Heartbreak again for Gilchrist and Chan
Heartbreak for Gilchrist and Chan as Myanmarese duo snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
All that stood between him and breaking his personal curse of three straight bronzes with a gold was a mere 10 points. But it just wasn't meant to be.
It was heartbreak for the Singapore pair of Peter Gilchrist and Chan Keng Kwang, after they fell to Myanmar's Aung Htay and Min Si Thu Tun 3-2 in the men's English billiards doubles event at the OCBC Arena yesterday.
Gilchrist and Chan were cruising 2-0 and looked to finally win the gold medal that has eluded the former, but the Myanmarese pair clawed back to win the next two frames and even the odds at 2-2.
The Singapore aces had a sizeable lead at 90-48 in the final frame, but one odd shot was all their opponents needed to capitalise and secure the gold.
Speaking to The New Paper after his agonising loss, Gilchrist said: "I thought we were cruising, but one odd shot and then you just don't get the rub of the green anymore.
"But this is billiards. I've had a lot of success, so you just have to take the rough with the smooth."
He jokingly added: "There's no point crying about it. Even though I'll probably go to my room now and cry."
FATIGUE
The same afternoon, Gilchrist and Chan defeated Thailand's Praput Chaithanasakun and Thawat Sujaritthurakarn, who were the same duo that handed the Singaporean pair the bronze medal at the last SEA Games in Naypyidaw.
That match lasted two-and-a-half hours, leaving the Singaporeans only half an hour before their final.
When asked if fatigue had played a part in the loss, Gilchrist said: "This means so much to me, so I could go play for days without sleep.
"I want it so much and I love it. So I'm not blaming fatigue. You need that bit of luck and I've managed to get the same luck at the singles.
"So, now, I'm just looking forward to the team event."
The past few days have seen the 47-year-old win the men's English billiards (500 points) and men's English billiards singles.
And today, he hopes to win his final event, the men's English billiards team.
Earlier in the day, Team Singapore suffered another heartbreaking loss as nine-ball star Aloysius Yapp crashed out of the men's pool singles quarter-finals, losing 9-4 to Myanmar's Maung Maung.
The 19-year-old said: "The balls weren't in my favour today and my opponent got lucky a lot of times. I really felt like I didn't make a lot of mistakes.
"I was fully prepared because even though I've never seen him play in any international competition, I saw him in the doubles event, so he didn't catch me off guard.
"I didn't miss any shots and he missed four, but it just so happened that they landed safe for him and I couldn't do much.
"It's just luck."
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