Rory brings back Asian Championships snooker title
PETALING JAYA: Rory Thor Chuan Leong has etched his name into the history books after claiming his maiden Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship title at the Moors Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In the final on Wednesday evening, the Malaysian cueist put up a clinical performance to overpower India's Paris Gupta 6-2 (50-5, 44-2, 8-62, 42-12, 47-40, 1-51, 36-24, 48-2).
Chuan Leong's triumph surpassed the previous Malaysian best of a runner-up finish achieved by Moh Keen Ho in 2016.
The Penang-born cueist was in sublime form throughout the knockout rounds, brushing aside Singapore's Jaden Ong (5-1), Hong Kong's Man Ming Wa (5-0), and three-time world champion Mohd Asif of Pakistan (5-2) en route to the final.
Asif had earlier beaten another Malaysian player Lim Kok Leong 5-3 in the quarter-finals.
His success in Colombo comes as a welcome boost after a challenging year, having recently lost his place on the World Snooker Tour following the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season.
Chuan Leong, who earned a two-year tour card through the Asia-Oceania Q-School in 2023, was unable to reclaim it in either of the two qualifying legs in Bangkok last month.
The Asian 6-Red crown marks a timely resurgence for Chuan Leong, who had only previously made the quarter-finals of the same tournament in 2023.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Wan Azizah calls for chess to be key in youth development
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has called for greater national ambition in chess, describing the sport as a vital platform to develop sharper, more resilient minds among young Malaysians. Officiating at the 2025 National Open Team Chess Championship at the International Youth Centre (IYC) today, the Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament said chess nurtures critical thinking and mental discipline, especially among children and teenagers. "Chess stimulates thinking and intelligence. It is not limited by age, gender or physical ability." She urged Malaysia to aim higher in international competition. "We must be bold in setting high targets for the sport's international development, including producing our first Malaysian Grandmaster — and ideally, our first female Grandmaster." Wan Azizah also said the sport could help steer youth away from harmful distractions and negative online influences. "We want young people to think critically so that they don't fall into online scams or negative activities. Chess teaches them to plan ahead, analyse and focus," she said. The four-day championship features 58 teams and 350 players, including a team from Kazakhstan and six teams representing the disabled community. Organised by the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) and Chess Hub Sdn Bhd, it remains the only open-format national team chess tournament in the country. MCF president Akram Shah Munavvar said the team-based format is aligned with global standards like the Chess Olympiad and aims to develop both grassroots and elite-level talent. "Team chess forces players to think strategically not just as individuals but as a unit. It gives them a pathway to international team events." He added that Malaysia is on the verge of producing its first Grandmasters, with rising talent like International Master Poh Yu Tian just a few steps away from earning the title. MCF executive secretary Najib Abdul Wahab said the event also marked a milestone in national support for the sport. "This is the first time both the prime minister and the first lady have attended chess events in the same month. It's a historic feat for the chess community," he said. The championship continues through the weekend at IYC.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-South Africa to test new players against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Second T20 International - South Africa v India - St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa - December 12, 2023 South Africa's Matthew Breetzke in action REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo (Reuters) -South Africa tasted long-awaited success with victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia earlier this month, but there will be several new faces for the first test against Zimbabwe that starts in Bulawayo on Saturday. Captain Temba Bavuma has not recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the five-wicket win at Lord's, while batters Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, and bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, are all rested. The latter will be available for the second test, but with seven of the XI who started at Lord's missing the series opener at the Queen's Sports Club, it will be a new-look line-up with much to prove. Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis and 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius are all young, attacking batters, and it is likely at least two of the three will play. The more experienced Lesego Senokwane could also make his international debut. The expected slow wicket means stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj and off-spinning all-rounder Prenelan Subrayen will likely both play, but firebrand 19-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who debuted against Pakistan earlier this year, could also be given a chance. Uncapped seamer Codi Yusuf is also in the squad. "I think there's a lot of guys who want to prove a point, why they're here, and how well they've played over the last couple of domestic seasons to get here," all-rounder Wiaan Mulder told reporters. "We look at ourselves as world champions. That's the standard we set for ourselves. Everybody has that in the back of their mind. We are not trying to become something new. 'The guys that are going to fill a spot or take someone like Ricks' (Rickelton) or Marco's (Jansen) place are going to put them under pressure when they come back." Zimbabwe will also be missing several of their regular players, including the injured pair of batter Ben Curran and new-ball bowler Richard Ngarava. Experienced middle-order batter and spin option Sikandar Raza has opted to play in Major League Cricket over this period. 'There's a real buzz around the squad. I think they're very excited. I'm super excited for the challenge that lies ahead and the guys are amped for it,' Zimbabwe's South African-born coach Justin Sammons said. 'They're looking forward to testing themselves and showing what they're capable of. I think they really want to make a statement over the next couple of weeks.' South Africa have won eight of their previous nine tests against Zimbabwe, with a single draw in 2001, which was also their only previous fixture in Bulawayo. (Reporting by Nick Said;Editing by Alison Williams)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Sheehan captains Lions, Pollock at number eight for Western Force tour match
Rugby Union - Ireland Captain's Run - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - August 18, 2023 Ireland's Dan Sheehan during the captain's run REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne SYDNEY (Reuters) -Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan will captain the British & Irish Lions on debut in their tour match against Western Force in Perth on Saturday, while young England loose forward Henry Pollock has been named to start at number eight. Coach Andy Farrell has completely overhauled his team with only Sione Tuipulotu and Tadhg Beirne surviving in the starting line-up from the side that lost 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin last week. Beirne moves from lock into a back row also featuring 20-year-old Pollock and openside Josh van der Flier, while Australia-born Tuipulotu shifts from outside to inside centre in a midfield partnership with Garry Ringrose. Finn Russell starts at flyhalf in his first appearance on his third Lions tour and is paired with Wales scrumhalf Tomos Williams, who made his debut off the bench against Argentina. Marcus Smith, who played at fullback against the Pumas, drops to the bench with his England teammate Elliot Daly handed the number 15 shirt. Another Australia-born player, Mack Hansen, makes his first Lions start on the right wing with James Lowe replacing Duhan van der Merwe on the left. Sheehan and his Leinster teammates Ringrose, Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Van Der Flier will all play their first Lions match at Perth Stadium, having joined the squad late after their URC Championship triumph. "Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family - so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut," Farrell said in a statement. A further four players -- lock Ollie Chessum, centre Huw Jones and props Andrew Porter and Will Stuart -- could make their Lions debut off the bench. The Force named a team studded with test players earlier on Thursday, their side reinforced at the last minute by the release from the Wallabies camp of playmaker Ben Donaldson. "We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best," Farrell added. 15–Elliot Daly, 14–Mack Hansen, 13–Garry Ringrose, 12–Sione Tuipulotu, 11–James Lowe, 10–Finn Russell, 9–Tomos Williams, 8–Henry Pollock, 7–Josh van der Flier, 6–Tadhg Beirne, 5–Joe McCarthy, 4–Scott Cummings, 3–Tadhg Furlong, 2–Dan Sheehan (captain), 1–Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16–Ronan Kelleher, 17–Andrew Porter, 18–Will Stuart, 19–Ollie Chessum, 20–Jack Conan, 21–Alex Mitchell, 22–Huw Jones, 23–Marcus Smith. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
