Wie and Nirapathpongporn in HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship

Virada Nirapathpongporn of Thailand will face U.S. women's Open champion Annika Sorenstam while Hawai`i's Michelle Wie will open against Candy Hannemann on Thursday in the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.

The 64th-seeded Nirapathpongporn won the 2002 NCAA individual title for Duke and the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur.

The 16-year-old Wie earned a spot as the second seed as the No. 2 player in the new world rankings. Most recently Wie tied for third place at the Women's Open.


Virada Nirapathpongporn of Thailand at U.S. Women's Open golf championship at the Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island, June 30, 2006. Reuters photo via Yahoo News.


Michelle Wie after her shot on the 13th green of the U.S. Women's Open golf championship, July 2, 2006. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi photo via Yahoo News.

Shyamalan blasts Disney in new book

M. Night Shyamalan, whose name alone brings monetary success to his films, lashed out at his old studio in a new book published next month.

Shyamalan left Disney, where he made all his successful films including The SIxth Sense, Signs and The Village, after disagreement over his new film Lady in the Water with the studio's producers.


M. Night Shyamalan, publicity photo.

A meeting with Disney execs in Philadelphia last February left Shyamalan in tears, and in the book he is particularly harsh on his former mentor Nina Jacobson.

The eerie film director bolted to Warner Brothers which is releasing Lady in the Water on July 21.

'Death Note' tops 'Da Vinci' for Japan box office

Death Note based on a popular manga comic topped The Da Vinci Code at the Japanese box office with US$4.13 million in its first two days.

Starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, the film tells the story of boy genius Raito Yagami, who can kill anyone he wants simply by writing their name in a notebook.

A second movie in the series is due to open in November, while Nippon Television Network plans an animated version.

Experts were surprised though that the movie was able to knock out The Da Vinci Code which has been going strong since its opening. The latter movie topped the world box office for the fifth straight week.

The Da Vinci Code has reportedly earned about US$680 million.