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In fact, his Asian Junior title in 2005; the Korat Sea Games triumph last year and his bronze medal effort at the Asian Championship two weeks ago in Dubai, would make him the raging favourite among the 96 entrants for the
week-long meet.
But things sometimes, do not work out the way it should, at least for Keen Ho who is the No 2 seed in the tournament, behind defending champion Benjamin Lee of Kuala Lumpur, a player who is now concentrating on pool, instead.
"I still believe Keen Ho is the best player in Malaysia today. But he has not been able to win the national crown simply because he feels the burden of playing at home in front of his friends and familiar faces.
"He needs to mature and settle down while on the table. Until he does so, Keen Ho will struggle to win the national crown," said Melvin Chia, the secretary of the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation.
The luck of the draw has been kind to Keen Ho but he is expected to play No 7 seed Thean Mun Kit in the last eight, and then a possibility of a semi-final clash with Sam Chong, the former Asian champion and also an Asian Games
gold medalist.
But Sam at 42, is past his prime and no longer plays regular snooker but instead, is looking forwards pool as an alternative.
"I would be happy if Keen Ho wins the national title. I coached him when I was the national team coach...he has the potential to go far.
"But like everyone else, winning the national crown is always a top priority and I am sure Keen Ho wants the crown, too," added Sam.
John Yong, a member of the team to the Korat Sea Games, is the No 3 seed and with Ng Ann Seng, a three-time winner of the national crown, these two old hands are seen as Keen Ho's biggest threats to the one title he is still
dreaming about.
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