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Back to 2011 King's Cup Live Coverage

2011 King's Cup Commentary: Round 11

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Go to: 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, Final Round 1, Final Round 2, Final Round 3.

I made the first of a few announcements about tomorrow's start time. For the record, we are playing in Royal Paragon Hall on the fifth floor of this complex, with clocks starting at 9:00. Players are encouraged to arrive at the Siam Paragon complex by about 8:30 to give themselves time to find the only entrance that is open at that hour (if you are facing the mall from the main street, it is at that far right at ground level, not SkyTrain level). Take the very busy glass elevators to the fifth floor, follow the crowds to the far end of the floor to the entrance to the Hall, then turn right as soon as you can to go through to the even larger room. We'll be playing on the central riser. You can probably make it from street level in fifteen minutes, if you're pushy.

After making the announcement in English, I asked Kunihiko Kuroda (JPN) if he remembered the directions from last year, and to make sure that all the Japanese players knew the directions. Being an obsessive cinema fan, he clearly remembered the hall's location: next to the IMAX theatre.

Wanting to make sure I got our data entry person's name spelled correctly, I look up Visan Vongthanasunthorn in the NASPA player database and find he is listed twice, and in neither case was his name spelled correctly. I asked him how to spell it, then got to talking about how he ended up with a NASPA rating in the first place. He was in the Thai contingent that included Amnuay Ploysangngam (THA) and Ravee that went to the 1994 National SCRABBLE Championship in Los Angeles, coincidentally the only time I've ever been able to play in that event. While I was pulling my hair out trying unsuccessfully to beat Mike Baker for the top prize money in Division 2, all the Thai players were sitting back watching David Gibson run away with a four-game lead over the field in Division 1. Visan still keeps the cheque that Gibson gave him after the event, as part of his gracious gesture thanking everyone for helping him get to his first Nationals win.

I also learned that I never met the Thai players in my daily walks to the Thai Place (HEPATICAL# CALIPHATE) restaurant with Adam Logan and Steven Alexander, because they were getting even better Thai food delivered by local friends and family.

Back to the present. Komol Panyasophonlert (THA) wins yet again, this time big, 513-396 against Charae Worapojpisut (THA) at Board 1. Alastair Richards (AUS) loses to Siu Hean Cheah (SGP) and slips to three games behind the undefeated Komol; Charnrit Khongthanarat (THA) and Odette Carmina Rio (PHL) manage to win to trail by two games. Komol and Odette are the only undefeated players today.