Chachoengsao – Panuphol Pittayarat carded a flawless four-under-par 66 to grab a one-stroke lead over Poom Saksansin after the rain-delayed third round of the US$300,000 Thailand Open at the Thai Country Club on Saturday.

The 25-year-old from Bangkok was neck-and-neck with his peers Poom and rookie Sarit Suwannarut but two finishing birdies propelled him to the overnight lead with a total of 13 under-par-197 after heavy rain had caused play to be suspended for two hours in the morning.

Panuphol Pittayarat

“The first 16 holes were very tight . It was hot after the rain. The last two birdies calmed me down and made my day,” said Panuphol, who showed admirable resolve after missing four cuts, three on the Japan tour and one on Asian Tour, heading into the tournament.

“Missing cuts don’t always mean you are playing badly,” added the young man searching for his second Tour win after his maiden victory at the Indonesia Open last October.

“I hit the balls to the wrong places. But I’m still playing well, especially with my putts.”

Panuphol is in effect playing ‘at home”, since he lives in Bangkok and often practises at the Country Club course.

“You feel comfortable here as you know the place well but you just have to be patient. The win in Indonesia taught me how to win a tournament. I’m going to go out there and enjoy golf,” he said.

Poom Saksansin

Poom, also 25, hit a 66 for the third day in a row to finish on 12 under-par-198. He is vying to become the second straight winner from Chanthaburi province following Rattanon Wannasrichan’s triumph 12 months ago.

“I feel excited but I’m gonna stick with my plan to hit under par. Of course I want to win but I cannot control how other guys will do. If I can’t I just hope the trophy will belong to a Thai,” said Poom. who has two Asian Tour titles under his belt:the Indonesian Masters in 2016 and the TAKE Solutions Masters in the Philippines last year.

Sarit Suwannarut

Overnight leader Sarit, the youngest among the leading group at 20, struggled on the front nine with one bogey before two birdies at the back saw him finish with a 69 on 11 under.

“Not quite my day but I still reached my goal to hit under par. My putting just helped me a lot. I hope to win but it it’s meant for me it will happen. I have to keep trying my best,” said Sarit in his only second Asian Tour appearance.

Chapchai Nirat 

Four-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai Nirat shot the day’s lowest score, a bogeyless 64, to be just three shots off the pace.  The 35-year-old from Phitsanulok is looking for his first Tour win since the Selangor Masters in September 2014.

“After the rain, there was no wind so it was easier for me to play. I putted so well today. Of course I’d love to win after a while but what I’m more  focused on is my swing with my coach (Lakchai  Thongsripong),” said Chapchai, who was tied fourth with American Japanese Kurt Kitiyama, a 25-year-old from California, who hit a 66.

Kurt Kitiyama

Nine-time Tour winner Scott Hend of Australia, after a 66, followed a shot behind at lone 6th with a total 201. With three Tour wins in the Kingdom already, the Australian is always dangerous  as he is just four shots off the lead.

The final round will start at 7am on Sunday morning.

Fans can watch live coverage on True Sports HD3 from 11am onwards.

THE COUNTDOWN has begun for one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

Russian Ambassador to Thailand Kirill Barsky has urged football fans nationwide to enjoy the 2018 World Cup, which his country is hosting, not only for the sporting excitement but also for the exciting insights into his country. The Fifa World Cup will take place in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.

“There will be a lot to see during the broadcast from Russia beyond the football itself. Please take note of the beautiful stadiums we have built, the scenic views of the cities where the matches will be played and the smiling faces of the Russian people,” Barsky told The Nation.

A view of the video assistant refereeing (VAR) operation room of the 2018 World Cup International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Moscow, Russia 09 June 2018. /EPA-EFE

The opening match of the quadrennial football extravaganza kicks off on Thursday.

“So my suggestion to football fans is to enjoy this spectacular festival of sports and friendship,” he said.

As the host nation, Russia is providing special treatments or privileges for fans going to watch the World Cup, he said.

Every football fan going to Russia to watch the games will get a Fan ID, which gives the bearer the right to visa-free entry and free travel on days of the matches in the host cities. Special city tours will be organised for the Fan ID owners free of charge.

