21st March, Kuala Lumpur: Qatar's Khalifa Khaled Al-Kubaisi and Singapore's Jennifer Tan took the lead in the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters overseas pool table oin the 27th Malaysian International Open at Pyramid Megalanes this evening.

The 28 year-old Qatar National team member, Khalifa had lines of 169, 253, 279 and 278 for a total of 979 to not only lead the the overseas pool but also the overall Men's Open Masters qualifying table. Second in the table came early leader Shahwall Mustafa from Brunei with 949 while Khalifa's teammate and Emir Cup 2004 champion, Abdulla Al-Qattan finished third with 892.

Former World Cup champion, Ahmed Shaheen, in his first attempt scored 889 to take up fourth with Busan Asian Games Trios Gold medalists, Sam Goh in fifth and triple Gold medalist, Remy Ong both from Singapore in sixth with 885 and 876 respectively.

In the local pool, National kegler Ben Heng shared the lead with

In the ladies division, 2002 World Ranking Masters champion Jennifer Tan from Singapore led the overseas pool with 813 ahead of Singapore Open champion, Evelyn Chan in second with 810. Veteran national team member, Alice Tay tool up third spot with 750.

Three-time National champion, Shalin Zukifli and Selangor's Siti Khadijah Osman continued to share the lead with 890 followed by ex-national Low Poh Lian in third with 886. Nationa rookie Esther Cheah maintained fourth with 882 with Hong Kong Open champion, Wendy Chai in fifth on 873.

While a fair bit of the overseas team have arrive to start their qualifying rounds today, others that have also arrive were World Championship Masters Gold medalist Diandra Hayman of USA, Zara Glover of England

and 2001 World Cup champion, Kim Haugen. Kim have not taken to the lanes despite arrive on Saturday as he went to watch the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Qualifying continues until 21st March for local bowlers and from the 22nd March, the qualifying rounds will be reserved for outstation and overseas participants. The Masters Finals will commence on Thursday, 25th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

20th March, Kuala Lumpur: National youth squad member, Eric Ang and national bowler Ben Heng shared pole position in the Men’s Open Masters qualifying table of the 27th Malaysian International Open at Pyramid Megalanes this evening while three-time national champion Shalin Zulkifli and Siti Khadijah shared the Ladies’ division lead.

The 18 year-old Asian Schools Team Gold medallist was firing all cylinders when he took to the lanes at the 8.30pm qualifying squad last night to record lines of 215, 245, 252 and 254 for a total of 966 to share the lead with Ben Heng. Ben had lines of 277, 236, 215 and 238. Both the bowlers grabbed the lead from overnight leader, and national squad debutant, Aaron Kong who had 945 now in third. Ex-national, Lim Fung Jung dropped to fourth on 943 followed by Mohd Noer Said in fifth position with 936 and 15 year-old Adrian Ang in sixth with 935.

The defending champion, Liza del Rosario of the Philippines, is facing some problems with her visa application to England for the World Tenpin Masters scheduled for 2 - 4 April. She had submitted her passport to the British High Commission in Manila and will take about two to three weeks before she gets it approved. She may not have a passport to travel to Malaysia to defend her title.

"We have written a letter to the British High Commission in Manila to inform them that Liza is the defending champion and that she needs her passport back in time to travel to Malaysia," said Mr Sidney Tung, Secretary General of MTBC. "In addition, Mr Steve Hontiveros, the newly-elected FIQ President and a member of the Philippines Olympic Council is also assisting to speed up her application," added Tung.

Meanwhile, World Championship Masters Gold medallist and American Zone Ranked No. 1, Diandra Hayman of USA and World Championship Singles and Doubles Gold medallist, Zara Glover from England will arrive Kuala Lumpur on Monday specially flown in by the official carrier Malaysia Airlines and will start their qualifying rounds the following day.

In the Ladies’ division, three-time National Champion, Shalin Zulkifli also shared the lead with Selangor’s Siti Khadijah with 890 and ahead of ex-national Low Poh Lian dropping to second with 886. National rookie, Esther Cheah took fourth spot 882 followed by Hong Kong Open champion, Wendy Chai in fifth with 873.

