The 54th Singapore-Malaysia Bench & Bar Games 2026
Three days, 21 events and a scoreboard that could not have been closer.
The 54th Singapore-Malaysia Bench & Bar Games, held from 28 to 30 August 2026, began with Malaysia taking an early lead on Friday, saw Singapore fight its way into a three-point advantage by Saturday evening, and then watched that lead steadily disappear on Sunday, until the final competitive sport left both sides exactly where neither had expected to be: level at 8.5 points apiece.
Malaysia arrived as reigning champions, which meant a tie would be enough for them to hold on to the trophy. Singapore did not make it easy.
Day One
Golf opened proceedings on Friday at Seletar Country Club, with Singapore making an ideal start by emerging victorious, 15–10.
Hockey at Delta was considerably closer. Malaysia edged out Singapore in a fast-paced contest 3–2, setting the tone for a weekend in which narrow margins would become a recurring theme.
The Welcome Reception at the Singapore Cricket Club brought both contingents together, with poignant opening remarks from each of the Heads of Delegation: the Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of Singapore and Yang Amat Arif Tun Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Chief Justice of Malaysia. There were handshakes, introductions and old friends reunited: a useful reminder that the Games are as much about renewing friendships as the sporting results.
Darts followed that evening and went Malaysia’s way, 5–2. Malaysia therefore ended Friday ahead, 2–1.
Day Two
Saturday was a marathon of a day: 11 fixtures taking place across the island from morning till midnight.
Tennis at NUS produced a commanding 6–1 victory for Singapore.
Table Tennis followed with a hard-fought 3–2 win for Singapore against a Malaysian side featuring national and state-level players. Singapore’s Parry Tan taking a set from a Malaysian national player was a particular highlight.
Chess, a non-competitive event, was no less fiercely contested, with Malaysia prevailing 39.5–36.5.
Bowling saw Singapore bounce back emphatically from last year’s defeat. Months of determined training, guided by two national female bowlers who patiently coached the team, paid off with an 8–5 victory, the biggest margin in the Games’ history.
Badminton was Singapore’s chance to avenge last year’s 0–5 defeat. The match-up was played at the highest level, with former national and state-level players on both sides. With the tie delicately poised at 2–2, however, Malaysia took the nail-biting third men’s doubles to emerge 3–2 victors. There were bright sparks nonetheless, with several Singapore debutants showing enough promise to suggest better days ahead.
Cricket lasted seven hours on the Padang, with Singapore eventually posting 304 against Malaysia’s 236.
Pool at Clarke Quay was a rematch of last year’s draw. Malaysia raced to a 4–1 lead before Terry Xu, Marc Tham and anchor Shivananth Gopal inspired another Singapore comeback, continuing what has become a rather familiar Pool tradition between the two sides. It ended in a tie at 4–4. That half point would matter more than anyone realised at the time.
The football programme then took over. Masters Football, a non-competitive fixture, went 3–2 to Malaysia. Ladies Football kicked off under the floodlights at Jalan Besar Stadium, with Singapore pressing from the outset against a compact and resolute Malaysian defence. Relentless pressure eventually paid off, as Singapore prevailed 1–0 in a hard-fought contest.
Veterans Football provided another Singapore victory, 3–1. After conceding an early penalty, two well-taken free-kicks by Singapore’s Valmiki Nair, after star striker Ruthra Ram was brought down on both occasions, and a Malaysian own goal turned the match around.
The evening concluded with Premier Football, a hard-fought 2–1 defeat. Malaysia struck first before LSS captain Josiah Tham equalised from the spot after Damian Ng was brought down. Two early second-half red cards left Singapore down to nine, but resolute defending held firm until a late free-kick produced a loose ball that Malaysia bundled over the line for the winner.
By the end of Saturday, Singapore had transformed a 2–1 deficit into a 7.5–4.5 lead. The trophy suddenly looked within reach.
Day Three
Then came the Malaysian comeback on Sunday.
Cross Country at Bedok Reservoir began with a tense wait, as severe lightning delayed the scheduled 7:00 AM flag off by almost two hours, with cancellation briefly in prospect. On rain-soaked trails, Singapore swept the men’s top three and took the top female finisher, but Malaysia claimed the overall victory.
Netball restored Singapore’s momentum with a convincing 54–27 victory, built on hard defensive pressure, tireless midcourt work and composed shooting.
Volleyball saw Singapore put up an inspired fight against a younger and deeper Malaysian side. Several spirited scoring runs, spurred on by enthusiastic LSS cheerleaders, were ultimately not enough as Singapore fell in three sets.