Those who fail to get tickets need not be disheartened; they can enjoy the games at Special Fan Fests to be organised in every host city. In addition to watching the game on a large screen, visitors will enjoy live music and be able to hobnob with football stars.

The ambassador said he would be watching the games on TV in Bangkok and be cheering wholeheartedly the Russian team.

“All the teams at the World Cup are strong, so every match should be played like it’s your last match,” he said. The embassy plans to organise friendly football games with its Thai associates from several governmental agencies one of these days, the ambassador said.

A woman poses for pictures in front of a banner featuring Zabivaka, the official mascot of the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup, outside Olymp Stadium, Iceland’s national football team’s training site, in the village of Kabardinka outside Gelendzhik on June 9, 2018. /AFP

The number of people in the Kingdom watching the matches this year is likely to be around 11 million due to the nationwide free broadcast and the convenient time at which the matches will be played, Kasikorn Research Centre forecast on Friday. Most of the matches start as early as 7pm while the last match is at 1am.

Thanks to the “must-have” rule of the broadcast regulator, holders of broadcasting rights for seven major sports programmes, including the Olympics and the Fifa World Cup, must broadcast the events on free TV channels.

TrueVisions Group, owned by True Corporation, acquired the right to broadcast all the 64 Russian World Cup matches. The matches will be broadcast on Amarin TV, Channel 5 and True4U stations live in high definition (HD).

The country’s leading pay-TV operator is also the first country in Asean to offer live coverage in 4K format for its platinum and gold package subscribers. Broadcasts on 4K are four times clearer than the high definition format.

High spending expected

The football world’s biggest event is also expected to boost the economy and stimulate more spending.

Thanawat Pholwichai, director of the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said recently that his centre forecasts cash flow to reach Bt78.385 billion.

The figure can be broken down into Bt15.434 billion for purchase of consumer products and social fests, Bt2.467 billion for purchase of consumer electronics items and signal receivers, and Bt58.995 billion for gambling and other activities.

He expected the Cup to help the economy expand by 0.2-0.3 per cent this year. However, only Bt50 billion would boost gross domestic product but the rest will flow out of the country for online gambling.

Many business operators have launched new campaigns and promotions ahead of the tournament. The windfall will go to consumer products, fast food and food delivery services.

The best-selling potato chips Lay’s, a product of Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading Co Ltd, a local arm of PepsiCo Inc, is launching its football-inspired campaign “Lay’s United” to celebrate the upcoming football cheering season.

The campaign focuses on five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who is featured in Lay’s commercials and other supporting media.

Kurt Preshaw, general manager for foods of Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading, said Thailand’s Bt10-billion potato chips market has continued to grow at a double-digit rate.

During the first four months of 2018, the market grew by 17.8 per cent compared to the year before and has been among the top three segments with the highest growth, he added.

Coca-Cola by the Coca-Cola system in Thailand, as an official sponsor of the 2018 World Cup, recently launched its Coke Fifa Limited Edition Packs – specially designed Coca-Cola packaging with national flag-inspired prints of eight popular teams vying for the Cup – Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Russia, Japan, Argentina – plus England, produced exclusively to please Thai fans.

Food delivery service is another sector that is expected to benefit.

Noppadol Vashirakovit, product manager of Line Man, an on-demand-assistant service, said football fans’ behaviours this time might be different from the past, especially for people living in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and having less time to hang out with friends to watch the matches together at night.

They would rather enjoy watching the match at home or with nearby friends in small groups, for which Line Man would be the best solution, he said. With a variety of special promotions from popular restaurants that it has provided, especially for World Cup fans, Line Man believes that its food delivery service will see big growth and believes the demand for its service during this period will increase by at least 15 per cent.

A woman walks in front of The Local Hotel, Egypt’s national football team’s base camp hotel, in Grozny on June 9, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup. / AFP

During the World Cup broadcasts, ride-hailing company Grab, which provides GrabFood, expects to see its food delivery service gain from the increased demand for delivery of meals after 6pm, as customers tend to have more gatherings and parties, requiring group meals, drinks and snacks, said Tarin Thaniyavarn, country head of Grab Thailand.

