Back In Hong Kong 25.09.06

Hi All

Well am finally back in HK. After the Bali Open i decided to spend some more time in Jakarta with a special person who name I wont mention so I don't embarass. All I can say is that I was sad to leave Jakarta....

Some bad news after all, I have not got the spot from HK in stage 2 WPC as hoped so therefore will have to try and do the impossible and try and earn a place via stage 1 in Manila. It was tough enough last year in Taiwan where I came through but I am sure this will be tougher, but if you dont buy a ticket then you cannot win right? so lets go and see what happens..at the end of the day its only another tournament.

Lee

Bali Farewell Party 21.09.06

Hi All

Well its the farewell party tonight and almost all the players have attended. You name it they were there...Bustamente, Kuo, Chang and whole host of other big stars was there.

The night was a success organised by the ever popular Ms Morry who instigated the party and safe to say everyone was drunk and had a great time..some great dancing went on and I tell ya that Django can bop a bit hey. What a greta end to a great tournament. Must be the best open tournament I have ever participated in and I dont think anywhere in the world will match the Bali Open.

Roll on next year...

Lee

Finish 33-64 Bali Open 20.09.06

Hi All

Well eventually I finished the tournament in 33rd-64th place. Not as good as I would have hoped for as I did come here with high expectations but never the less really enjoyed the experience and definately will come back for more next year.

Will have time to enjoy more of the sunshine now...

Eventual Champion was Django for 2nd year in a row and 1st player ever to successfully defend this title and with it the winners cheque of $11K. USD.

Now we are all of to the farewell party

Bali Opening Ceremony 18.09.06

Hi All

Well tonight at 7pm it was time for the Bali Opening ceremony. It was pretty amazing scenes as a parade of dancers and flag bearers was carrying each country flag into the ceremony arena outside. All the players, guests and officials was treated to a buffet and free drinks whilst the speeches and dances was taking place.

After all the preliminaries of the ceremony pass by it was time to do the draw where each countries representative was responsible for going up the stage to pick out their own fate into the draw.

Also each country was assigned a Liason officer who was at out beckon call. This Bali Open is a truly greta tournament and already I am eager to come back and participate next year.

Time for bed as action begins tommorow.

Lee

Arriving In Bali 18.09.06

Hi All

Well I have to tell ya, never ever have I witness such great treatment for players for this Bali Open. We the players from San Miguel literally had to do nothing as everything was taken care for us from the moment we arrived at Jakarta airport to when we landed in Bali.

On landing in Bali we the players was greeted with traditional Balinese dancers and each getting a ring of flower placed around our necks and then invited to a tea room where we had drink and food waiting for us while out luggage was being attended to. It was absolutely 1st class treatment and made us feel like kings. After all luggage was collected a coach arrived taking us all to the venue where the tournaments was held.

On arrival at the venue again more greetings from the hotel organisers as all the players who came from Jakarta ESPN was greeted with photographers and glasses of Long Island tea's! It was another 5 star performance form the organisers. After all the photos we were then taken inside where we were given our rooms and itinery for the evening. So far unbelivable.

Lee

San Miguel After Party 17.09.06

Hi All

Today we attended the San Miguel after party arranged for by San Miguel for the players. Food and drink was provided to the players, staff and friends.

Tommorow Most ESPN players are off to the Bali Open. I have never been to Bali so obviously am looking forward to this tournament.

Lee

More Party 16.09.06

Hi All

Well after watching the Quarter-finals we decided it was time for some more partying into the night...

Another great night, love to tell you guys more but confidential!

Lee

Karaoke Night 15.09.06

Hi All

Well after playing today and unsuccesfully advancing to the quarter-finals, a group of us led by a pretty young lady has decided we should drown our sorrows and party in Club 36 in Jakarta, where a Karaoke room was arranged for us, roughly group of 15 and we sang the night away and danced!

