Tournament - Day 14

“Rain Rain go away, Come again another day
Little Johnny wants to play !! “
…was the chant in UL Infy room all through the day and why not, when two of the most anticipated deciders were scheduled for the day. Weather.com presented a bleak picture all through the day & there seemed no hope for any match to happen. Having spent a better part of day, permuting the finalists, the possibility of splitting points & ties started occurring through everyone’s mind. But seems like Zeus saw the passion we held for the game & put his flushing on hold …

Match 1 (Rockers v/s KIKO)
Eat your heart out for this one.. In the most thrilling upset of the tournament, super charged KIKO came from nowhere & beat the champions Rockers 6-0, 6-0

Are you shocked?? Then don’t be. This is a fake news !!
Actually a gluttonous-guilty-me typed this before the match, expecting some twist in KIKO’s tale, that they might bring in some change to their match report. So thought will put it anyway :)

Well the truth & the irrefutable fact is Rockers were too good for KIKO, as they made short work of the game beating KIKO 6-0, 6-1. Rockers thus stays unbeaten & enters the finals (or semis whichever) convincingly. Incidentally, KIKO ended super 6 with a clean sheet (5 matches, 5 loss). Nevertheless, the sportsmanship they displayed in every match was superb. Take a bow !!

“We are great touch & hope we keep this till the very end. We will not lose the focus & hope to win the tournament” Said Mahesh for Rockers.
“We tried our best, gave our best in every match. This was a disappointing tournament for us. We hope to come back much stronger next season” promised Prasad

Match 2 (Glam Bros v/s Ace of Pace)

Pre-Match: Do or die for AoP, after losing unexpectedly from SK, a must win situation to stay afloat. For Glam Bros its avoiding getting into any number games & entering straight to finals. AoP confident of the win they had at group stage, Glam Bros confident of the form they have been maintaining for last couple of matches.
At-Match: It was like AoP saved their worst for this day as they were mercilessly mauled over by Glam Bros. 6-0, 6-2 was the score of second outing of the two teams, who ironically provided one of best match of the tournament in that thrilling tournament opener.Today Glam Bros were in their bullish best and AoP simply had no answers. There were moments for AoP but were scarce & far apart for even calling it a fight.
Post-Match: “This was one of our worst outing. I know telling that we are not in our physical best is not an excuse for the loss, nevertheless we would’ve given better fight had we been in healthier shape.” Said Talat for AoP
“We are in good form & we want to win the tournament. We know there are really good teams to beat to win this, but we will be giving our best in final or semis which ever it is” Said Subin for Glam Bros.

Match 3 (Super Kings v/s Altimate Viking)
Although if no semifinals, this match had no relevance in the context of tournament, but for AV & SK fans, this was a decider. Same number of wins, same number of loss, win against same teams (KIKO & AoP), loss against same teams (Rockers & Glam Bros), almost same set win%. Going into a match, what more similarity can we ask for from two teams, who have played their heart out in this whole tournament?

But then match did not end up proving who was best, did not end up showing the better of the best, infact it did not end up itself :)
Result: Match abandoned due to rain
Rumored to be a tie & split points. Committee will confirm.

Well, for all the romanticism it possible entailed, there was never a better end than to finish this in a tie !!
Win or Lose, you both teams have already won the hearts & soul of friends & foes alike.

“We were in momentum, when rain interrupted the game. Would’ve loved to end this tournament on a high note. But never mind, cause being an underdogs, we have ended far higher than we expected” Said Anna for SK (& yeah if considered set % win they end up third in the super.)
“We were looking good in second set & would’ve been nice contest had we got a chance to complete the match. Cant do much about rain though” Said Vanshi (for a change) for AV.

That’s all for me folks.
This Journey is about to end in couple of days, but not before we have a grand finale (& Semis if any) & of course not before revealing the blogger in the last blog of the tournament tomorrow :)

Tournament - Day 13

Busy bee today !! So quick update on yesterday’s match

Group E of super 8 ICC World T20 cup is so close, that there is no clue of who goes into semis unless the last ball is balled when India take on SL & WI take on mighty Aussies today. Even a win or lose cant predict anything !!