Grab found its daily orders for GrabFood – a ride-hailing app for deliveries – have grown by more than 440 per cent during the first quarter of this year. Grab has prepared various promotions to cater to football fans, such as extending delivery hours from 9am-10pm to 9am until midnight, and is also partnering with merchants for special promotions.

Paul predicted winners for that years’ World Cup by choosing one out of two boxes containing food, while Achilles will be presented with bowls marked with teams’ flags.

“We went for Achilles because he is beautiful, first of all, but also because — like all white cats with blue eyes — he is deaf, so he has a great deal of intuition, he sees with his heart,” said Anna Kasatkina, a vet who oversees guard-cats at Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage museum.

For the World Cup, Achilles will move out of his lifelong home of the basements of the Hermitage, where he works with a team of dozens of other cats to keep the world-famous museum free of rodents.

Instead he will live at the “Cat Republic” cafe nearby.

“He’s going to live here for the duration of the tournament to keep him ‘on form’, since he has more opportunity to move and also meet guests,” Kasatkina told AFP.

The cat is not the first animal to be positioned as successor to the celebrated Paul, who became the world’s most famous mollusc when he correctly predicted all the matches of the German team during the South African World Cup. He went on to predict the victory of Spain in the final.

Swiss guinea pig Madame Shiva made a play for the crown in 2014, as did British Piranha Pele, but neither quite had Paul’s foresight.

The 32-year-old Spaniard, with 16 majors to his name, will play his 24th Grand Slam final at Roland Garros against Dominic Thiem who is in his first.

Victory on Sunday will give Nadal an 11th title in Paris and equal Margaret Court’s all-time record for wins at the same Slam event — in her case, the Australian Open from 1960 and 1973

Nadal still trails great rival Roger Federer by four major titles although the Swiss star is more than four years older.

“For me, the motivation to play here always is high, high as possible,” said Nadal after breezing past Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in Friday’s semi-finals in what was his 85th win in Paris against just two defeats.

“But for me, I believe that there are limited chances in your career.

“I have lost a lot of opportunities through injuries, and I know the years are going quick. So there is not 10 more chances to keep playing here.”

The statistics illustrate Nadal’s concerns — he has missed at least eight Slam tournaments in his career through a legacy of wrist and knee problems.

Such is his motivation to win his 17th Grand Slam on Sunday, that the task facing Austrian 24-year-old Thiem was described as “almost impossible” by Del Potro.

The Argentine believes that Nadal is playing better than he has for years.

“It is almost impossible to beat Rafa,” said Del Potro who had his chances in the semi-final but failed to convert any of his seven break points before his challenge petered out into weary hopelessness.

Nadal raced away with 14 of the last 17 games.

“He’s too strong. He’s improving his backhand a lot. That’s why he’s the No. 1 and beating all the guys.

– ‘He is fresh, healthy. Everything is perfect’ –

“He looks fresh. He is healthy. And the strength that he has and the mentality, everything is perfect, works perfect for him playing on clay.”

There have, however, appeared to be one or two chinks in his armour at Roland Garros this year.

On Friday, del Potro was by far the better player in the first set while, in the quarter-finals, Diego Schwartzman won the first set of his clash with Nadal.

It was the first time in three years that Nadal had dropped a set in Paris.

“You can win a set, but not a match against Rafa,” said Del Potro keen not to over-egg any hint of weakness in Nadal’s game.

At least Thiem has in the past found the key to unravelling the Nadal clay court enigma.

He is the only man to beat the world number one on clay in the last two years — in Madrid this spring and in Rome last year.

In Madrid, Thiem thrived in the quicker, higher altitude conditions to win their quarter-final in straight sets.

But that was only after Nadal had allowed him just two games in a last-eight mauling in Monte Carlo.

In Madrid, Thiem said the key was to be positive against Nadal.

“If I want to beat him, I have to play that way like I did in Rome and in Madrid. But I’m also aware that here it’s tougher,” said Thiem, the first Austrian in a major final since Thomas Muster won in Paris in 1995.

