14th May, Bangkok: Qatar's Ahmed Shaheen and Tsai Hsin-Yi from Chinese Taipei were crowned 30th Thailand International Open Masters champions which concluded at Brunswick RCA Bowl this afternoon.

Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar defeated challenger and 6th-seed Daniel Lim of Malaysia 194-148 in the second stepladder match to clinch the title after loosing the first match to Daniel 165-194.

Daniel settled as runner-up despite winning the second men's stepladder after he ousted Qataran and 3rd-seed Abdulla Al-Qattan (128) and 2nd-seed Filipino Chester King (179) with 235 for a crack at the title. Daniel also won the first match knocking off 4th-seed Adrian Ang (190) and 5th-seed Shaker Ali (202) with a high game of 268.

Chester retained third while Al-Qattan took 4th place with Malaysia's Adrian Ang and UAE's Shaker Ali in 5th and 6th positions respectively.

Ahmed Shaheen of Doha, Qatar has emerged as top seed after the grueling 16 games of the Masters' finals. The 33-year-old assistant coach to the Qatar juniors took first place on 3392, on a lowly 212 average, outpointing Chester King of the Philippines by 22 pins. Fellow Qataran Al-Qattan squeezed into third place, just one pin ahead of Adrian Ang of Malaysia.

"These lanes are tough," said lithe Shaheen. "I had problems with my consistency over the first 8-game block yesterday, so when I started with a 279 today I decided that I would try to be much more consistent. I did drop to a 163 in the 12th game, but other than that my scores were good, so I'm very pleased to be the top seed."

Meanwhile, second-seed Tsai Hsin-Yi of Chinese Taipei snatched the women's crown after she forced top-seed Shalin Zulkifli to a sudden-death match winning the first 219-169. Although Shalin recovered in the second match, Tsai overpowered Shalin to win the crucial match 212-208 for the title.

The champion had earlier disposed off 3rd-seed and defending champion, Kirsten Penny (174) and winner of the second match, Alice Tay (197) from Singapore with 213 scoreline. 6th-seed Alice won the first match knocking out 4th-seed Filipino lass Irene Garcia Benitez (166) and 5th-seed and local hopeful, Angkana Netvitesh (184) with a moderate 203.

Shalin settled for second with Kirsten retaining 3rd position. Alice took 4th place while Benitez and Angkana took 5th and 6th places respectively.

The top 16 Asians from each division qualified for the 2nd leg of the ABF Tour - Thailand which will take place on the 15th and 16th May to be telecast LIVE on TV.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers Journal/Korean Bowling Congress.

13th May, Bangkok: Chinese Taipei's Cheng Chao-Sheng and Kirsten Penny from England took the lead of the Men's and Women's first block Masters finals in the 30th Thailand International Open at Brunswick RCA Bowl this evening.

Cheng, the 24 year-old Malaysian Open 3rd runner-up scored of 1780 to top the Men's Open Masters first block of 8 games ahead of Australia's Andrew Frawley.

Cheng had lines of 215, 221, 218, 202, 213, 199, 234 and 278 for a 36 pins lead over 2001 Thailand Open champion, Frawley who took up 2nd spot with 1744 followed by Singapore's Justin Teng in third with 1726.

This year's Emir Cup champion, Abdulla Al-Qattan of Qatar finished 4th with 1702 just 1 pin in front of Asian Championship Gold medalist, Shaker Ali Al-Hassan of UAE in 5th spot with 1701.

The top Thai bowler Sithiphol K. took 8th place with 1668 while defending champion Annop Arromsaranon struggled to keep pace and ended up in 23rd place with 1560. The men will continue their second block of 8 games tomorrow (14th May).

In the women's division, England's Kirsten Penny held a slender 2 pin lead over top overseas qualifier, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia. The defending champion Penny totalled 1682 ahead of the newly-crowned Sinai Open champion, Shalin who had 1680.

Chinese Taipei's Chien Hsiu-Lan scored 1661 to take up 3rd spot followed by fellow-countrywomen Tsai Hsin-Yi who knocked down 1647. Singapore's Alice Tay finished in the top 5 with 1632.

World Youth Gold medalist, Angkana Netvitesh was the best Thai women to take up 6th spot with 1621 while Asian Ranked No. 1, Liza del Rosario of the Philippines could only manage 8th place with 1601 behind teammate, Irene Garcia Benitez on 1611.

The women will continue their second block of 8 games tomorrow (14th May) when the top 6 will make the cut for the stepladder finals. The top 16 Asians from each division will also qualify for the 2nd leg of the ABF Tour - Thailand which will take place on the 15th and 16th May to be telecast LIVE on TV.

Photos courtesy of MTBC/Bahrain Bowling Federation.

12th May, Bangkok: Newly-crowned Sinai Open champion Shalin Zulkifli became the new leader of the Women's overseas qualifying table in the 30th Thailand International Open at Brunswick RCA Bowl while Filipino Biboy Rivera meaintained top spot.

Shalin Zulkifli took over the lead in the women's overseas qualifying table with a score of 904 with lines of 199, 224, 256 and 225 pushing overnight leader, Liza del Rosario of the Philippines into 2nd spot with 897.

Shalin, who was struggling in her last few attempts, finally found the line to score well for the lead. Chinese Taipei's Chien Hsiu-Lan and Super Classic champion, Wendy Chai scored 879 to tie third position.

Singapore's Alice Tay (874) and Indonesia's top female bowler, Happy Soediyono (865) both improved to take up 5th and 6th spots repectively.

Meanwhile the lead in the local pool remained unchanged as Angkana Netruiseth led with 902 ahead of Wasana D. and A-Ngun P. tieing in third place. Twice ABT Thailand leg champion, Supaporn C. finished 4th position with 875.

