KEGS World CUP - Group Stage Round 3 of 3

What an exciting conclusion to the groups stage this week as we get ready for the semi-finals next week.

Here are the KEGS World CUP - Group Stage Round 3 of 3 results with Cup Classes progress.

On right are final Group Stage results and Cup Class achieved by each Country/Team.

The  Knockout table on the left shows regrouped teams for Semi-Finals in each Cup Class in pairs order of both semi final matches to be played for each class. 

The numbering shows final Groug stage ranking of all paticipation, with each class arranged in pairs so highest ranked plays the lowest ranked in its class and 2nd ranked plays 3rd . e.g in the plate 5 plays 8 and 6 plays 7  

Round Scores

Here are the detailed scores for each round for each match showing the host team scores

Here are the Semi Final Matches for each Cup Class as now fixtured to be played 

All teams will play at a neutral venue shown. Host Venues will provide the normal refreshments and food and the forts named team will act as host for match c-ordination and Cerros scoring 

Good luck everyone for the knockout semi-finals, where everyone is in and everyone plays and all teams play in a neutral venue.

~000~

As always we will leave you with a few words from Our Sponsors

Please don't forget they help us function. They actually cost you nothing for things you need to buy anyway. They need our business too.

Thailand Pool Tables who have been especially generous this season with a significant sponsorship contribution. Please help us repay them in kind when you want some new equipment. 

Our Hosting Sponsors:

Take a look at their What's on the Offer page

Social Facilities & Equipment

• Club 15 has a fully equipped disco that can be booked for nightclub style parties.  
• Sportsman has a fully equipped live lounge available for large events and shows. 
• Sportsman supplies equipment, tables and re-clothing  Call Pao on 0804868465 

KEGS World CUP - Group Stage Round 2 of 3

This week KEGS World CUP saw all teams aim to achieve a highest possible scores On Monday the focus to just get 20 points and on Wednesday to be first to get 17 for the match win was overtaken by the round robin goal of achieving the highest possible lead to secure a place in the CUP playoff  or next highest class.

On Monday one team found adding the numbers together was still not intuitive and another on Wednesday was unsure about how the tie-break works, But neither was an issue as others quickly helped out to explain via the Captian LINE so they could complete for their matches. As we know scoring is slightly different for a knockout series. With no cumulative ladder, so we simply add the metrics together to decide a winner as we go.

To restate: Monday is still played for 23 game points in scored sets with a total of 15 set points and Wednesday still a race to 17.  If you don't have an aggregate score sheet for Monday use the normal one and write the totals on the blank space. Remember Monday and Wednesday has a tiebreaker at 19 and 16 respectively with  3 games played for the extra point. The varied format for Monday is 8BD 9BD after a toss for the break and 3rd choice if needed. For Monday Cerros, just post sets and the total points. On Wednesday post games won and lost. 

Here are the progress results for round 2 

You could be forgiven for being confused, but yes, the World Cup is still continuing in Bangkok. It's our very own KEGS World Cup.

This week was the second round of the Group stage that on Monday saw England, Argentina, Spain, and Panama move into the first-class position as CUP contenders, On Wednesday it is England, Columbia, Morocco, and the USA.

Next week promises a flashpoint of events as all 35 countries try to push the standing teams out or qualify for the next best level in the Semi-Finals knockout rounds. That's for the CUP, PLATE, BOWL SPOON or POT.

KEGS World CUP - Group Stage Round 1 of 3

This week our very own KEGS World CUP series got off to a really great start to fit in well with FIFA. Mixing metaphors is now a norm with each team given or adopting a country of their choice.

The world FIFA CUP did get priority so we saw several teams reorganizing which has also meant some tweaking of next round matches. Somehow without the aid of technology using just common sense, it all seemed to work out really well. Thanks, everyone for being patient and enjoying figuring out together how to make it work  Like a jigsaw puzzle it is as much fun as figuring out what makes our matches so enjoyable, no matter who we draw.

A couple of late entries covered the bases of the shuffling so everyone still got a game. That saw SPM Mates as new team and Leftovers as a one-off on their way to find a home. Day and Night, like the ameba, also split its nucleic acid structure to represent both Costa Rica and Uruguay, The then played against each other, before taking on the world. Like latin twins, they might both look the same, but the stronger DNA of Costa Rica won. 