“He likes the conditions more here than in Madrid, for sure. Best of five is also a different story.”

“But I have a plan.”

Nadal and Thiem have met nine times — all of them on clay.

Thiem also defeated his rival in Buenos Aires in 2016, joining Novak Djokovic and Gaston Gaudio as the only men to have beaten Nadal three times each on clay.

However, Nadal has won both their clashes at Roland Garros — in 2014 and in last year’s semi-finals by a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 margin.

“I’m facing Rafa so I’m not the one who has the pressure,” said Thiem.

The Romanian is still waiting for a maiden Grand Slam title after three previous final defeats, while 10th seed Stephens is the reigning US Open champion.

Halep has been in fine form so far at Roland Garros and eased past former winner Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-4 in the last four — a victory which also ensured she will remain the world number one at the end of the tournament.

“I don’t know who said that I feel pressure. Not me, obviously. I don’t feel pressure,” she said on Friday.

The 26-year-old has twice lost in the Roland Garros final.

She fought back from a set down against Maria Sharapova in 2014 only to lose a tight decider, before seeing a set and 3-0 lead disappear in a barrage of Jelena Ostapenko winners last year.

“I feel that it’s a big challenge for me. It’s a big chance to win my dream tournament,” added Halep, who took time out from preparing for the final by watching Rafael Nadal’s men’s semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro on Friday.

“But this doesn’t mean it’s going to happen or something like that. I have just to play like I did yesterday (against Muguruza).

“So we will see what is going to happen tomorrow, but I just want to be smiling on court.”

Halep’s previous French Open final losses came against powerful ball-strikers in Sharapova and Ostapenko, but Stephens’s game is more defensive and the Romanian leads 5-2 in their head-to-head record.

But Halep doesn’t want to focus on that, even though it must give her added confidence.

“I don’t want to think about that because, as I said many times, it’s a different match, different situation. Both of us will be ready to give everything we have,” she said.

“But I believe in my chance. I believe that I have the game to win the match.”

Halep has won her last four matches against Stephens and both of their meetings on clay, including in the 2014 French Open fourth round, while the two have never played a three-set encounter.

But the American 10th seed has never lost a WTA final, with her triumph in the Miami Open in March her sixth win from six.

“I think I’m pretty calm on the court all the time, I’d say. I don’t get too up, too down,” said Stephens.

“I think that it has helped me in finals, but, yeah, it’s not something I really focus on. I just try to stay calm and play my game.”

Halep is bidding to become only the second Romanian woman to win a Grand Slam after 1978 French Open champion Virginia Ruzici, who is now Halep’s manager and had a special ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier earlier this week to commemorate her victory 40 years ago.

But Stephens has had a steely determination about her since fighting back from injury and a ranking of 957 less than a year ago, and will have nothing to lose.

“Yeah, just another good opportunity,” she said. “Just going to take it in (my) stride and just enjoy it and go out and compete.”

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar’s swashbuckling display in a 45-minute appearance against Croatia last weekend largely dismissed lingering concerns over his fitness after more than three months out with a fractured foot.

The 26-year-old admitted he was only at “80 percent” but promised he would be raring to go come Brazil’s first game at the finals against Switzerland on June 17.

“For the first match back I actually expected less from him! I would have been happy with a quieter performance,” Brazil coach Tite said of Neymar’s eye-catching performance. “What he did was really extraordinary.”

Brazil’s form under Tite, appointed coach midway through a faltering qualifying campaign, suggests it will be difficult to stop the five-time world champions from adding another title in Russia.

A reinvigorated Selecao have won 16 of 20 matches with the former Corinthians boss at the helm, a 1-0 loss to Argentina last year in Melbourne the only defeat since he took charge.

Spain, unbeaten since Julen Lopetegui was appointed coach after Euro 2016, are back among the genuine contenders after a catastrophic 2014 World Cup and another early exit the European Championship.

“Spanish football has lived through an extraordinary, historic period in 2008, 2010 and 2012, but after that the team has not found the same consistency or success,” Lopetegui told AFP.

