11th September, Singapore: Chinese Taipei's Huang Chiung Yao, Chu Yu Chieh and Lin Yi Fan shone on Day 1 of the ABF Tour - Singapore taking three of the four semifinal berths with newly-crowned Singapore Open champion, Liza del Rosario, the sole survivor.

Azidi Ameran led teammate, Daniel Lim of Malaysia, into the men's semifinals whilst youngster, Jason Yeong Nathan and ex-international, Jack Wong kept Singapore's hopes alive.

Catch the actions LIVE on Singapore Starhub and Malaysia Astro Supersport on September 12 at 18:00 (Hong Kong/Singapore time).

The 2003 Malaysian Open champion defeated teammate and ABF Tour Philippines leg champion, Alex Liew 225-212 in Round 2 to make his first tour semifinals. The 32-year-old had earlier knocked another teammate, Zulmazran Zulkilfi 220-193 in Round 1. Joining Ameran is Singapore Open runner-up, Daniel Lim after he ousted Asian Championship Gold medalist, Wu Hao-Ming of Chinese Taipei, 218-196. Like Ameran, Lim also won his first round match defeating Singapore's Terence Tan, 205-182.

Jason Yeong Nathan gave his country a pleasant surprise when he cruised into the semifinals by outclassing Filipino, Chester King 210-170 in Round 2. Despite starting nervously, Nathan managed to edge Singapore Open youth Masters champion, Choi Bok-Eum 178-177 in the first round. The last semifinal spot went to ex-international, Jack Wong after disposing off second-seed, Adrian Ang of Malaysia, 219-147 in Round 1 and Taipei's Lin Yi Chien, 189-176 in Round 2.

In the women's division, newly-crowned Singapore Open champion, Liza del Rosario was given an easy passage into the semifinals. Malaysia's Sarah Yap had four splits in her match against Rosario to go down, 147-181 in Round 2. The top-seed also won her Round 1 match defeating Taipei's Wang Yu Ling, 199-179 earlier.

Undoubtedly, the day belonged to the Taipei women when they took the remaining three semifinal berths. Leading the charge is Huang Chiung Yao after she ousted newcomer, Ong She-Na, 218-192 in Round 2. ABF Tour Thailand leg champion, Shalin Zulkifli was certain of defeating her opponent, Chu Yu Chieh when she converted a 3-6-10 spare in the final frame and only needed a high pin count in the bonus frame to take the match. But Shalin could only managed 6 pins to loose the match by a single pin, 178-179.

Lin Yi Fan earned her semifinal spot after knocking out Yap Seok Kim of Singapore, 204-189 in the second round to give Chinese Taipei their third semifinal slot.

Daniel Lim will meet Jason Yeong Nathan in the first men's semifinal match while Azidi Ameran will face off veteran, Jack Wong in the second. It will be an all-Taipei affair in the women's first semifinal match between Chu Yu Chieh and Lin Yi Fan while Liza del Rosario will be hoping to end the Taipei bowlers' run of good form when she meets Huang Chiung Yao in the second match.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Singapore Day 2 matches will be telecast LIVE on Singapore's Starhub and Malaysia's Astro Supersport tomorrow commencing at 18:00 (Hong Kong/Singapore time). Highlights of the leg will also be shown in the six countries where the tour are being held. It will also be broadcast later in other parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 95 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com) or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com).