16th September, Hong Kong: Top-seeds, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, brought home convincing victories capturing the Masters titles of the 32nd Hong Kong International Open which ended Saturday evening at SCAA Bowling Centre.

Overnight leader, Wu Siu Hong had to work a little harder when faced with this year's Vietnam International Open champion and ex-PBA, Purvis Granger of USA in the stepladder finals. Wu was forced to a sudden-death decider after loosing to the American, 191-234 in the first match.

But the 23-year-old Asian Championship gold medalist fought back galantly to topple Granger, 250-197 to win his second Hong Kong Open title after his first success in 2002. Granger settled for second despite knocking out fifth-seed, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE and sixth-seed, Steven Yeung with the championship's first and only perfect game.

The American went on to beat second-seed, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and third-seed, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia, 234-224-186 before going down to the champion. Yannaphon dropped to third while Lalisang ended up in fourth.

In the women's division, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia had a much easier victory over her compatriot, Lai Kin Ngoh winning the final stepladder match, 251-214 to bag her sixth international title this year.

Shalin, who returned to the winning circle with a double victory in the Thailand Open and ABF Tour Thailand leg in April, also captured the Kuwait International Open crown in May. The 28-year-old returned again to capture the ABF Tour Philippines leg in June and took her fifth international title with the Selangor Open in July.

The four-time Asian Ranked No. 1, almost got her sixth but lost to Zara Glover in the Indonesia Open in late July. But the champion proved too good for the field to eventually take her sixth title this evening.

Lai Kin Ngoh gave Malaysia a 1-2 finish taking the runner-up spot. Lai had earlier knocked out third-seed and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Putty Armein of Indonesia and winner of the first match, Joey Yip of Hong Kong, 258-204-194.

Yip remained for fifth despite ousting defending champion, Jojo Canare of the Philippines and Singapore's Jasmine Yeong Nathan, 246-201-178. The top 16 Asian women and top 16 Asian men made the cut for tomorrow's ABF Tour Hong Kong leg.

This year's final leg will be played at Thunder Bowl and will be the last opportunity for bowlers to earn additional ranking points to make the top 16 for the Tournament of Champions schedule for January 2007.

Photos courtesy of HKTBC.

15th September, Hong Kong: Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia set sight on the Open Masters titles of the 32nd Hong Kong International Open after leading the 8-game first block finals Friday afternoon.

Local youth, Jeffrey Choi set a blistering pace with a 264 opener followed by a 237 to take a 28-pin lead over top-seeded local, Wu Siu Hong hot on his heels. An almost perfect game in the third from Wu on a 290 gave the Asian Championship Masters gold medalist a 45 pin lead after the third game.

Wu was a class above the rest of the field with consistent lines of 222, 238, 245, 259 and 234 in his remaining five games to top the field of 36 finalists at the end of the first block with a total of 1961. Thailand Open champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat, who led briefly from game 5 to 6, finished second, just 15 pins adrift on 1946.

Pace-setter, Jeffrey Choi did well in top company with a third place finish on 1809 ahead of World Men's Championship two gold medalist and defending champion, Remy Ong in fourth with 1777. UAE's Jamal Ali Mohammad rounded up the top 5 in fifth spot with 1759.

In the women's division, five international title winner, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, led from start to finish topping the field of 28 finalist with a superb 1914, 89 pins clear of compatriot, Lai Kin Ngoh in second with 1825.

The four-time Asian Ranked No.1, who is second in the current Asian Ranking behind Indonesia's Putty Armein, was bent on regaining the lead with cracking lines of 254, 255, 219, 247, 219, 258, 237 and 225 in her 8-game first block.

Indonesia's rising star and Asian Championship silver medalist, Tannya Roumimper stormed home in the final game with 268 to snatch third spot with 1780 with teammate, Putty Armein finishing amongst the leaders in fourth with 1743.

