Interview with Budweiser Super Count-up Winner, Lawrence Lee

Interview with Budweiser Super Count-Up Winner and World Super Count-up Winner, Lawrence Lee
Updated : Dec 2007

Lawrence Lee, with his winning darts pose

After beating 8 opponents continuously in qualifying rounds, playoff rounds and the finals, Lawrence Lee was selected as the top player of the Budweiser Super Count-Up 2007. He also won himself US$1000 cash, Budweiser premiums and a trip to Las Vegas to participate in the prestigious Medalist USA World Championship 2007 and the Super Count-Up Challenge. He was one of two players, the other being Bernard Tong, to represent Singapore in the Super Count-Up event.

The selection for the 2 Singapore representatives of the Medalist World Challenge Super Count-Up event started in March 2007 and since then, there have been more than 500 entries pitting their skills against each other. Qualifying rounds run a few times a week and now, towards the end of the season, almost daily, as more and more people tried their best to get through to the finals.

The game itself is unique as anyone can win with the perfect rating and handicap system. Players get their handicap re-rated for each round that they progress. Thus, even a less experienced player stands a chance against an expert opponent.

The other Singapore representative, Bernard Tong, is the winner of the 2nd finals held on July 28, 2007. He also joined Lawrence to the tournament in Las Vegas, USA in Sept 2007.

On Sept. 15, Lawrence Lee won the first prize of US$50,000 cash and the title of World Super Count-Up champion in the Medalist World Super Count-Up 2007 Championship, Las Vegas. Lawrence shared with us what he had gone through en-route to winning the title.

Q. How was your overall experience at the World Championship in Las Vegas?
It had been a very wonderful experience for me as it was my first time playing in such a big event and I get to play with various players from all around the world, including some of the world’s top 17-rated players. I had learned many things from them and it was great to share this experience together. It had been a very good experience.

Q. What do you think of the overall standard of players at the Vegas championship?
I have to say that there are a lot more good players in US. Darts is one of the biggest game in USA and they started soft tip darts much earlier than us. We are just catching up now! Can you imagine a 17-rated elderly player who uses a walking stick for support! Ha ha ...

Q. In addition to your SCU champion, you also won 3rd place at the SCU Doubles Event with Bernard Tong. How did you do in that event?
For the Doubles Event, we have to cover up each other. If you can’t perform, you hope that your partner can score the points. We didn’t worry too much and just concentrated on the bull all the time as it was a Super Count-Up game. It was a good win as both of us played well that day.

The top 4 SCU finalist(L-R): Joe Bolanos, Bernard Tong, Lawrence Lee, Ron Hubbard

Q. Darts is in part a confidence game. How do you get into the zone and find that mental focus?
You will face a lot of pressure playing in the tournaments especially when you are playing overseas and your friends are not around to support you while the cheering are all for the opponents. You have to be really confident in yourself and tell yourself that you will hit the mark. The most important thing is to be ocused. Once you fully concentrate yourself in the game, you won’t hear any other sound except your own breathing.

Q. Share with us some of the most thrilling game that you had played at the Championship?
In one of the doubles event where I partnered Bernard, we played 701-cricket-701 against 2 guys from Spain. We were leading by 400 points and only had 19 points left to check-out. However, we bust 3 times nd lost the first game. We couldn’t believe we lost on a 19 and promised each other we had to fight back nthe next cricket game. And we did! We won the game within 5 rounds and both of us played as 17-raters! That game won our confidence back and we went on to win the match and qualify to next stage!

Another thrilling game was during my semi-finals Super Count-Up Singles game against Steve Gramlich. Our points were so close that if anyone missed a bull, it will be very hard to catch up. Both of us played very well in the game. By the last 8th round, he led by 260 points. I threw the 1st & 2nd dart but both did not land on the bull. My mind suddenly thought: my last dart is worth US$10,000!! So, before I threw my last dart, I took a deep breathe and YES!! I got the last bull!! I remember hearing loud cheers all around me and the loudest cheers came from our Singapore supporters there.

Q. What were you thinking of, just before the start of the World Super Count-Up championship and how did you prepare for it?
I felt very nervous. I have to play on the raised platform and everyone sat below to watch my games. There was just so much pressure. I was hoping to get to the top 4 as the prizes were really attractive: US$10,000 for the top 4 positions! On the other hand, I already had the opportunity to represent Singapore to play at Las Vegas. I had already gained a very good experience even if I lose. So, I went up there and did my very best. However, I never thought that I could win the biggest prize in this event. Super count-up is a game of skill and luck. My secret is simple: sufficient rest! And of course, you have to practice more. Thanks to Bernard for this advice, otherwise, we may not have made it to the finals. In the Vegas Championship events, there were a total of 500+ teams playing for 4 days and World SCU was on the evening of the last day. We had been playing from morning till midnight almost everyday!! We decided not to play on the 4th day morning so that we have enough rest to play in the Singles World SCU. And what I can say, both of us did very well. (Bernard won 3rd place in the World SCU 2007 event)

Q. How do you plan to spend the money?
I will save it. I’ve got to save up, perhaps for the next trip to Korea. I would like to see all (Medalist Tournaments) around the world, as it had been a very good experience here in Vegas.

Q. What are your future plans on soft-tip darting? What did your friends say about your big win?
My friends are all proud and happy for me! Their hopes for me were very high which added more pressure. Overall, I played my best and did well in this World Championship 2007. I will still continue to play soft tip dart as it is already a part of my life!

Q. Any feelings you want to share about your trip to Vegas and back?
It was a wonderful trip, we had fun in Vegas! Eating breakfast that a piece of ham is bigger then my face!! Gambled all night long, visited one of the famous hotel in the world (Venetian Hotel) and shopping, shopping, shopping! It was really fun. And we really must thank Paul Lim and Janet. We were all well taken care of and Paul’s cooking is great! Thank you for bringing us around! Now that I’m back in Singapore, it is stressful to have this Super Count-Up World Champion title! The friends I played with, now see me as a world champion playing against them. Haha.. So I have to maintain my standard of darts and just enjoy the fun! Last, but not least, thank you to Medalist and Budweiser for organizing and sponsoring my trip to the Championship. Without you, we all won't have the fun of darts.

Thank you!!

Lawrence Lee,
1st Medalist Singapore representative to Super Count-Up World Challenge, Las Vegas