It was pleasing to see North Korea represented too. Kim Jong-un went retro and lost a load of weight for the events, but his button is still quite big. They were surprised however when Brazil got a lucky shot to give them a spanking.

In a prelude to what was expected later in the week the Monday England team left Portugal hung out to dry.

In another great faceoff which started on Wednesday and did not conclude for 24 hours until Thursday evening, saw Germany just beat Canada in a marathon that went to an advantage tiebreaker. The Canada Wednesday team who started out well in a secret transformed Bosnian styled club in the upper Fifteenth street and then moving to a German hide-out in the piazza, before migrating to Croatia to learn how to play extra time.

Argentina on Monday, as always, was sporting and still managed to get the Germans into a corner.

One upset was the Belgium team who on the country road on Wednesday after their match, went a bit Crazy to break with their normal silence when they were beaten by Columbia. As a small but formidable country, Belgium had already got a bit lost in Monday in Russia who was quite Ruthless too.

More anecdotal sidelights include: America's Darkside being in a pickle in the traffic until Thursday when it finally showed its true colors, They had an advantage because England's Liver was not functioning that well after the 4am finish of the FIFA match on Wednesday. For some, who after three generations of waiting for what England hoped would be a homecoming, it left a bit of SOL, so we won't talk about that. 

The moonshine in Morocco was an also bit too full on for the Philippines hustlers The Mexicans too who are used to hot climates had their sunglasses still in the moonshine too. We did hear Morocco complaining about the rough roads in Mexico as they were not used to being bounced out of potholes. 

Thailand on Wednesday also kept in touch with a goal in the last half to beat the Leftovers team, which was formed at 7:45 when a glitch was discovered in the fixture. Thay had no time get proper papers, so they were classified as Homeless. That Thailand win also made up for Spanish rat pack, who got loose and overran Thailand on Monday. 

On Monday as we saw the Japanese day Break Sun over the Costa Rica that made Day from Night. 

Moody's had also rated Panama as BB. But despite hitting a few icebergs in Iceland, which was rated AA, those who took the punt on the BB odds got a good payout. 

Sweden, was cool too even when they knew they had to go home after an emergency call on Wednesday; but they still played on. Thay said they really liked the South Park Koreans and surprisingly the butterfly effect was what carried Sweden to its Monday victory. 

I guess that's all folks. If we missed anyone, you can make up your own story. 

For the less literary-local knowledge-agile who follow us around the world,, my bet is you won't understand a word of this, so here are the scores in tabular form. You can also just look at the web. 

http://www.sukhumvitsocialpool.com/p/cup-series.html

~000~

As always we will leave you with a few words from Our Sponsors

Please don't forget they help us function. They actually cost you nothing for things you need to buy anyway. They need our business too.

Thailand Pool Tables who have been especially generous this season with a significant sponsorship contribution. Please help us repay them in kind when you want some new equipment. 

Our Hosting Sponsors:

Take a look at their What's on the Offer page

Social Facilities & Equipment

• Club 15 has a fully equipped disco that can be booked for nightclub style parties.  
• Sportsman has a fully equipped live lounge available for large events and shows. 
• Sportsman supplies equipment, tables and re-clothing  Call Pao on 0804868465 

Round 14 Summer 2018 MONDAY FINAL PLACES

Monday Mixed Red Competition 

In the Monday Mixed Red competition final last night, a great battle took place between two Hustlers gladiators. Hustlers Fun and Ruthless Hustlers went head to head on the last round in a "To the death winner takes all" match. The game was a roller coaster and went down to the last few frames, with Hustlers Fun the victors. What a night and a great end to the season with Rat Pack also a close finisher just one match behind in 3rd place. This winner circle picture says it all, as you can see from the winners' smiles and the pained look on the faces of those slain. 

We need to acknowledged a few others too for their efforts.  Sport Corner and Country Road came up from the Blue division this season and Cool Bar, Breaker Sun and Am's joined our league. All 5 gave it thier all in brilliant efforts to try to unsettle the traditional leaders. Am's bar who took over a Red slot is in the eyes of most, first on the best of best social teams, Its a great pity they cannot continue, which they assure me is temporary and not because of their place. 