Basketball was hampered by injuries to several key players, but new faces brought plenty of energy to a spirited Singapore performance. The team narrowly fell 60–61 in a thrilling contest and the Malaysians deserve full credit for it.
Pickleball, a non-competitive event, provided some consolation, with Singapore winning 4–3.
That left Squash as the decider, with the scoreboard tilting in Singapore’s favour at 8.5–7.5 and LSS needing only a draw to take the Games.
Moments before play began, the Singapore team was told in the bluntest of terms: “It’s down to you guys.”
Despite three injuries and illnesses, Singapore had fielded its strongest available lineup. And, as if scripted by Hollywood, Squash itself would go down to the wire.
In the final match, Singapore held match ball. At a crucial moment, the Singapore side appealed for a stroke, but the Singaporean referee, in good conscience, ruled that it was not. Malaysia recovered to win 3–2 in the most dramatic possible way to bring the Games level.
The Closing Dinner
The Closing Dinner at Furama RiverFront brought the weekend of competition to a suitably convivial close.
Between courses came the Boat Race, a non-competitive tradition and the final contest of the weekend. Malaysia won by a sliver, although, mercifully, there were no points at stake in this one.
Honours Even
And the 54th Games ended exactly level: Singapore 8.5 – Malaysia 8.5.
Singapore had started behind, built a three-point lead by Saturday night, and then watched as Malaysia steadily clawed it back on Sunday. In the end, the overall result came down to the final match of the final sport.
There was no shortage of drama, but also no shortage of good humour, sportsmanship and the enduring camaraderie that has made the Bench & Bar Games such a fixture between the legal communities of Singapore and Malaysia.
A draw, however, was not enough to dislodge the reigning champions. Malaysia therefore retained the Bench & Bar Games trophy for another year.
Singapore, meanwhile, has a year to reflect on five defeats by a single point. For Singapore, there is only one answer:
On to Penang.
Brandon Chung
Sports Committee member and Badminton captain
Capturing the Spirit: Highlights from the Event
Bowling
From 3–10 to 8–5: Law Society of Singapore Makes Bench & Bar History
Last year, the Law Society of Singapore suffered one of its most painful defeats at the Bench & Bar bowling competition, losing to Malaysia by a score of 3–10. It was a result that the team did not forget.
This year, Singapore returned with a renewed sense of purpose. The team was determined to turn disappointment into motivation and preparation into performance. To help raise the team’s standards, Singapore enlisted the support of two Singapore female national bowlers, who worked with the team to sharpen their skills and prepare them for the challenge ahead. Training began earlier, sessions became more frequent, and the team approached the competition with a shared determination to win.
The opening Team Event, in which the combined scores of all 10 bowlers over two games determine the result, did not go Singapore’s way. Malaysia took the first point, and Singapore found itself needing to respond.
And respond it did.
The Singles Event produced one of the most significant moments in Bench & Bar history. Singapore swept all three men’s singles matches, with Bert, Ian and Marcus defeating Malaysia’s three leading male bowlers. It was the first time Singapore had ever swept all three men’s singles points. Words could not describe how tense the atmosphere was for the Singles Event, especially for the match between Singapore’s newly minted bowler Marcus and Malaysia’s captain and convenor Rodzim. Marcus won the second game by the skin of his teeth (one pin!!!) to push the game to the tie-breaker, which he eventually won with a convincing victory of 230 against Rodzim’s 186.
The women’s singles went to Malaysia’s female powerhouse Syasya, but Singapore’s three victories in the men’s singles changed the momentum of the competition. From being behind after the Team Event, Singapore had shown that it was ready to fight for every point.
The Doubles Event continued the resurgence.
In the women’s doubles, Lorraine and Carmen delivered a commanding performance, winning both games in decisive fashion to secure the point for Singapore.
The men’s doubles was a very different affair. Javier and Ron found themselves in a fiercely contested battle, with neither pair willing to give an inch. The match went all the way to the tie-breaker, where Singapore held its nerve and Javier and Ron eventually prevailed. It was a crucial victory and another demonstration of the team’s ability to perform under pressure.
Singapore then secured another point in the Mixed Doubles with a commanding win by Bert and Ying Wee, taking the overall score to 6–5 heading into the final stage of the competition.
The equation was now simple. Singapore needed just one more point. But the team did not settle for the minimum.
In the Bakers Event, where teams of bowlers compete together in a format that demands communication, composure and trust, Singapore produced a fitting finale. The team won both Bakers matches, securing the final two points and sealing an emphatic 8–5 victory over Malaysia.
