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2009 King's Cup Commentary: Round 14

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Go to: Before the Tournament, 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 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, After the Tournament.

A few minutes into this round, I have to ask players to pause their clocks and place their tiles facedown, in order to prepare for the arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsavali, The Princess Mother of the King's First Grandchild.

The high school marching band does one more practice pass in front of the stage, with slightly more enthusiasm and less restraint. This time, the players are included in the rehearsal of the Parade of Nations, and they practice bowing or curtseying before the throne where the princess will sit. The Crossword Game video is played again.

Then the lights dim, everyone is reminded to turn off cellphones, cameras and video equipment. Her Royal Highness arrives, takes the stage, bows to the audience (they bow back), and sits on her throne. She gives a speech in Thai. A representative of Brand's presents a cheque for $10,000 to the Thai Red Cross Society's funds for cancer treatment in children, of which she is the royal patron. She is welcomed by the former director of Assumption University, a founding sponsor of the King's Cup.

We watch the Crossword Game video again, dry ice and confetti fill the air, and this time the marching band parades at full volume and enthusiasm. Led by Thai flag and title bearers, the players from each country parade past the princess. There's a brief speech, her Royal Highness leaves and life goes on as usual.

Players return to their games, this round including an exciting match between Jason Katz-Brown (USA) and Nigel Richards (NZL) at Board 1. Jason wins 473-320, and is now a game ahead of Charnwit Sukhumrattanaporn (THA), who beat his countryman Marut Siriwangso (THA) 470-286. Two games back are Youth Champion Charnrit Khongthanarat (THA), World Champion Nigel, Lukeman Owolabi (NGA), Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (THA) and the unrated Phuttaphong Moolasarn (THA).