“We have to grow again as a team. We have the biggest ambitions but we are also very aware that we arrive at this World Cup feeling humble and wanting to prove ourselves.”

Spain cruised through a qualifying section featuring Italy, and delivered a further warning to their World Cup rivals with a 6-1 demolition of Argentina in March.

But they will be tested immediately in Russia when they launch their group stage campaign against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on June 15 in Sochi.

– Concern for Germany –

Germany received a timely shot in the arm with the return of goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer after eight months out with a foot injury.

But Joachim Loew’s side are struggling for form ahead of their title defence following a run of five matches without a win, and a first defeat to neighbours Austria since 1986.

“If we play like that in Russia, then we have no chance,” Loew raged after Germany lost 2-1 to Austria in Klagenfurt last Saturday.

The Germans will be without Mesut Ozil for their final warm-up match against Saudi Arabia due to injury, although centre-back Jerome Boateng could play his first game since April following a groin problem.

Argentina’s build-up was jolted by the cancellation of a controversial friendly against Israel in Jerusalem, a fixture set to be their final outing ahead of the World Cup.

The sold-out game had been due to take place on Saturday but was hotly opposed by Palestinians, who claim the eastern part of the city, annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state.

“Argentina is seven days from the World Cup. We want to focus on what is really important and which is before us,” an Argentine football federation spokesman told AFP.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 rout of Haiti last month, but the friendly against a nation ranked 104th in the world was hardly a rigorous examination of Argentina’s credentials.

– Pogba worry for France? –

A hugely talented France squad head to Russia with high expectations, but Didier Deschamps is still struggling to find a system that will enable him to unlock the full potential in his team.

Paul Pogba, who will have a huge role to play if France are to succeed, was jeered by a smattering of home fans after an underwhelming performance in a recent 3-1 win over Italy.

“The whistles are part of football, you have to stay tough mentally. We’re all playing for the same shirt,” said Antoine Griezmann, in defence of the Manchester United midfielder.

“He plays his game, you’re used to him scoring. We don’t expect that from him, only that he rotates the ball and plays for the team.”

Unburdened by modest expectations, England’s youthful side will go into the tournament riding a 10-match unbeaten run that stretches back nearly a year.

Gareth Southgate admitted he faces a selection dilemma after Marcus Rashford starred in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica, but a reasonable draw could allow them to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 2006.

The well-built Bangkokian blast five birdies for back-to-back 65s to take the clubhouse lead on 10 under-par-130 in the unfinished second round after morning rain suspended play for an hour.

“My putting was the key. I’m surprised I’m putting so well this week. I’m very excited and feel some pressure now,” said the 20-year-old, who ended the day a shot ahead of fellow Thai Panuphol Pittayarat.

In fact Sarit, who weighs 90kg and is 1.86m tall, only turned professional in February in an All Thailand Tour in Khon Kaen, 18 months after taking a full scholarship at Virginia Tech University.

He decided to turn his back on his education in the US after realising a career on golf was what he really craved.

“Things didn’t turn out the way I expected to. so I decided to come back and play golf, which is what I love. I knew I really wanted to become a pro golfer. So I came back and I’ve played a lot of golf this year,” said Sarit, who won a local All Thailand Tour in Pattaya in July 2016, three weeks before he flew to Virginia.

Playing in his only second Asian Tour event after May’s Bangladesh Open, where he finished tied for a lowly 51st place, Sarit will have to cope with the unfamiliar situation of being in the leading group over the weekend.

“I won’t expect anything or even a win. I will try to talk a lot with my friend [Porsch who is caddying for him this week] and that should help. My strategy is play shot by shot, not to make mistakes,” said Sarit.

Panuphol, 24, hit seven birdies against a lone bogey to settle with a 64 for a total nine under-par-131 which saw him make the first cut for the first time in his latest five tournaments.

“I was putting well although I didn’t drive the ball on the fairways much. I just managed to get out of the trouble well and made several good putts,” said the one-time Asian Tour winner who finished fourth in this event last year.