UL Infy tennis season 1 is nothing different.. When tournament enters its final chapter, and hardly a handful of matches left, the permutations are mind-boggling. Its an anybody’s game (except KIKO’s).

Match 9 (Glam Bros v/s Altimate Vikings)
The lackluster fever caught AV this time. When Glam Bros took on AV, everyone expected a close match. Going into match, & when both teams has same win-lose margin, this was supposed to be a virtual decider. Alas, the hype was entirely superficial and match staggeringly dull one-sided affair, Glam Bros winning it hands down 6-1, 6-4, replacing AV from the top of super 6 table.
“We played not-so-good today. Still the table is open & we will make the best of it” Said Ameya wearing his characteristic smile J
“We were on top of our game today & I think we made fewer mistakes than any game. I hope this touch keeps going” Said Menon for glam Bros.

Match 10 (Ace Of pace v/s Super Kings)
The cornered tigers roars.. & Super Kings were literally kings today. In a typical tollywood masala movie like match, our anna (err… Saravana) & Mukku came back from one set behind to take home an exhilarating win against Ace Of Pace. Placed in a must win situation to stay alive in the competition Super Kings showed the world who is the boss. Here is how it went..
First set - AP wins 7-5 (Duh tough one.. )
Second set – Super Kings comes back strongly 6-3
Third Set – AP leads 4-1, & then 5-2 & reached match point.. Super king breaks the match point to make it 3-5. Super kings get one more to make it 4-5. Next game AP reaches match point gain. Yet again Super Kings breaks & makes it 5-5. Then there was no looking back for super kings as Anna was everywhere, hitting, smashing, jumping, punching, dhamm-dishum..  on anything & everything(including net)... and they win 7-5 - the third set :)

“aa.. hhoo. Giiii.gooo.. hhqwty.. sdbfsjhgf… “ This is only what I understood from an overly excited Saravana's comment after the match. By the way, Wheeling police is looking for the person who destroyed the tennis court wired fence. I am not saying who was jumping on the fence in excitement :P

“Tough to lose such a match.. We tried our best, but today was their day” Said Talat for AP. and yes it was, you guys played really well, giving the tournament one of its best matches so far :)

"I would rate this match somewhere on same level as Padayappa movie" Said cheerleader Aldo after the match.

ps: Super kings is taking me to treat for this wonderful write-up.. So am off to a meaty treat.. catch you folks with final match stories soon !!

Tournament - Day 12

Warning: Nothing is working.. so for a change today, its a yuck report!
[skip the blog if corny humor is not your cup of tea. ]

SS match 6 (Glam Bros v/s Super Kings)

Mukku & Sarru, went up the hill,
To fetch a set from glamour..
Scores were tied, at second set,
But SK came trembling after
.
.
Says it all, the final scores,
Winners were, the glamour Bros.

Saranava Says..
“Might be their day, might be our day,
All we say, is Chalo teek hai”

Subin Comments
“Win was good, we are happy..
But loosing a set, was for sure crappy”

ps: GB won 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

SS Match 7 (KIKO v/s Ace of Pace)

Bah Bah KIKO have you any wins,
No sir no sir, 3 big loss.
One from the APs,
One from the kings,
And one from Glamour Bros,
Who lives in their dreams.
.
.
Tiny-winy, shots they might play,
But APs won the match of the day.

Dheeraj Says
“We fight with will, play for wins,
All we get is, safety pins”

Guru Says
“We are here, to take the cup,
Rest of you, please wake up”

ps: AP won 6-4, 6-2

SS Match 8 (Rockers v/s Altimate Vikings)

Twinkle Twinkle, mighty shots,
How I wonder, do they stop,
Up above the points table,
Fighting for a leader's label.
.
.
When Rockers hit those tweaky winners,
Ameya wished atleast a leaky dinner.
Five-Seven did A-Viking stand,
But Rockers today were, almighty brand.