Singapore's Jasmine Yeong Nathan made up the top 5 in fifth with 1701 with Hong Kong's best performer, Joey Yip in sixth with a total of 1679. Defending champion Jojo Canare ended up in 11th on a score of 1643.

The finalists will bowl another 8-games in the second block with pins carried forward and the top 6 at the end of the block will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Abipryadi Riyanto.

14th September, Hong Kong: Asian Championship Masters Gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong will be hoping to recapture the title he won in 2003 after topping the local pool of the 32nd Hong Kong International Open.

Wu, who quietly posted a 4-game total of 1002, sits comfortably in the local qualifying table as top-seeded. Despite a disappointing performance in the World Men's Championship in Busan two weeks ago, the 23-year-old will be putting behind that poor showing to lead Hong Kong's challenge for the men's crown.

Teammates, Cyrus Cheung was equally impressive after chalking up 929 to take up the second-seed while Daniel Yiu and Wicky Yeung occupied third and fourth seeds with 916 and 908 respectively. Local youth, Jeffrey Choi posted 976 in his first attempt in top flight to lead the local pool.

The top 3 positions in the overseas pool remained unchanged from yesterday with Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE leading the pack with 972 ahead of Korea's Oh Young Ki and Thailand's Yannaphon Larpapharat in second and third with 964 and 956.

In the women's division, Singapore's Jasmine Yeong Nathan was the biggest improver, moving up from ninth on her previous score of 784 to 889 to take up third. Ahead of Nathan was Asian Championship two gold medalist and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Putty Armein of Indonesia on a score of 964.

Five international title winner this year and recently back into the Malaysian national squad, Shalin Zulkifli maintained second position but with an improved score of 941 from yeaterdays' 894.

Hong Kong's national team member, Joey Yip remained top local seeded qualifier with ABF Tour Malaysia leg champion, Vanessa Fung and spinner, Janet Lam second and third.

Qualifying will end late this evening and the Masters finals, to be played over two blocks of 8 games, will take place on the 15th and 16th September. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 women at the end of the Masters finals will also qualify for the final leg of this year's ABF Tour Hong Kong.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

13th September, Hong Kong: Asian Ranked No. 1, Putty Armein of Indonesia and UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi topped the Women's and Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 32nd Hong Kong International Open underway at SCAA Bowling Centre.

Fresh from a superb outing at the 19th Asian Championship in Jakarta last month, the 25-year-old Singles and All Events gold medalist topped the Women's Open Masters qualifying table with a 4-game score of 964 ahead of five international title winner, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia in second with 894.

Chinese Taipei's Chu Yu-Chieh, who is fifteen in the ABF Tour rankings and hoping to improve her position in this final leg and to ensure a place in the Tournament of Championship, finished third in the table with 876 followed by Singapore's Rena Teng in fourth with 869.

Meanwhile in the local front, Joey Yip topped the four seeded spots ahead of ABF Tour Malaysia leg champion, Vanessa Fung in second, Janet Lam Yim third and Sylvia Kong fourth. Julie Ho finished top of the group with 887 with Melody Yeung next with 859.

In the men's division, UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi, who is 17th in the ABF Tour rankings and needs a good showing in this final leg, took pole position with a superb 972. Korea's Oh Young Ki, who is two spots adrift Hussain in the ranking, finished second with 964.

Thailand Open champion, Yannaphon Larpaharat of Thailand, who missed the cut for the World Men's Championship Masters Elimination finals in 17th, took third spot in the table with 963 followed by newcomer, William Yang of China in fourth spot with 932.

Others who are looking to improve on their ABF Tour rankings to assure themselves a spot in the grand finals were Sitiphol Kunaksorn of Thailand (9th-876), Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia (10th-874) and Syed Ibrahim Al-Hashemi of UAE (12th-853).

Qualifying ends tomorrow, 14th September and the Masters finals will be held over two days on the 15th and 16th September. The ABF Tour Hong Kong will be held on the 17th September.

Photos courtesy of Abipryadi Riyanto and MTBC.