Deposed!.......I-Mam comes out on top in the clash of the Chiefs

Arthur Aung Vs. Nabeel I-Mam

A bumper crowd was on hand as the marquee matchup of the Group A was about to get underway. Arthur " The Hun" Aung took on Nabeel " Robert" I-Mam in the battle of the Chiefs. Arthur is the current Chief resident but I-Mam is the Chief Intern and the pretender to Arthurs crown. Of course, in every succession fight, there comes a time when the old meets the new, the old order tries to resist the new one, the time comes for a change. The upstart thinks he can shake things up but the incumbent knows that his experience is what is needed, a steady hand to guide the people.

Clearly, Arthur represents the Old order, I-Mam being the upstart, the new order. Its a clash as old as time and one thing we all know for sure, there will be blood (hmmmm....those maldito Oscars).

Arthur is seeded 5th and has been practicing a lot in order to reach the semis for the first time. I-Mam on the other hand is the 8th seed and the lowest ranked player left but such is his determination to re-write history books, he is leaving nothing to chance, especially not his pre-match routine of Yoga and Pilates.

Arthur sat down with the media before the game and proclaimed that he has to beat I-Mam comprehensively to make everyone believe that everything was steady and that his crown is not going to be usurped as the Chief resident. He also belittled I-Mam for his clumsiness in cutting a gash on his eyebrow in the previous game. I-Mam threw down the gauntlet by telling Arthur that may the best man win and if he wins the game, he takes over Arthurs mantle and crown. he also promised to fight tooth and nail.

With a simmering and at times, nasty rivalry developing between the two, everybody was anticipating a scintillating and bruising encounter. I-Mam, though, made everybody sit on the edge of their seats by taking a 3-2 lead from 1-0 down. Arthur was stung by Nabeels dancing after very point won and was seen growling at one point. One bad call from the judge made him lose his temper completely and he hurled his racquet on the court. His brother and coach, Alfred, had to calm him down. I-Mam was in his element now and capitalized on Arthurs frustration and immobility to take a shocking 5-2 lead. The next game was a titanic tussle between the two as the game went to a few deuces but I-Mam now has the reputation for being a slugfest master and finally broke Arthur to take the first set 6-2. The crowd by now was baying for Arthurs blood.

The players started the 2nd set in similar vein but I-Mam was not going to give up. he again rallied to take the lead over Arthur. Arthur, seeing his crown slipping away, was getting more and more desperate. Finally in the 6th game, after another bad call from the umpire, Arthur threw his racquet into the stands, leaped over the net (I`m still kinda fuzzy over how he managed that) and leaped on I-Mam who at that time was showboating and jiggling his hips at the crowd. Arthur kneed him in the small of the back and sent him hurling to the ground in agony. The security guys were on Arthur in a second and it took 6 of them to bring Arthur down. Finally, I-Mam after receiving treatment for 30 minutes was able to continue and acme back to win the 2nd set 6-3 and win 6-2 6-3 in one of the most dramatic encounters. The crowd was certainly left gasping.

So I-Mam has taken over the mantle of the Chief resident from Arthur, relegating Arthur to a pensioners state. All further vacation inquiries go to I-Mam, folks.He plays Daitan and Ganesh for a historic first time semifinal appearance.His confidence cant be any higher.

For Arthur, only tears and his broken dreams. Still he is not completely out. 2 wins against Ganesh and Daitan will get him through but it seems unlikely. It was just that kind of a day.