From 3–10 last year to 8–5 this year, the turnaround could hardly have been more dramatic. More importantly, this was not simply a victory over Malaysia. It was a record-breaking victory. Singapore’s three-point winning margin is the largest winning margin in Bench & Bar history.
The significance of the result lies not only in the final score, but in the way the team responded when the competition did not begin as planned. Singapore lost the Team Event, regrouped, and then produced its strongest bowling when the pressure was greatest. Three historic men’s singles victories were followed by a decisive women’s doubles win, a nerve-wracking men’s doubles tie-break victory, another crucial mixed doubles point, and finally a clean sweep in Bakers.
The journey from last year’s defeat to this year’s triumph was built through earlier preparation, more frequent training, the willingness to seek help from elite athletes, and a team that genuinely believed it could do something different this year.
Last year’s 3–10 defeat could have been remembered simply as a setback. Instead, Singapore used it as motivation.
This year’s 8–5 victory will be remembered as history.
Javier Yeo
Bowling Convenor
Golf
The 54th Bench and Bar Games 2026 teed off, quite literally, on Friday, 28 August 2026, with golf leading the charge as the first event of this year’s Games. Held at Seletar Golf and Country Club, the stage was set for a keenly contested battle between the Singapore and Malaysian contingents.
Seletar’s course was in fine condition, but it was no pushover. The numerous water bodies and hazards dotting the layout tested golfers from both sides, demanding precision and patience. The weather initially threatened to play spoilsport: dark clouds loomed early in the day, raising concerns of a washout. Fortunately, the skies cleared, bringing excellent playing conditions, with warm sunshine tempered by cloud cover. It was, by all accounts, a splendid day for golf.
The competition was played in a Ryder Cup-style match play format, with a total of 23 points up for grabs, one point per flight. Singapore fielded an impressive 50 competitive players, while Malaysia brought 45. Singapore started the day 2–0 up, a useful cushion that would prove significant by the end of the day.
The calibre of participants underscored the unique character of the Bench and Bar Games. From Team Singapore, we were honoured to have the Honourable Senior Judge Lee Seiu Kin taking to the fairways. The Malaysian contingent was equally well-represented on the judicial front, with Dato Seri Mohd Firus Bin Jaffril, Justice of the Court of Appeal (Malaysia), among the distinguished judges in attendance.
If anyone expected Singapore’s early two-point advantage to make for a comfortable afternoon, the golf course had other ideas. The match remained tightly contested throughout, with both teams trading points. Leads were established and clawed back, with each side responding whenever the other gained momentum. The ebb and flow of the contest made for gripping viewing and plenty of drama on the closing holes.
When the dust finally settled, Singapore emerged victorious with a hard-earned 15–10 scoreline, a result that belied just how close many of the individual flights had been.
For those who have followed the fortunes of Singapore’s golf team at the Bench and Bar Games, this victory carries special significance. Before our triumph in 2024, Singapore’s last golf win was back in 1998, a drought of some 26 years. Two wins in three years suggest that the tide is turning. After a strong showing by Singapore’s travelling contingent at the 2025 Games in Melaka, expectations were building, and this year’s home team delivered on that promise.
As is the enduring tradition of the Bench and Bar Games, the day did not end with the final putt. Many golfers from both the Singapore and Malaysian contingents stayed back long after the scores had been tallied, enjoying food and drinks at the outdoor patio. The players basked in the afterglow of a day well spent, sharing stories from the course and strengthening the bonds of friendship that make these Games so special. It is, after all, this spirit of fellowship that lies at the heart of the Bench and Bar Games.
Singapore’s golfers can hold their heads high after a memorable day at Seletar, a first for many participating in the Bench and Bar Games for their very first time. The team’s depth, competitiveness, and fighting spirit bode well for future editions. As we look ahead, one thing is clear: the Bench and Bar golfing rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia is alive, well, and closer than ever.
Tang Shangwei
Golf Co-Convenor
Hockey
The second game of the weekend saw our men’s hockey team face off against Malaysia and their State players.
A left side reverse at the end of a storming run, followed by a generous penalty flick, put Malaysia up 2–0 early in the game. A third goal followed in the third quarter when Singapore were two players down after a pair of yellow cards.
Our men soldiered on with grit, finding the goal at the end of a left-side cross in the fourth quarter. A brilliant penalty corner drag flick followed shortly, putting them within reach of the elusive equaliser.
