30th April, Cairo: Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain captured his first major international title with victory in the Men's stepladder title match of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament while Mennat Soltan won her second Ladies' crown on Wednesday.

Top seed Janahi was handed the title without going into the second deciding match after he narrowly defeated challenger and fourth-seed, Mustafa Al Mousawi of Kuwait, 226-225 in the finals.

The 15-year-old Stage 1 leader got off to a great start when he rolled four consecutive strikes but the Bahraini responded eaully well with three of his own from frame 3. Janahi missed a simple pin 10 spare in the sixth frame to trail by 20 pins.

But he bounced back with a double in the next two frames to reduce the gap to just 11 pins. Mustafa struck on the tenth frame and all he needed was to mark his bonus frame. He struck 8 pins before failing to spare ending with 225.

Janahi seized on the opportunity to strike out to end the match with 226 and edging his opponent by just 1 pin to take victory.

"It has been long overdue," said the 35-year-old Bahraini national bowler, Janahi. "I've trained hard in preparation for next week's GCC championship but I felt I needed a competition to see how well I've prepared.

"I'm really glad to come here and win my first-ever international title. I hope I can carry this form and confidence into the GCC Championships next week in Bahrain," added the champion, who picked up US$7,500 top prize.

Musatafa, who earned US$3,500 as first runner-up, had earlier defeated second seed and team-mate, Jassim Darwish, 236-206 to reach the finals. The Kuwaiti, who won the 15th Asian Schools Singles gold medal in Jakarta in February, also beat another team-mate and third-seed, Yaqoub Al Shatti, 222-214 in the first stepladder match.

Jassim and Yaqoub picked up US$2,500 and US$2,000 for third and fourth positions respectively. Defending champion, Ayman Hashem of Egypt missed the stepladder by 27 pins after finishing fifth in the earlier Stage 2 finals.

Meanwhile, 2010 champion and third-seed, Mennat Soltan gave Egyptian supporters plenty to cheer for when she beat topseed, Hanadi Al Muzail of Kuwait, 196-184, 169-162 in two matches to win the Ladies' title for the second time.

Mennat had earlier earned a crack at the title with victory over second-seed, Muna Khosho of Iraq, 216-184 in the second Ladies stepladder match. The champion sailed past fourth-seed, Sara Gamal 216-168 in the all-Egyptian first stepladder match.

The Egyptian champion pocketed US$2,000 while Hanadi settled for US$1,200. Muna and Sara picked up US$600 and US$500 for finishing third and fourth position respectively.

The top 16 Asian men qualified for the fourth stop of the 2014 ABF Tour - Egypt which will be held at the same bowling center tomorrow.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.

29th April, Cairo: 2013 Asian Schools Singles gold medalist, Mustafa Al Mousawi and 2013 ABF Tour Ranked No. 1, Rakan Al Ameeri gave Kuwait a one-two finish in the Men's Stage 1 Finals of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament on Tuesday.

Mustafa got off the block with a cracking 278 to lead Iraq's Maher Abd Alhussien in second followed by newcomer, Hamza Abo Alhaiga of Jordan in a distant third. The 15-year-old followed it up with 214 to stretch his lead from 4 to 17 pins after the second with the Iraqi still in second.

The Kuwaiti youngster rolled 201 and 204 in his next two games but handed the lead to Mahmoud Mazloum after the Egyptian left-hander fired two strong games of 258 and 223 to move 9 pins ahead of Mustafa at the halfway mark.

But Mustafa bounced back with a stunning 266 to regain the lead as his team-mate and 2013 ABF Tour Saudi leg champion, Jassim Darwish homed in on second spot with another Kuwaiti, Rakan Al Ameeri in third and Mahmoud slipping down to fourth.

The leader rounded off a superb finals with 232, 269 and 214 to top Stage 1 with 1878. Rakan gave Kuwait a one-two finish by taking up second with 1820, 58 pins adrift while Mahmoud recovered to clinch third spot with 1770.

Three more Kuwaitis, Yaqoub Al Shatti, Jassim and Salem Al Hajras rounded out the top 6 with 1764, 1742 and 1730 respectively.

