14th March, Kuwait: Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and Wendy Chai of Malaysia celebrated a memorable victory in the ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions as Wu took his second win while Chai claimed her third victory on Wednesday.

Top seed, Wu had to work hard to earn his place in the finals during the first semi-final match against Kuwaiti favourite, Mohammed Al Zaidan. Both were locked at 225 and were force to paly off the 9th and 10th frame to break the tie.

Wu started off with a strike as Mohammed rolled a spare in the 9th frame. The Kuwaiti roll a double strike thereafter but managed only 7 pin count for 47. Wu added two more strikes and an 8 pin count for 58 to edge Mohammed.

In the title match, the champion doubled in the second and third frames as his team-mate, Tseng struggled with a split in the third and seventh frames. Wu then struck out from frame 5 onwards and cruised to a comfortable 267-164 victory.

Wu also beat Thailand's Annop Arromsaranon, 228-213 in the quarter-finals. Tseng eliminated UAE's Shaker Al Hassan, 214-192 in quarter-finals and another Thai, Yannaphon Larpapharat 247-219 in the semi-final to face Wu.

"Winning the title for the second time cannot be sweeter," said the 27-year-old Hong Kong national bowler, whose last title was the ABF Tour Saudi leg in 2010. "The training and competition in the US recently have helped me alot especially in handling pressure."

Ironcally, when Wu took his first TOC title in 2006, the women's champion was Wendy Chai of Malaysia. And today, Chai was also crowned the women's champion to share the top podium spot with Wu.

Chai sailed past Indonesia's Novie Phang, 205-139 in the secomd semi-final match after an earlier victory over Hee Kar Yen, 212-146 in the fourth all-Malaysian quarter-finals.

The Korean runner-up defeated 2009 TOC champion, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia, 236-201 in the first semi. Jo had earlier defeated room-mate, Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand, 242-215 in the qurter-finals to advance into the semi.

"I'm glad that we got the last minute permission to come to Kuwait to compete in the TOC," said the 34-year-old Wendy Chai. "I only bowled in the tour once last year and was very lucky to secure a spot in the grand finals. And winning it fr the third time is especially rewarding."

Wu won US$20,000 as champion with Tseng settling for US$8,000. Both the losing semi-finalists, Mohammed Al Zaidan and Yannaphon earned US$4,000 each. Chai was richer by US$10,000 after emerging as champion.

Jo took home US$5,000 for her effort while both the Indonesian women, Sharon Limansantoso and Novie Phang earned US$3,000 each. Mahmood Fetelah, Vice President of Kuwait Youth & Sports Council and Sheikh Talal M. Al-Sabah, ABF and Kuwait Bowling Federation President presented the trophies to the champions.

Kuwait will also be hosting the second leg of this year's ABF Tour on March 20 after the 9th Kuwaiti International Open, the sixth stop of the WTBA World Bwling Tour from 15 to 19 March at Cozmo Bwling Center in Salmiya City.

For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.