check

i never thought i would play another game of darts, let alone write a post about it. but here i am.

derwin took over the captaincy of the hall darts team, and to be honest, three years of darts is quite tiring, so i had planned to just be a mentor of sorts in this revamp (most of the men's team has graduated). i enjoy helping the new members and refining the game for yixuan, sharon and lizhen, and started coming faithfully for trainings.

as fate would have it, we eventually had about four ready male players, so i decided to be the fifth and last in the IH squad. although it was more hands-off for me this year and i would let the others play if possible, it turned out to be my most fulfilling IH darts season over the four years.

we actually started the competition with a 2-0 run, beating halls 11 and 7. yixuan's on really hot form and finally we have guys who can win.

Hall 3

2-1

i was away the morning for a volleyball match, a bit of tennis training, and coached the wkwsci futsal girls. when i came back i was thrown into a match with powerhouse hall 3. but somehow there was a nice calm about it. either im old or i dont really care. i just wanted to see where my level is after all these years.

fact is, not bad at all. despite feeling lethargic in recent trainings, matchday seems to be my buddy. i checked in with my first dart and started running down with an average of 45-60 points.

he then checked in with his first dart and although i looked the stronger to check out, i rued the missed opportunity as he finished. it was level and i worried a little. i didnt want a lead to become a defeat.

but psychologically i was on top. the lad seems inexperienced, fearful and quiet. i was talking and i think he was a tad affected. although i checked in really late this rubber set i kept my cool and finished him off.

although i thought qisheng's board was fiercer as his opponent systematically undid him, apparently our umpire was quite in awe of my board. he kept going "wah" and "woh" and had a shell-shocked face throughout. for good reason, i suppose. except for some forgettable periods, my opponent and i generally served up awesome darts play. my most glorious moment of the match was when i was miles away from my opponent, who was checking out, and i cut it considerably to a 50-point gap from him. all three present knew what it takes, but probably only one believed. and i hit a bull's eye.

Hall 8

1-2

my worst performance this season and one that reminded me of my standard two years ago. the opponent's not good, but beat me comfortably. he almost took all three sets if not for his surprising inability (although it looked intentional) to check out in the last and my sally win.

of course, it didnt help we had a poor umpire who's obviously not familiar with the game and cant count. but my opponent was truly 'the icing on the cake'. im a fan of mental games, my teammates know it, but he really screwed me up. he would exclaim his 'check' in his thick condescending Indo accent, and whenever i missed what i wanted, he would go "No!". what the fuck, seriously.

this match also provided my most ridiculous moment. i was trying for probably 10 rounds to hit a 1-double, but was nowhere close. so i ludicrously went two steps further from the board for my throw, and it amazingly landed right outside my desired spot.

Hall 9

2-1

if that was my worst performance this season, this was my most irrepressible performance all these years.

probably the best or second-best player from 9, the legendary recreation hall. yet i was in control through the match. standards were so high check-outs always happened when both of us were trying to. in all three sets, there was a first-dart check-in (i delivered the first, he the next two).

in one of the best single performances, within nine darts i was on 101. i couldn't exactly believe myself. most times, people haven't even checked in after nine darts. i then checked out smoothly.

like a dampener, i was checking out first in the second set and ready to wrap things up, but he did it before me.

will i throw this great opportunity away? although i was feeling calm knowing i had nothing to lose, disaster struck and i couldn't check in. but, as if some deity came to my help, the poor fella couldn't check out and i watched with sympathy as his darts kept landing outside his desired spots. i caught up soon enough and the moment that really told me i'd win was when i stopped at the exact double he wanted. i felt it surging through my veins. "i will hit it before you and stick it in your face". it didnt happen soon but luck was always on my side.

against a truly outstanding opponent, a match i finally felt i was one of IH's top darts players.

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before our final round against hall 5, we stood a chance of the quarter finals. if we beat them, we would sneak under their noses for the final spot. unfortunately, our neighbours are really strong in darts this year and whipped us 5-0.

derwin, qisheng, shaoming, zhixiong, yixuan, sharon and lizhen. i am fucking proud of you all.

i would like to think the overall performance is the result of my nurturing over the years. but im not sure. whatever's the case, let's wish many more good years for hall 4 darts.