Qualifying continues until 21st March for local bowlers and from the 22nd March, the qualifying rounds will be reserved for outstation and overseas participants. The Masters Finals will commence on Thursday, 25th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

19th March, Kuala Lumpur: National squad debutant, Adrian Ang signalled his intentions when he knocked down 935 to take fourth in the Men’s Open Masters qualifying table of the 27th Malaysian International Open at Pyramid Megalanes this morning.

The 15 year-old St. Xavier’s Secondary School student, who was selected into the National Squad after winning the Milo International Junior All-Stars and finishing runner-up in the National Championship early this year, had lines of 243, 269, 190 and 233 for an impressive 935 score.

"After a dismal performance at the MSSM bowling championship last week where the conditions were unfavourable, I found the lanes at Pyramid quite refreshing," said Adrian. "When I scored 891 in my Boy’s Open qualifying earlier, I felt good and was confident that I could better that score when I took to the lanes again in the Men’s Open division," added Adrian.

"I’ll be moving to Kuala Lumpur soon to continue my studies at Bukit Jalil Sports School which will give me more training sessions with the rest of the

Meanwhile, another debutant Aaron Kong continued to lead the local pool with 945 scored yesterday followed by ex-national, Lim Fung Jung just 2 pins away in second. Mohd Noer Said took third spot with 936. In the overseas pool, Shahwall Mustafa from Brunei led with 949.

In the women’s division, three-time Asian No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli scored a moderate 890 to take over the lead from ex-national Low Poh Lian, who dropped to second on 886 while national rookie Esther Cheah took third position with 882.

Siti Khadijah Osman from Selangor topped the Girl’s Open MILO International Masters table with an impressive 811 followed by three Gold medallist of the MSSM 2004, Christyn Chew in second with 779 and Sharon Koh in third with 772.

Kelvin Keong led the Boy’s Open division with 895 with Adrian Ang in second with 891. Selangor’s Syafiq Ridhwan took third spot with 869.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

18th March, Kuala Lumpur: National Squad debutant, Aaron Kong Eng Chuan stormed into the lead of the Men’s Open Masters qualifying table in the 27th Malaysian International Open at Pyramid Megalanes this morning.

The 19 year-old who has moved to Kuala Lumpur from his hometown in Penang since being drafted into the national team, was awesome this morning when he knocked down 215, 225, 246 and 259 for a total of 945. All the top 3 places changed when ex-national bowler Lim Fung Jung scored 943 to take second spot with 943 while another national rookie, Mohd Noer Said recorded 936 for third.

Early leader and another ex-national bowler, Mustafa Yassin dropped to fourth on his score of 927 followed by Alex Liew in fifth spot with 917. 2001 National champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli, who has not found his form of late did well to knock down 910 to put himself in sixth place. He had lines 245, 204, 268 and 193.

Meanwhile ex-national bowler, Low Poh Lian continued to lead the Ladies’ Open Masters qualifying table with 886 just 4 pins ahead of national rookie, Esther Cheah who scored with 882. Third in the table came Sarah Yap with a score of 854. Early leader, Tang Joh Six lies in fourth with 802 with Wendy Chai in fifth with 798.

Selangor youths dominated the top 3 places of the Boy's Open MILO International Masters local pool with Syafiq Ridhwan in the lead with 869 followed by William Koh in second with 846 and Sean Hee in third with 842. Most of the youths will be taking on to the lanes tomorrow most of whom have just arrived after participating in the MSSM 2004 bowling championship which concluded yesterday.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

17th March, Kuala Lumpur: Ex-international Low Poh Lian took over the lead of the Ladies’ Open Masters qualifying table in the 27th Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Pyramid Megalanes.

Poh Lian, who left the national team in 1999, has returned to active competition after completing her further studies. The 24 year-old who finished runner-up in the National Championship in January, took over the lead in the Ladies’ Open Masters qualifying table with lines of 207, 253, 215 and 211 for a total of 886.

Dropping to second was national rookie, Esther Cheah who took the lead briefly with 882. Third in the table came Sarah Yap with a score of 854. Early leader, Tang Joh Six lies in fourth with 802 with Wendy Chai in fifth with 798.

Meanwhile, ex-international Shahwall Mustafa from Brunei continued to lead the men’s division with 949 scored on Monday night with ex-national kegler, Mustafa Yassin in second with 927. Mustafa, however led in the local pool

ahead of Alex Liew, who improved from 9th yesterday to second with a fine showing of 917. Alex had lines of 173, 279, 210 and 255 bowled this morning.

