
Table seems to be playing slower and taking side off the rails and balls staying out of pockets more tonight. There is a crowd there tonight. That may be part of it... maybe extra humidity.
Frame 3. Makkonen breaks, not as hard as usual. 1 ball in side. Leaves a long straight 2 ball and Mika hits it firm and it grabs onto the jaws and stays there. Yapp plays an awful shot, was underdrawing from 3 to 4, but Chan checks it just enough to stay on line. Singapore wins and leads 2-1.
Frame 4: Yapp makes the 1 in the side. On the 2, but it's very hard to make. Chang plays a lovely hook safe. Mika swerves to hit it off the end rail and leaves the 2 straight on. But Yapp misses it badly. Perti makes the 2, leaves a tricky 3 but Mika makes it. Finland should be out now. Finland worked their way through the clearance, but not in the zone. 2-2
Frame 5: Mika breaks. Wing 8 ball in. Tricky on the 1.Petri makes a lovely pot and position with outside 2 rails. Mika gets too straight on the 3. Petri gets half way to the 4, still a chance. Mika makes it. Petri plays 5 to 6 perfectly, maybe shot of the day, as 6 would only go to a pocket 9 feet away. Nice clearance by Finland. They lead 3-2.
Frame 6: Makkonen almost breaks dry, but 3 balls drop in from nowhere. Mika snookered on the 3 though, so they push out. Singapore gives it back. Mika leaves the 3 open. If Singapore manages the 5 ball, they should finish..... the kids seem to disagree, but Yapp makes the 5 and comes up nice on the 6. Chan misses into the same side pocket again... it seems to be playing tight, or he's psyched out by it. Finland robs it and moves to 4-2.
Frame 7: Lost stream and missed the break, but Chan just played a terrible attempt to hook off the 2 ball. Oh, Finland broke dry and Singapore was pushing out, and got sent back in. Makkonen get a hook on the 1, Yapp will jump. He combos the 1 into the 5, very lucky and gets Chan lovely on the 1, but he caroms the 2 poorly. Yapp's safety fails and Finland should be out here. They are and lead 5-2 now.
Frame 8: Big Mak breaks dry, shooting medium speed and leaves the 1 up perfect. Chan rushes a stun shot and leaves a crap straight angle for Yapp, Yapp tries to force position but leaves a hard 4 ball. Chan makes it fine into the side and they should be out, but some tension between them. Well, Yapp not happy with Chan's silly choices mainly I think. They run out and move to 3-5.
Frame 9: Chan breaks dry and SCRATCHES. OUCH! No clusters! Finland should clear up. Mika had to make a nice 4, now a tester for Mak. He does ok, now a fine cut on the 6 which Mika plays perfectly. They clear and climb to the hill 6-3.
Frame 10: Mika slams them but it's dry. Leaves a shot on the 1 and Yapp plays a sweet draw but goes 6 inches too far. Chan plays a fine cut off the 2 for a very nice safety. Mak hits the 2 ball off 2 rails but sets it up. Lovely drag swerve by Yapp to leave Chan sweet on the 3 ball. Only the 5 should stop them. They get the 5, long 6 now. The world junior champion knocks it in but leave a 1/4 ball on the 7. He pots it clean and moves 3 rails to the 8. Yapp makes a cut but has to carom the 9, another tester for Chan. And Chan earns his wage on the 9. Singapore trail 4-6.
Frame 11: Yapp breaks. Dry. 1 going high on the side pocket now. Mika perfect on the 1. Layout is perfect and 8-9 combo looks on again. They play the 8 in the side instead of the combo and clear. Finland wins 7-4.
Yapp plays nice, but needs to stay at the table to keep in stroke I think, and maybe intimidate with his smooth and fast playing.
Colin