A desperate foul by the Malaysian defence in the dying minutes of the game should have resulted in a final penalty corner to give Singapore their chance of evening the score.
However, the umpire blew the final whistle instead, ending the match at 3–2.
Ashvin Thevar
Member of the Hockey Team
Masters Football
Old Rivalry, Old Friends, No Such Thing as a Friendly
The Law Society of Singapore took on the Malaysian Bar in the Masters Football match at Jalan Besar Stadium as part of the 54th Bench & Bar Games.
Officially, the match was “non-competitive”, with no points awarded towards the overall Games. Anyone who has played in this fixture knows that there is no such thing as a non-competitive match. There may have been no points at stake, but there were decades of rivalry, pride and, most importantly, bragging rights.
Jalan Besar Stadium, with its new grass turf, provided the perfect setting for battle. As the players warmed up, old friendships were renewed with familiar faces, many of whom had been opponents for decades. There were smiles, handshakes and greetings.
Those pleasantries, naturally, ended at kick-off.
Law Society started brightly, dominating the early proceedings, creating several chances and forcing the Malaysian goalkeeper into several saves. But football can be a cruel game. With virtually their first meaningful attack, the Malaysians found space in midfield and slipped a pass through our defence. Their striker finished past our goalkeeper.
0-1. Just like that.
The response was immediate. Straight from the restart, Edwin Tong found Nanda with a fine pass. Nanda did the rest, finishing past the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
Prayer answered. Ask Nanda and Sankar.
1–1. Order restored.
The complexion of the game changed when the Malaysian Bar introduced their talismanic midfielder, Ganesh. Suddenly, Law Society found itself doing more backtracking than planned.
Before long, Malaysia regained the lead through what appeared to be an innocuous cross-cum-shot by Ganesh that somehow slipped through our goalkeeper’s hands.
We still felt we could respond, but before we could do so, another defence-splitting pass sent the Malaysians through again.
3–1.
Half-time could not come soon enough.
Trevor delivered the required half-time rallying cry. The message was simple: we had the players, we had the chances, and we had the ability to come back. More importantly, nobody wanted to spend the next year listening to the Malaysians remind us of the score.
We began the second half on the front foot. Mean Luck was tasked with stopping Ganesh and he did so brilliantly, neutralising the danger he posed. Law Society pushed hard while the Malaysians looked to hit us on the counterattack, extend their lead and kill the game off.
We huffed. We puffed. We won free kicks and corners. Their goalkeeper, unfortunately, refused to cooperate and produced save after save.
At the final hydration break, Trevor decided subtlety had run its course. The instruction was clear:
All-out attack.
From then on, it was almost entirely Law Society. Wave after wave went forward as we searched for a way back into the match.
Then, finally, one of our countless corners produced something special.
Captain Khab swung the ball towards the goal and, without another touch, it sailed straight in.
An Olympic Goal!
3–2. Game on.
With about 15 minutes remaining, belief returned. The Malaysians were defending desperately as Law Society searched for the equaliser. Tackles flew in from both sides and, for a match that supposedly did not count, everyone seemed determined to win it.
Their goalkeeper continued making saves while we threw practically the whole Bench and Bar at them. Punt intended.
As the minutes ticked away, tired legs showed and injuries mounted on both sides. Then came the decisive moment. With Law Society committed to an all-out attack, a Malaysian forward broke through. Cosmas, in a desperate attempt to stop him, pulled him down. The referee had no choice but to show him a red card.
Down to 10 men, the spirit remained willing, but the Masters’ bodies were beginning to remind everyone why this was, after all, a Masters match.
Eventually, time ran out.
Final score: Malaysian Bar 3 – Law Society of Singapore 2.
The Malaysians were understandably delighted. Victories against us in Singapore have been rare, so they were entitled to enjoy this one, although hopefully not for too long.
For Law Society, there was disappointment after fighting back from 3–1 down, but also plenty to be proud of. The game was fiercely contested, played in tremendous spirits and ended, as these encounters always should, with friendships intact.
So much for a “non-competitive” fixture.
No Games points were won or lost, but bragging rights certainly were.
Until the next one.
Masters Football: not for the faint-hearted, and definitely not for the young.
See you in Penang.
Lim Yong
Member of the Masters Football Team
Tennis
Six Out of Seven: Dispatches from the Front
In the lead-up to the 54th Singapore–Malaysia Bench & Bar Games, our Singapore players had endured a month of training in searing heat under a relentless sun. Team Singapore was united in every sense, and its supporters made sure everyone knew that they too were part of the fighting force. The auxiliary services (medics, drinks and sustenance, photography, reporters and the massive vocal units) were unmatched, while Chief Justice Menon surveyed the battlefield from the Generals’ tent on high ground.