Qualifying continues until 21st March for local bowlers and from the 22nd March, the qualifying rounds will be reserved for outstation and overseas participants. The Masters Finals will commence on Thursday, 25th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

16th March, Kuala Lumpur: National Squad rookie, Esther Cheah stormed into the lead in the Women's Open Masters qualifying table of the 27th Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Pyramid Megalanes this morning.

Esther, the 18 year-old student who has just finished her SPM examinations and did well during the recent national roll-off, knocked down 224, 207, 245 and 206 for an impressive total of 882.

2003 PBAP-Classic and the 2000 national champion who also took to the lanes at Pyramid this morning to downed down 802 to take up second spot while 2003 Hong Open Masters champion, Wendy Chai scored 798 for third place.

The rest of the national women team led by three-time Asian No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli, Choy Poh Lai, Sarah Yap, Zandra Aziela, Voon Kim Ling and rookie Elaine Lam will be making their qualifying rounds and the doubles event later in the day.

Meanwhile, ex-international Shahwall Mustafa of Brunei continue to top the men's table with 949 bowled at 11.30pm squad last night. The 34 year-old Commonwealth Championship Bronze medallist had lines of 279, 226, 235 and 209 for an average of 237.25.

Ex-national and SEA Games Gold medalist, Mustafa Yassin topped the local pool table with a score of 927 followed by another ex-national, S.K. Chan in second with 865 while F.J. Lim finished third with 856.

Qualifying continues until 21st March for local bowlers and from the 22nd March, the qualifying rounds will be reserved for outstation and overseas participants. The Masters Finals will commence on Thursday, 25th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

15th March, Kuala Lumpur: Ex-national bowler from Brunei took the pole position in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 27th Malaysian International Open on the second day at Pyramid Megalanes.

The 34 year-old ex-international, who won the Bronze medal in the Commonwealth Championship in Scotland in 2002 had lines of 279, 226, 235 and 209 for a total of 949 to take an early lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying overall and overseas pool. Shahwall was a member of the Brunei national team since 1992 and quit in 2002 after his return from Scotland.

"I have been competing in the Malaysian Open since 1998 and my best effort was making the finals last year," said Shahwall. "I hope to do the same this year therefore I have come early to get used to the lanes so that in the next couple of days, I can score high enough to ensure myself a place in the maasters finals," he added.

Meanwhile, ex-national and SEA Games Gold medalist, Mustafa Yassin

topped the local pool table with a score of 764 which will not likely get him into the masters finals. Another ex-national, Y.H. Ng followed in second with 738.

Meanwhile, Selangor's Peter Lai of Century Logistics set the pace for the Men's Graded division with a score of 892 bowled last night. He was ahead of Asrul Azmir who knocked down 875 for second spot. Last year's Graded champion, Sufian Othman of Melaka took third place with 859.

Qualifying continues until 21st March for local bowlers and from the 22nd March, the qualifying rounds will be reserved for outstation and overseas participants. The Masters Finals will commence on Thursday, 25th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

14th March, Kuala Lumpur: Fadzli Othman of Kuala Lumpur captured the Opening 9 Pintap event of the 27th Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship underway at Pyramid Megalanes, Sunway Lagoon Resort with Sherman Tan in second and Gan Kim Hui in third.

The 30 year-old tour consultant with TLM Travel Sdn Bhd, captured the event with a score of 822, just 14 pins ahead of Sherman Tan from Selangor. Fadzli started moderately with a 244, then stormed into the lead with a 300 in the second game. He rounded off with a 278 in the last game for a well deserved win.

Fadzli, who won the Harian Metro Kelantan in June 2003 can now participate in the Malaysian Open now that he has won himself RM1,000 in prize money and hopes to make the masters finals. Sherman settled for second and RM500 while Selangor's youth, Gan Kim Hui took third spot with 793 and RM300.

Bryan Yan (4th-763) finished fourth to take home RM200 ahead of ex-national bowler, Ng Yiew Hup (5th-749) and RM100. Noradli Norian (6th-

740), Derrick Lee (7th-728), Sufian Othman (8th-727), Mat Salleh (9th-713) and Hafeiz Bakri (10th-706) completed the top 10 and won for themselves a MILO hamper each.

The 27th Malaysian International Open started the qualifying rounds this evening and will end on Wednesday 24th March, 2004. The Masters finals will be played on the 25th and 26th March.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.