Ameya Says
“Bad it was, to lose a thriller,
but good I dint throw away yesterday’s dinner”
Anbu Says
“Lost the grip at start, only to find it
We are still at top, everyone just mind it !!"

ps: Rockers won 7-5, 6-1

Please excuse me if you are feeling sick after reading this. Else before we end here we go folks...
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall,
News for day, that is all ;)

Tournament - Day 11

[Pictures will be posted soon]

While on a call, offshore gal says “yaar, I think I caught fever”. A-surprised-me says “Leave office early at 6pm & get some rest.”
She smiles, chuckles & replies “No that’s ok. I am fine”

While at home my roomie says “Dude, I think I caught fever”. A-little-concerned-me says, “Take an early dinner & get some sleep”
He smiles, laughs & replies “No that’s ok. I am fine”

Girlfriend calls up to say “Honey, I think I caught fever”. An-overly-concerned-me says, “Get an aspirin, go see a doc, take proper rest.”
She smiles, giggles & replies “No that’s ok. I am fine”
Just as I was wondering what the hell is this, she says” Its not aspirin-waala fever, its your UL Infy Tennis Fever” :)

Duh! After affecting 18 contenders, 10 support staff, seems like UL Infy Tennis fever has spread wide & far across, swaying the unshakable, hugging the untouchables. Crossing mountains, rivers, sea n continents, finally the fever has reached the other side of NBK UL building also. What else can explain the presence of even Maruti & family at a super Six match venue on day 11 :)

SS match 5 (Rockers v/s Super Kings)
When an In-form Rockers gets into mood, it’s a hard chance for any team these days. But with Super Kings the case is never so cut & dried, or so did Super Kings fans hoped. They flocked from near & far (even from other end of UL building) to watch Super Kings humbling Rockers.
But there was no twist in the tale, as Rockers, rocked the world of Super Kings to make a clean sheet 6-2. 6-0.
“We were not scheduled to play today, but did not want to lose the momentum we got from last game. So decided to play & it turned out a good day for us.” Said Mahesh

“If we play like we usually play in practice, we would even beat Federer, but don’t know in matches we hold back a bit.” Said an ever smiling Saravana ..
Win or loose you guys have a huge fan support.. So Rock On Super Kings :)

SS Match 7 (Glam Bros v/s KIKO)
KIKO seems to be lurching from crisis to crisis, as they yet again received a straight set defeat from Glam Bros 4-6, 0-6. Needing a win, both team started off with a competing first set, even tying up at 4-4 at one stage. But there was no looking back for Glam Bros after that as they took 8 sets straight to end KIKO’s misery.
This win was some tonic the off-color Glam Bro needed after an awful match against Rockers.
“We needed to win desperately & we are happy about the result. But I still think there is lot of improvement needed in our game if we have to even have an outside chance to take a poke at the championship” Said one of the Glam Bro Vipin
“No excuses for playing not-so-good, but the form we expected to pick up at super six stage is still very far from us. We will try to give our best in coming matches.” Said Prasad for KIKO, who now has 3 loses from 3 matches in Super Six & is virtually out of contention for the championship.

That’s all for the day folks. An off-court report series coming soon. So stay tuned.
Have a great day !!

Tournament - Day 10

SS Match 3 (Rockers v/s Glam Bros)
When Anbu lobbed a volley to the net, Vipin jumped up to finish off an easy kill, only to hit the edge of his racket. Unable to believe the idiocy of his shot, Vipin knelt down, ramming the racket on the court. Well.. that pretty much summarizes the whole match !!

Technically match was between Rockers & Glam Bros, but it seemed like the competition was between Vipin n Subin as of who will hit more number of faults in the match. [like some prize waiting at the end of match]. When an (uncharacteristic)Glam Bros forgot even the elements of tennis, Strikers made an easy win 6-1, 6-3 starting the super six in style.