On that battlefield, the Mixed Doubles and Ladies’ Doubles charged in first. The Malaysians had won the Ladies’ Doubles in recent years, except last year, when they were unable to field their regular pair, Katelyn Yeoh and Ti Jia Min. That formidable pair returned this year. Neither Joanne Lee nor Low Zhe Ning had beaten them before, but this time, Jo and Ning came as Supergirl and Wonder Woman. They were smacked down 2–6 in the first set as the Malaysian duo continued their successful tactics of lobs and drop shots. But the Singapore girls struck back in the second set, bringing the match to a deciding super tie-break. Katelyn and Jia Min had two match points. Jo and Ning had other ideas and fought back to claim a match point of their own, teaching the Malaysians how to finish a match. Ning struck a thunderbolt, which was poorly parried back, and Jo executed her coup de grâce. 13–11 to Singapore in the super tie-break.
Meanwhile, Grace Lai was on the next court with her partner, Ray Chiang. This year, their old foe Adeline Yew had a new partner, Mohd Arif bin Abdullah. Grace and Ray romped through the first set 6–1 and, after letting slip a lead in the second, recovered to win it 6–3.
The Men’s matches then began. The veterans, Tan Xu Teng and Choo Wei Pin, stepped forward. They faced a Malaysian veteran’s veteran, Wee Kiat Seng, fondly known on both sides of the Causeway as “Fei Zai”. His tall and lanky partner, Derrick Kong, proved a challenge in a hard-fought 7–5, 6–3 victory for the Singapore pair. The match featured XT’s backhand slices, as smooth as his skin, and Wei Pin’s trademark chop, hack and smash.
The Men’s first pair, Low Zhe Han and Shawn Ng, took the court. This was the Hector moment. Remember when Hector stormed into the Greek formation, hoping to find the great Achilles, but found Patroclus instead? The Malaysian General Yeoh had claimed that they were meeting us strength for strength, but their Achilles, Muhammad Askal bin Azhar, was sheltering with his partner, Toi Tee Town, in the second pair. So, against an ageing Denning Tan and the rookie Ryan Vong, Han and Shawn cruised through the first set 6–0 in no time and went 4–2 up in the second, seemingly closing in for the kill. But Han, like Johnny Storm the Human Torch, has a habit of flaming off when he (and we) least expect it, and did so at that point, allowing the Malaysians to force a super tie-break. Han then flamed on again and, with Shawn, blazed to victory, 10–5.
Askal, with a wounded Toi, crept into the Men’s second pair. Leong Chee Jun, whose aura some say exceeds Agamemnon’s, stood unflinchingly with Singapore’s Field General, Marcus Tay. After one set, Askal and Toi retired, handing the match to Chee Jun and Marcus.
Overall victory secured, Singapore looked on course for its first-ever, record-making 7–0 whitewash. Nicholas Poon and Keith Yong, lawyer and aspiring realtor, took on Muhammad Issyam bin Ismail and Ahmad Sarjie bin Ahmad Mustafa, a pair whose feet seemed too leaden to attract even a second glance from the bookmakers. Nick and Keith won the first set 6–2 and were 4–1 up in the second. And then, alas. They were taken to a deciding super tie-break, where they succumbed 5–10. Why and how? [The following paragraphs have been censored].
The Men’s fourth pair, Gavin Neo and Timothy Kuah, were expected to clinch an easy win against James Chew, almost old enough to be Tim’s father, and Henry Ho, competing in only his second Games. The Malaysians, too, forced the Singapore pair into a super tie-break, where Gavin of the Gifts gifted the Malaysians two double faults. To his and Tim’s credit (20%) and to the credit of providence (80%), they won the tie-break 10–8.
Singapore 6, Malaysia 1. So, the Games move on to Penang, and that is a tale to be savoured next year, along with its street food.
THE WATCHER
Thank you to our Sponsors
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our sponsors for their generous support and contribution to the success of the Bench & Bar Games.
Platinum Sponsors
Davinder Singh Chambers LLC
Eugene Thuraisingam Asia LLC
Gold Sponsors
Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP
Silver Sponsors
Allen & Gledhill LLP
Harry Elias Partnership LLP
RCLT Law Corporation
WongPartnership LLP
Corporate Sponsor
Singapore Paincare Medical Group
Individual Sponsors
Mr Gregory Vijayendran SC