In the men's division, Filipino Biboy Rivera continued to lead the pack with 984 scored yesterday as the participants enter their final day of qualifying. Sinai Open champion, Ahmed Shaheen remained in second with 961 followed by Malaysia's Zulmazran Zulkifli in third with 954. Reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez of the Philippines and Singapore's Sam Goh shared 4th spot with 947.

UAE's Al Marri Ahmad (942) and Malaysia's Ben Heng (941) finished 5th and 6th places to make up the top 6.

There were no changes in the local front with Chinapong J. maintaining the lead with 992 ahead of Surasak M. and Krisda R. in second and third with 989 and 964 respectively. One pin further away came Tosrin K. with 963 in fourth.

The top 13 local, top 13 overseas and top 13 mixed pool men qualifiers will join the defending champion for the two blocks of 8 games Masters finals which will be held on 13th and 14th May while the women's division will consist of the top 8 local, top 8 overseas and top 7 mixed pool and the defending champion.

The top 16 Asians from each division will also qualify fot eh 2nd leg of the ABF Tour - Thailand which will take place on the 15th and 16th May at the same venue.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

11th May, Bangkok: Filipino bowlers, Biboy Rivera and Liza del Rosario took over top spots of the Men's and Women's overseas qualifying table in the 30th Thailand International Open at Brunswick RCA Bowl as competition heats up before the Masters finals.

Biboy Rivera took over the lead of the Men's overseas pool with a score of 984 and dislodging newly-crowned Sinai Open champion Ahmed Shaheen from Qatar into second.

The 30 year-old businessmen, whose last success was winning the Gold medal in the 2002 Asian Championship, came close to capturing a title when he finished 3rd in last year's Super Classic in Singapore.

Shaheen, who led yesterday, dropped to second on 961 while reigning World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez of the Philippines stormed into third spot with 947. UAE's Al Marri Ahmad (942) and Malaysia's Ben Heng (941) took up the top 5 in 4th and 5th places.

There were no changes in the local front with Chinapong J. still maintaining the lead with 992 ahead of Surasak M. and Krisda R. in second and third with 989 and 964 respectively. One pin further away came Tosrin K. with 963 in fourth.

In the women's division, Asian Ranked No. 1, Liza del Rosario shot 897 to take over the lead ahead of Chinese Taipei's Chien Hsiu-Lan in second with 879. Both bowlers improved from yesterday's position in the overseas table.

2002 World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan from Singapore also improved to take up 3rd spot with 864 followed by overnight leader Irene Garcia Benitez of the Philippine dropping to 4th place on her 852 scoreline. Asian Schools Gold medalist, Esther Cheah of Malaysia did well to finish 5th with 839 while Sinai Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli has yet to make the cut.

The top 3 places in the local pool remained unchanged with World Youth Singles Gold medalist, Angkana Netruiseth topping with 902 followed by Wasana D. and A-Ngun P. tieing in second with 878. Third spot went to twice ABT Thailand leg champion, Supaporn C. with a score of 875.

The top 13 local, top 13 overseas and top 13 mixed pool men qualifiers will join the defending champion for the two blocks of 8 games Masters finals which will be held on 13th and 14th May while the women's division will consist of the top 8 local, top 8 overseas and top 7 mixed pool and the defending champion.

The top 16 Asians from each division will also qualify fot eh 2nd leg of the ABF Tour - Thailand which will take place on the 15th and 16th May at the same venue.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

10th May, Bangkok: Filipino lass, Irene Garcia Benitez and newly-crowned Sinai Open champion Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar took pole positions of the Women's and Men's overseas qualifying pool of the 30th Thailand International Open at Brunswick RCA Bowl.

Benitez took pole position in the Women's overseas pool with lines of 190, 217, 234 and 211 for a total of 852 ahead of Chinese Taipei's Chen Hsiu-Lan who knocked down 843.

Chinese Taipei women took 3rd and 4th polaces with Chu Yu-Chieh scoring 835 and Huang Chiung-Yao 832 respectively. Malaysia's Choy Poh Lai (823) and Singapore's Jennifer Tan (821) finished 5th and 6th positions.

In the local pool, World Youth Singles Gold medalist, Angkana Netruiseth blazed the RCA Bowl lanes to take the lead with 902 and an impressive average of 225.5. The 15 year-old student had lines of 207, 235, 204 and 256 to stay ahead of newcomers Wasana D. and A-Ngun P. both tied at 878.

Third spot went to twice ABT Thailand leg champion, Supaporn C. with a score of 875. Newly-crowned Sinai Open champion and 2001 Thailand Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli has not made the cut yet after her first attempt with a low score of 776.

In the men's division, Sinai Open champion, Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar set a scorching pace to take the lead with a score of 961 ahead of Al-Marri Ahmad of UAE in second with 942. Third spot went to 2001 Thailand Open champion Andrew Frawley from Australia with a score of 938.

In the local pool, Chinapong J. was equally impressive when he totalled 992 with lines of 262, 244, 219 and 267 to grab the lead just 3 pins ahead of Surasak M. who had 898 while Krisda R. also impressed with 964 for third spot.

Thailand's Arrom Arromsaranon and England's Kirsten Penny are awaiting for the qualifying rounds to end on Wednesday 12th May to defend their titles.

The top 13 local, top 13 overseas and top 13 mixed pool men qualifiers will join the defending champion for the two blocks of 8 games Masters finals which will be held on 13th and 14th May while the women's division will consist of the top 8 local, top 8 overseas and top 7 mixed pool and the defending champion.

The top 16 Asians from each division will also qualify fot eh 2nd leg of the ABF Tour - Thailand which will take place on the 15th and 16th May at the same venue.

Photos courtesy of MTBC/Egyptian Bowling Federation.