“We were expecting much tougher match, but this did not even turn out to be a practice match. In any case we are happy cos we won. Also I needed some rest as my "BICEPTS-MUSCLES" were paining a bit.” Said Anbu for Rockers.
“I have no words to explain the pathetic game we displayed. Totally disappointed with ourselves. I think we will take some time off the ground & come back fresh.” Said losing captain Subin

SS Match 4 - (Super Kings v/s KIKO)
In a totally contrasting match, a re-invented, re-freshed & re-juvenated Super Kings put up an inspiring show to keep Kabhi In Kabhi Out at bay, winning their first super 6 match 7-6 (tiebreak), 7-5. KIKO also fired up, tried their best, but today their best was not good enough. KIKO can atleast be happy they kept their name, as their win loss series goes L-W-L (Out-In-Out).. That sends out a warning message to next KIKO opponents, Boy..its going to be a “W”(In) !!
“Me & Mukesh have been practicing hard, we have our plans & our combination is working wonders, like Ram-Shyam, Jai-Veeru, Paes - Bhoopathi, our pair (what.. Mukku-Sharu ??) will be remembered forever :) Said an all-smiles-Saravana
“Not our day, I guess.. But we tried our best & there are lots of positive to come out of it.” Said Dheeraj, before quickly heading for next meeting.

As Super 6 progresses, tables have tilted, favourites have changed & more exciting actions coming up. Watch out this space for more .. For now, have a nice day ahead folks !!

Tournament - Day 8

Calvin : “Dad.. what is meant by extended office?”
Dad pointed to Arlington heights tennis court & says “.. this is it.”
Calvin: “Isn't this just a bunch of crazy guys fooling around “
Dad: “you don’t see the fun there?
Calvin: “Nope I guess..”.. “Hobbes.. do you see any ?”
Hobbes: Nodes !!!
Dad: “Well, you gotta get into an office first, work your @$$ off for 8+ hours, hear all the cribs & screams from client, manage a whole load of people running 12 hrs ahead of you at other side of globe, then come out here in this chill weather, all of you together & fool around. Then you’ll realize whats fun in that”
Calvin: “err... that's too much of an effort for fun.. me & Hobbes have fun without all this as well”
Dad : “Because I pay for you”

Well … if any management guru (not our Guru) wanna pick a lesson for after office fun, then welcome to UL Infy tournament.
The Tournament takes a serious turn here.. Last match of group stage.

Match 9 (Super Kings v/s Drunken Monks)
Although the match did not stand up to it hype (which is nothing unusual), it had its moments of brilliance & fun. Super Kings wanting to prove their criticizers wrong about they are all just plans & no play. Drunken monks wanting to prove they are.. ahem ahem..[chuckling] good !! At the end of it all, Super Kings eased to Super six [huh.. its rhymes ] with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
So there we have the super 6 line up complete. So the tournament off to a fun-filled start, & getting into some serious business in coming days !!

but hey wait.. super 6 has already started.. first match of super 6 on the next court..

Super Six (SS) Match 1 (KIKO v/s AV)
AV & KIKO kicked off a competitive super 6 stage with a fitting 3 set match. After first match of the tournament, this was the first 3 setter match (Is every stage supposed to start with a 3 set match ?). After AV took away a tough first set 7-5, KIKO came back strongly, with a game plan & got back the second set 6-2 (Did KIKO read the super 6 preview ? Guess they definitely took note of it atleast.). AV was quick to learn from their mistakes & did nothing wrong in third set winning it 6-2 & also the first match of Super 6, continuing their unbeaten run in the tournament.

Note: Just noticed a coincidence. AV stands for Altimate-Viking & Ameya-Vanshi as well. Was is really a co-incidence ??

Interesting matches lined up for the day. Rockers v/s Ace of pace. Both of them have not lost a match till now & today one of them will :)
Another match, Glam Bros v/s Super Kings: Muscle-Power clashes with Brain-Power.

That’s all folks. See you all on court !! Chalo Teek hai :)

Tournament - Day 2

Match 3 (Super Kings v/s Altimate Viking)
In an amusing seesaw match, AV beat SK 6-3, 3-6,6-0 (damn if the score is wrong!!). It was SKs strategies against sheer basics from AV. From playing single side (even during services), zig-zag shuffling, shouting vigorously, SK tried everything from their trick-book to distract AV. Cant say that failed completely, for having lost first set & trailing 0-3, SK made a stunning comeback to take second set 6-3. But not long could tricks hold on & wits had the last laugh of the day.

"Chalo.. Teek hai" is all what Saravana, the captian of losing side had to say.
"I am happy to get my dinner tonight atleast.." Ameya, AV captain said in relief :)

Thats all folks.. "Chalo Teek hai.. "