9th July, Kaohsiung: Hong Kong's Michael Mak and Chinese Taipei's Huang Chiung-Yao shared glory at the 16th Chinese Taipei International Open with victory in the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters stepladder finals.

Both the title contenders matched strides for strides in the first five frames with a spare in the opening frame and four strikes-in-a-row. But challenger, Wu Hao-Ming of Chinese Taipei could only spared his sixth frame as the top seed downed one more strike.

Although Wu came on strongly to roll another three strikes, Mak added three more to put the match beyond the Taiwanese winning the tie, 257-244 to take victory.

The first runner-up had earlier edged Mak's compatriot and second-seed, Wu Siu Hong and defending champion fellow-countrymen, Cheng Hsing-Chao, 233-222-181 in the semi-final match to set up the finale with Mak.

Cheng, who was seeded fourth, ousted fifth-seed, Chen Wu-Chi and sixth-seed, Lin Pai-Feng, 252-221-183 in the all-Taiwanese first stepladder match to advance to the semi.

"I had struggled in the qualifying and needed the final squad to make the finals," said Mak after his victory. "I didn't expect to do well but I'm indeed surprised to take top spot in the eight-games roll-off earlier.

"I've finished first and second runner-ups in many tournaments already and I'm delighted to break that losing streak," added the champion, who picked up NT$250,000 (approx. US$7,700) for the win. Wu settled for NT$120,000 while Siu Hong took home NT$60,000 for finishing second runner-up.

Cheng, Chen and Lin earned NT$40,000, NT$35,000 and NT$25,000 respectively. Mak topped the earlier finals with 1722, just 12 pins ahead of Siu Hong with 1710 to give Hong Kong and one-two finish. Wu Hao-Ming took third spot with 1708.

Cheng, the defending champion, Chen and Lin made the stepladder finals in fourth to sixth positions with 1696, 1669 and 1667. Yeh Meng-Wei missed the cut by 20 pins in seventh.

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei totally dominated the women's division with six of them qualifying for the stepladder finals. Second-seed, Huang defeated top seed, Chang Yu-Hsuan twice, 201-200 and 223-156 to capture the women's crown.

The champion also sailed past compatriots, third-seed Li Shiau-Ping and winner of the first match, Pan Yu-Fen, 245-136-184 to face Chang in the finals. Pan took the first match defeating foruth-seed, Tsai Hsin-Yi and defending champion, Chou Chia-Chen, 194-141-179 in the first match.

Huang won NT$80,000 (approx. US$2,500) as champion leaving Chang NT$40,000 as first runner-up. Positions three to six pocketed NT$20,000, NT$18,000, NT$15,000 and NT$12,000 respectively.

Chang topped the earlier eight-games finals with 1623 to claim top seed for the stepladder finals. Huang finish 50 pins behind in second with 1573 and Li third with 1571.

Tsai, Chou and Pan downed 1562, 1552 and 1547 making up the top six. Fourteen Taiwanese out of 16 Asian men (two Hong Kong men) qualified for the ABF Tour Chinese Taipei leg scheduled to be held tomorrow at the same bowling centre. Thirteen Taiwanese women also qualified leaving three places for two Macau women and one Hong Kong women.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.

7th July, Kaohsiung: Reigning QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong secured pole position in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 16th Chinese Taipei International Open underway at Southern Bowling Centre.

Wu headed the overseas pool with the highest three-game series of 720 to add to his second best series of 626 for a total of 1346. Wu won the men's title back in 2008 and almost successfully defending his title the following year but lost to Chang Te-Ming of Chinese Taipei.

The Hong Kong national bowler will be hoping to do well before heading back to compete in the 42nd Hong Kong International Open on home soil next week. This year's Thailand Open champion, Kim Bolley and his Thai compatriot, Annop Arromsaranon both did well to take up second and third spots with 1336 and 1320.

China's Hwang Jian and Singapore national youth, Jarred Lim completed the top five with 1299 and 1289 respectively. In the local pool, Chen Wu-Chi remained unchallenged for over three days to lead with 1373.

Hsu Yin-Chao and Lin Pai-Feng occupied second and third positions with 1357 and 1340 while Chih Chin-Liang and Chu Chin-Hsiang rounded out the top five in the local pool.

The cut in 11th position in the mixed pool is currently held by Chen Chia-Hsin of Chinese Taipei with 1230. Qualifying will end late this evening at 11.20pm local time. A one-game desperado squad will be held to add three qualifiers for the finals.

The top 12 qualifiers from the local pool, top 12 from the overseas pool, top 11 from the mixed pool and three from desperado squad together with the defending champion will contest two block of eight games on July 8 and 9 with pins carried forward. The top six finishers at the end of the second block will proceed to the stepladder finals.

Meanwhile, four time Chinese Taipei Open runner-up, Wang Ya-Ting is also hoping to end her unlucky losing streak by winning the coveted women's crown for the first time. Wang topped the ladies' table with a superb 1308.

Huang Chiung-Yao and Tsai Hsin-Yi finished second and third with 1238 and 1218 respectively. 2011 ABF Tour Macau winner, Julia Lam of Macau took over the lead of the overseas pool with 1275 from Malaysia's Tang Joh Six, who slipped to third with 1214 behind Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han, who improved to second on 1224.

Radin Nur Najwa of Malaysia and Fiona Yew of Singapore completed the top five with 1186 and 1169. Current cut for the ladies' division in ninth position is held by Macau's Hui Tong with 1041.

The top 10 qualifiers from the local pool, top 10 from the overseas pool and top 9 from the mixed pool together with the defending champion will contest two block of eight games on July 8 and 9 with pins carried forward.

The top six finishers at the end of the second block will proceed to the stepladder finals. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women at the end of the second block will also qualify for the third and inaugural Chinese Taipei leg of the 2016 ABF Tour to be staged on July 10. The tour will also use the new World Bowling ten-frame new scoring system and will be telecast LIVE by Sportcast.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.