Monday 8 Ball Competition 

In the Monday 8 ball competition in round 13 we saw the ladder clearly unchangeable, with the fantastic battle that saw "Sportsman Alco" win over "Pickled Liver" to set the final season positions "Moonshine" who took up a well deserved third place in the trophy slots  Early season drops leaving byes was a shame; But if you put to the side the Trophy Group, you will see those remaining, Sportsman BB, Lucky shots and Ice Breakers  all ended up being place holders in the Contenders Group. The experiment to add the 8 Ball division this season, it seems, was a great success.

Monday Mixed Blue Competition 

In the Monday Mixed Blue competition, Butterfly Fun along with Day and Night Keep in Touch, and Hangout reconstituted, all came in new this season, to show us some tricks we thought we already knew. In our formative days, we started as a drinkers league and later forged a solid notion that as social culture SSPL is also about playing well together. All our new teams have done that in spades.

Butterfly Fun who play for fun too, at the same time kept The Gents and Hideaway at bay. Both these seasoned winners in SSPL defended well in the very close "any one can win" last few rounds, Last night saw Butterfly cement top place in the deciding final match with a win over Club 15 who never give up and took them to the wire. Well done all three and those who tried to knock them off.

It is noteworthy, that for the first time in SSPL creation, we had 2 Monday teams finishing equal on matches and games won. That meant we had to revert to a count-back on sets points won. That gave Club 15 the 5th place over Sportsman Pot Shots. Club 15 are delighted and now understand even more, the importance of winning sets, which like games,  also count for the season. In the end if that is all too complicated,  just enjoy playing and let the tacticians figure it out. Its just a game and just about being fair so we can all enjoy it.

But philosophy aside Pot shots on the other hand are kicking themselves that they did not win just one more game during the season; or even last night when they did so well against Hideaway. Their last minute rush was all too late and Club 15 deserve their place as a being clearly more consistent.

It was tight all season all the way and just wonderful to see the ebb and flow of tactics and talent.

Summary 

Overall the delightful camaraderie made the experience without doubt one of our best ever socially competitive seasons, with absolutely no issues.With all teams focused on enjoying the challenge of playing each other, everyone is to be congratulated for getting a place in the final SSPL ranking.

Final Monday Ladder 

Here is the full table of results for round 14 Monday. See live web for any deep detail. The top teams are all clear but before we formally declared all places, captains are giving it a final once over. Three cheers to all, and here's to the winners and all the teams who helped them get there.

Wednesday Matches still to Come later this week 

Yes the band is still playing while we hold back the fat lady to sing and signal the end of the performance. Wednesday final matches are still to come this week, and final positions are not certain by any short straw. This exciting position sees 2nd, 3rd and 4th places still up for grabs. There is also a potential for a play off to decide 2nd place. If that happens all shore leave will be cancelled for two lucky teams who will get to answer one more challenge.

CUP Series 

The series also starts Next week on Monday. Sorry no rest for the weary but we need that extra mile to prove our worth or maybe to just enjoy being formidable.

As most of our 38 teams would already know,  to complete the season we will run the CUP series to determine best of over all champions by class. Todd Guest who is CUP co-coordinator has already posted the details internally and they are all now on the web

But its not always about playing Pool but it gives us an excuse to enjoy some social activity too.  Last Thursday we had a very successful event at Hideaway when, we did a draw of who will play who and where first  to kick off the series. Yes it was about pool but the pool table was cover in food so that makes it social yes?

With a  no-handicap, no seeding  model the aim and design is to break down the so called Gold, Red and Blue color classes to get the whole league mixing and playing together more.

Overall after a settling in time for people to get drinks and some food and say hello it then took about 17 minutes to overview how it will work with the new scoring and ranking, before a rapid fire fan-fair style draw got under way involving all teams that was all done by 8PM. We even streamed it to reach the wider group who could not come and we were all amazed after that it had worked so well too.

It was a great deal of fun that somehow had many of the 30 + still there late into the evening talking about it and much more just enjoying. Not surprisingly were the headaches the next day too.

All 36 teams now participating will all qualify in some form in one or the next class with a 3 week round robin played in groups. This is then followed by a semi where after everyone is re-ranked by class to they play a knockout in a neutral venue so the 2 left in each play off in a final at Sportsman and Breakers for respective Monday and Wednesday Cups. All Teams have also adopted a country .

In keeping with that theme and the format we are calling it the SSPL KEGS World CUP.

The fixture and a record of proceedings and more is on its own  tab we called CUP Series