Poom Saksansin 

Two shots back at third was 25-year-old Poom Saksansin, who shot a 66 for eight under-par-132, while overnight leader Natipong Srithong, with a 69, trailed a shot behind with 133.

“I hit several birdies but also made bogeys too. I missed some easy putts but it happened. I will have to hit straight on to the fairways, which are very narrow here. You don’t want the ball to land out of position,” said the 25-year-old Poom, winner of two Tour trophies.

However, defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan did not make the cut after hitting a total three over-par-143.

Several players will go out early and finish their second rounds this morning, with the third round to start later.

Kongsak, son of former Minister of Tourism and Sports Suwit Yodmanee, beat eight other candidates to receive the unanimous vote of the selection committee.

“I’m honoured to be selected for this position. My main policies will be to reform several sports policies and make them more effective,” said Kongsak.

“I also intend to remedy conflicts between SAT and some sports associations as they are the key bodies to develop Thai sports into high level.”

Trailing Wanchana six strokes at start of the day, the 16-year-old girl scooped seven birdies at the front nine before collecting three more at the back to finish with nine under-par 207 at the par 72 6,424 yard landscape.

It was a second straight Thai LPGA win for the teenager who just won the fourth leg in Hua Hin last month.

“Every part of my game was just perfect. I made all putts from everywhere which was incredible,” said the Saraburi-based who would take home a Bt142,500 winner’s cheque.

“I was playing without any pressure far behind from the leading group. This is the first time I hit 10 under in one round,” added the on-form girl. The win also earned her a slot into the Ladies European Thailand Championship in Pattaya later this month.

Wanchana closed with a 72 on  five under-par-211  to take the runner-up prize money of Bt96,285. Two amateurs Turada Piddon and Kan Bunnabodee shared the third spot after each hit a total 214.

The 6^th stop of the Thai LPGA event will take place at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin from July 11-13.

Danny Welbeck also justified his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad by coming off the bench to seal the win.

In England’s last match before their tournament opener against Tunisia in 11 days time, Manchester United’s Rashford was the star of a much-changed side.

Rashford’s dipping drive on 13 minutes was the highlight of an all-round satisfactory evening for Southgate as the hosts extended their unbeaten run to 10 games, stretching back nearly a year.

Southgate made 10 changes from the side that beat Nigeria 2-1 on Saturday with 19-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool handed his international debut at right-back.

However, it was another youngster in Rashford, 20, who caught the eye from the off.

A sublime piece of skill down the left forced an early corner from which his United team-mate Phil Jones saw a looping header turned onto the bar by Keylor Navas.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Navas was completely caught out moments later, though, as Rashford unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards that dipped perfectly over him and into the top corner for his third international goal.

Navas was Costa Rica’s hero of an incredible run to the World Cup quarter-finals four years ago in Brazil, helping to knock England out of the group stages on the way.

However, there was a gulf in class even between Southgate’s largely second string line-up and the Central Americans as England dominated.

Navas kept his side in the game by denying Jamie Vardy from point-blank range as he latched onto Leicester team-mate Harry Maguire’s knockdown.

At the other end Jack Butland was handed a final chance to impress and try and oust Jordan Pickford as Southgate’s first-choice goalkeeper.

The Stoke keeper wasn’t called into action until 27 minutes when he made a smart save high to his left to turn Johan Venegas’s effort behind.

Costa Rica face tournament favourites Brazil as well as Serbia and Switzerland in Group E, and will need to show far more ambition once they get to Russia if they are to replicate their heroics of four years ago.

Southgate held off making any changes until the hour mark and left Harry Kane in reserve for the full 90 minutes as his side continued to control the game after the break.

Jordan Henderson, captaining the side in Kane’s absence, saw a powerful effort turned behind by Navas.

From the resulting corner, Bryan Oviedo cleared Maguire’s goalbound header off the line.

England’s rhythm was then stunted by five quickfire substitutions, including a debut for Burnley’s Nick Pope in goal.

But two of those to come off the bench combined for England’s second goal 14 minutes from time as Dele Alli’s cross was headed home by Welbeck.