Two Iraqis, Thaer Abd Alhoussain and early pace-setter, Maher made the next stage in 15th and 16th positions with 1637 and 1635 while Abdulsalam Darwish of Kuwait missed the cut by 10 pins in 17th position with 1625.

The top 16 finishers advanced into Stage 2 finals joined by two top Egyptian finishers outside the top 16, Mahmoud Atef and Hussain Sobhy. Together with the top 3 local and top 3 overseas seeded qualifiers, they will bowl another 8 games tomorrow.

The top 4 will proceed to the stepladder finals with the first match amongst second, third and fourth seed. The winner will face the top seed in a twice to beat format in the title match.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.

29th April, Cairo: 2009 Sinai Open champion, Hanadi Al Muzail of Kuwait topped the Ladies' Masters finals of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament to advance to the stepladder finals as top seed with Muna Khoso of Iraq second and Mennat Soltan of Egypt third.

Hanadi got off the block with a sizzling 223 to lead Egyptians Hala Sharawy by 10 pins in second and 2010 Ladies' champion, Mennat Soltan third, a further 11 pins away. Mennat downed a superb 222 in the second game to take over the running, 11 ahead of Hanadi.

Mennat's lead did not last long past the midway point when the Kuwaiti title contender posted 179 and 199 in the third and fourth games while the Egyptian managed only 173 and 188 to fall 6 pin behind.

Hanadi went on to end the 6-games finals with 200 and 227 and advanced into the stepladder finals as top seed with 1218. Muno Khosho of Iraq stormed home with 217 and 206 to snatch second position with 1166.

Mennat settled for third with 1165, just 1 pin away while Sara Gamal clinched the fourth and final stepladder spot with 1131. Hala and Neven Wassel of Egypt completed the six finalists in fifth and sixth positions.

Muna, Mennat and Sara will meet in the first stepladder match over one game tomorrow after the Men's Stage 2 finals. The winner will earn the right to challenge top seed, Hanadi in a twice to beat format in the title match.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.

28th April, Cairo: Egyptian national youth member, Ahmed Abdel Hamid snatched the overall lead in the Men's qualifying table of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament with Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain leading the overseas pool.

Ahmed made huge jump on his lowest 3-game series of 694 to a massive 783 series to overtake team-mate, Eslam Ead for the lead. The 20-year-old got off the block with two sizzling 269 and 279 before easing off with 235 for a 9-game tally of 2211.

Eslam slipped down to second on his 2150 while Hossam Sobhy claimed third spot with 2119 and joining his countrymen for Stage 2 finals as the top 3 local qualifiers.

Mahmoud Mazloum settled for fourth position on 2118 and will have to battle in Stage 1 finals to advance into the next stage. Amr Nour rounded out the top 5 with 2049.

In the overseas pool, 2014 ABF Tour Bahrain first runner-up, Mohamed Janahi only needed three squads to take the lead with 2180. Janahi rolled 641 in his first attempt before rounding off with 825 in Squad 37 and 714 in Squad 38.

Overnight leader and 2013 ABF Tour UAE leg champion, HRH Prince Mohamed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia settled for second with 2172 while early pace-setter, Yaqoub Al Shatti of Kuwait took third spot with 2159.

The top 3 overseas qualifiers will earn a bye into Stage 2 finals. 2014 Kuwait Open youth champion, Aseel Al Roomi of Kuwait missed the top 3 by 24 pins after totaling 2135 to take up fourth position while Ammar Yamin of Jordan completed the top 5 with 2108.

The cut in tenth position for the overseas qualifiers was held by 2014 Asian Schools Singles gold medalist, Musatafa Al Mousawi of Kuwait with 2050. Top Iraqi, Maher Abd Alhussien headed the mixed pool with 2035.

The Ladies will contest their Masters finals at 10.00am local time tomorrow (April 29) and the Men's Stage 1 finals will be contested at 2.00pm. The top 16 finishers plus top 2 Egyptians will join the 6 seeded qualifiers for Stage 2 finals on April 30.

The current cut on the last day of qualifying went to Ibrahim Al Dubyyan of Kuwait with a total of 1882 (average 209.11). Players who missed the cut will have a chance to qualify with a one-game desperado squad staged at the end of the qualifying late this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.