The party was real great fun and I have to admit what a great bunch of people these guys on the Asian Tour are, we all had a great night out obviously fuelled with drinks and laughter. Many Thanks to out party leader Ms Morry from Indonesia. She was the life and soul of our party (well apart from me)! and really showed us a great night.

Well enough about the night...confidential what happened next!

1st Match on TV Table 15.09.06

Hi All

Well the time was up 12.30pm and my 1st match was against Indonesian No.1 player Muhammed Zulfriki who in last San Miguel Asian tour leg finished 3rd. I knew this was going to be a tough match on the TV table with the cameras rolling and in front of his home crowd.

Well I raced into a 3-1 lead without missing a shot and all looking good so far, however after moving 4-2 clear nothing else went right for me after that. It was a case of dry breaks and no shots on to go for after that. I did not miss a ball when I had a ball to shoot at in this match. I lost the match 9-4 but in fairness if I had miss balls and played bad then I would have been dissapointed but the way the match went I had no more shots to go ar after leading 4-3. The combination of dry breaks and good play form Zulfriki meant that even thought I not miss a ball meant a lost of 9-4.

Well later in the day Muhammed also beat Patrick Ooi in my group so he has 2 wins from 2. It is only groups of 3 so therefore my last match was a meaningless affair. never the less we played it like an exhibition eventually Patrick winning 9-7. well time to party abit after all my tournament has finished here.

Lee

ESPN Players Press Conference 14.09.06

Hi All

It was the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball Tour players press conference today, and you guessed it San Miguel beer was on Display! The press conference started at approx 1pm, there was the guest speeched from Indonesian President of billiards as well as Diana Chan from ESPN and representatives from San Miguel. After the conclusion of speeches from various parties, in came the traditional dancers doing some local dancing for us, during the dances the dancers was asking for volunteers and of course many did not...instead they dragged 3 from the crowd of players and yes you you guessed it i was one and like a fool had to copy the moves of the dancers on stage! It was a very embarassing moment but all for a good cause!

After such preliminaries time was up for the draw and one by one, the players picked out their own number and the draw was made. The outcome was that I was in group D with 5th seeded Patrick Ooi and Muhammed Zulfriki (the Indonesian no.1). Tommorow the tournament begins, time for some food and practise and then off to bed.

Lee

Arrived In Jakarta 13.09.06

Hi All

Today I Have just flown into Jakarta, for you who dont know exactly where is it well its in Indonesia!. It is always very exciting for me to play in a country that I have never played in Before so I am very looking forward to this ESPN Jarkarta leg of the Asian Tour.

Tommorow is the players press conference so I am just going to unpack and relax in the J - Lounge (Bar At Hotel) before getting some much needed sleep. Will keep you all informed of whats happening whilst I am here.

Lee

Back In Hong Kong! 10.09.06

Dear All

I hope that you are all well and just to let you know that I have finally arrived back in HK today at 6pm! Well aftre 12 hours on another plane it was just great to be back at a place where I now call home.

Well I wont be unpacking my things as I am only here for 2 full days before I am sue back on a plane and heading of to Jakarta and Bali for the San Miguel Asian Tour and Bali Open respectively. It has been a while since I played an event in Asia but with the Asian Games approaching in Doha in December I suppose this will be the perfect opportunity to meet some of the competitors and also get to know them before the Games. I am very much looking forward to these couple of events. Back with my favoured 9 ball I hope to do well in these events.

Well thats all for now. Will catch up on some much needed rest and will inform my friends of my progress as it happens...

For now take care...

Lee

Arrived Back In UK And Some Good News 07.09.06

Hi All

Today i arrived back in the UK. The plan was going in here to play in couple of events and ready for IPT event in London next month however like i said at the IPT players meeting this was announced cancelled so i guess i had to make some other arrangments...and guess what!

Today i checked my emails and i have been officially awarded a wildcard for the last leg of the San Miguel Asian Tour in Jakarta which is televsied on ESPN Asia from 15th-17th. This has really come out of the blue for me. Bare in mind this is the last leg means really i must make as much opportunity of this as possible.