27th April, Cairo: 2013 ABF Tour UAE champion, Prince Mohamed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia took over the lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying standings of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament late Saturday.

The Saudi, who was third with 2082 behind two Kuwaitis, Yaqoub Al Shatti and Jassim Darwish, notched up an imporves 754 in Squad 33 to give himself a 9-game tally of 2172 taking over top spot.

Prince Mohamed started off with 237 and 238 before his superb 279 for the highest series of the day. Early leader, Yaqoub settled for second with 2159 while his compatriot, Jassim swapped third spot with the prince with 2091.

2012 ABF Tour ranking leader, Rakan Al Ameeri of Kuwait took fourth position with 2059 with Jordan's Ammar Yaim rounding off the top 5 with 2050. However, qualifiers position 4 to 10 will have to battle the Stage 1 finals while the top 3 will earn a bye for Stage 2 finals.

There are no changes in the top 3 local qualifiers, who will also earn the bye. Eslam Ead, Ahmed Abdel Hamid and Hossam Sobhy occupied positions 1 to 3 with 2150, 2122 and 2119 respectively.

Salem Al Hajras of Kuwait is the cut of the overseas pool in tenth position with 1985. Mohamed Al Zaiod of Jordan headed the mixed pool with 1971 while the cut in 16th position with two more days left for qualifying was Hidar Jalil of Iraq with 1804.

Meanwhile, over in the Ladies' Open division, 2012 first runner-up, Hanadi Al Muzail of Kuwait topped the overseas pool with 1733 and 2010 champion, Mennat Soltan of Egypt occupied the top local spot with 1949.

Hala Sharawy of Egypt headed the mixed pool with 1885 followed by three other Egyptians, Hala Khafagy, Sara Gamal and Neven Wassel with 1786, 1760 and 1745 respectively.

The ladies will bowl 6 games in their finals and the top 4 will proceed to the stepladder finals. 33 Men's Open qualifiers will contest the 8-game Stage 1 finals with the top 16 plus top 2 Egyptians advancing to Stage 2 joined by the 6 seeded qualifiers for another 8 games.

The top 4 at tne end of Stage 2 finals will proceed to the stepladder finals. The champion will walk away with the top prize of US$7,500 and the first and second runner-up, US$3,500 and US$2,500 respectively.

The top 16 Asian men will also qualify for the fourth leg of the ABF Tour Egypt 2014 which will be held at the same center on May 1.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.

26th April, Cairo: Kuwaiti veteran, Yaqoub Al-Shatti set the qualifying pace of the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament underway at International Bowling Centre ahead of compatriot, Jassim Darwish in second and HRH Mohammed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia third.

Yaqoub registered posted 696 in his first squad before improving with two big 3-game series of 762 and 701 in squads 27 and 28 for a 9-game aggregate of 2159 to lead the Men's Open Masters qualifying table.

The Kuwaiti just snatched the overall lead 5 pins ahead of top local qualifier, Eslam Ead, who totaled 2150 from three series of 718, 717 and 715. Ahmed Abdel Hamid trailed Eslam by 28 pins to take up second while Hossam Sobhy took third spot with 2119.

Yaqoub's compatriot and 2013 ABF Tour Saudi leg champion, Jassim Darwish finished second in the overseas pool with 2091 followed by 2013 ABF Tour UAE leg champion, Mohammed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia third with 2082.

The top 3 local and top 3 overseas qualifiers will earn a bye into Stage 2 finals. Kuwaitis also made their mark after Rakan Al Ameeri, Basel Al Anzi and Mustafa Al Mousawi occupied fourth to sixth positions.

Hamza Abo Alhaiga of Jordan headed the mixed pool with 1963 while the cut at 16th position is held by Hazem Abd Elrashed of Egypt with 1801.

Local qualifiers positioned 4 to 10, overseas qualifiers positioned 4 to 10 and mixed pool qualifiers positioned 1 to 16 together with the top 3 qualifiers fromt he desperado squad will contest the 8-games Stage 1 finals on April 29.

The top 16 finishers together with the six seeded qualifiers will contest the 8-games Stage 2 finals from scratch. The top 4 finishers will then proceed to the stepladder knockout finals to determine the champion. Qualifying will end April 28.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Cairo.