So my schedule means i am due to fly back Hong Kong on 9th Sept and fly to Jakarta on 13th for photos, interviews and player meeting prior to the event. After the event i will be moving on to the Bali open in which i have been given a stage 2 invite into the main tournament of 96 players. Well it should be fun and no doubt i will be just be sleeping in the next few days to prepare for this event.

Well i hope to bring you great news from Jakarta and Bali....

Best Rgds

Lee

IPT Tournament Begins 04.09.06

Hi All

Well my IPT event 2 tournament has began and this is how it went.

I got off to a great start against Tang Hoa and won mys 1st match 8-5. Things looking good and one more win from my group from last 3 matches will be good enough to see me through to the 2nd day of this prestigious $3million DollardsWorld 8 Ball Open.

Well they say you are only as good as your match and that couldnt be more true here. Next up was Niels Feijen the European Number 2 and one of the best players in the world at this moment in time. Early doors it was 2-2 then after that it was all one way traffic, Niels played exceptionally well and really deserved his 8-2 win.

My 3rd match was against Jerry Calderon, and really i should have won this match. I was 5-3 up playing faultless then a absolutely 1 in a million run out from Jerry seems to have fired him up and after making it 4-5 he went on to play almost perfect 8 ball and won the match 8-5. I was absolutely stunned but what else could i do when a fellow proffessional plays like that!

Well my last chance and if i win this match i am thru..well it wasnt meant to be. The guy played like god and sometimes when your best is not good enough then it is almost satisfying to lose and knowing there isnt else much i could have done. I played worser matches and won before but no complaints this time, my opponent only missed 1 ball the whole set and ran away with the match 8-2. Well thats it i am out and looking forward to going home i guess.

IPT Players Meeting 2.10.06

Hi All

We just had the IPT players meeting. There was some good news and bad news from this meeting. The good news is that the IPT is forever getting stronger and stronger and according to Kevin Trudeau, the IPT has over 100 proposals from corperations who wants to get involved with the IPT.

The other good news is that Stanley Ho the Billionaire from Asia who owns chains of casino's in Macah has acquired the IPt for around $170 Million however Kevin Trudean will stay as CEO for next 5 years and hopefully longer. It is amazing where IPT is so far considering its infancy stage. It can only get better it seems.

The bad news is that the IPT event due to be held in London (UK) in October has been officially confirmed as cancelled. The reason is due to the venue not considered appropriate for the event and that it is too late to find an alternative. The good news is that the players will still get the minimum prize money for this event so i assume that is around $3000 each. Personally i was very dissapointed as this means one less event for players to earn money in order to add to the prize money earnt by each player which determines the top 100 who keep their tour card for next year and with it a guranteed income of $100K!

Some news about the tournament is that Ronnie O'Sullivan has an ear infection so had to pull out through sickness from the event. His place has been taken by the friendly R Luat from Phillipines.

Wel the tournament starts for me on Monday, i am hoping to do my best and let see what happens. Have decided to make some changes to my game for this tournament so lets see what happens..

Keep you posted

Lee

Arrived In Reno For IPT Event 2

Hi All

Well i have finally arrived from Manchester UK in Reno Via Atlanta. At last after 20+ hours i have finally arrived in my Hotel Room. I have decided to room alone from now on and take things perhaps a bit more serious than i have done previously. I am starting to do things more professionally and changing a few routines.

Well the 1st Prize of this event is $500,000 so i thought i better prepare for this one properly hey!

I actually enjoy my own space with my Laptop and maybe playing just a little Poker in my Room over the internet. This relaxes me alot and makes my brain work as i am competing against others online!

Well the groups have been drawn and in my group it looks like this:

Niels Feijen (European No.1)
Tang Hoa (Qualifier)
Alejandro Carvalho
Jerry Calderon
Lee Chenman

This is pretty even group but its tough. If i play well i hope to geth thru.

I keep you informed....

Best Rgds

Lee