11th April, Bangkok: 2017 Chinese Taipei Open second runner-up, Lin Pai-Feng topped the Men's Open second squad Block 1 qualifying to become the new leader at the 44th MWA-Singha Thailand International Open while Pan Yu-Fen of Chinese Taipei led the Ladies' division.

2010 Indonesia Open champion, Hsieh Chin-Liang of Chinese Taipei set a cracking pace in his opening game to lead Abdullah A Kareem of Bahrain by 1 pin. 2017 World Championships All Events gold medallist, Wu Hao-Ming of Chinese Taipei and compatriot, Lin Chin Ho followed in third and fourth.

A good pace from Hsieh allowed the Taiwanese to keep his lead after the second game. Lin added a third game of 257 to his first two games of 215 and 234 put Lin into the lead, 6 pins ahead of Hsieh.

Lin went on to close out the block with 235 and 216 to top Squad B with 1157. He also beat Squad A leader, Christopher Tiong of Malaysia by 25 pins to become the overall leader with two squads completed. Hsieh finished second with 1138 and also leapfrog the Malaysian.

In the Ladies' division, 2017 Thailand Open Youth Under-21 and Women's Graded Masters champion, Wong Son Ian of Macau took the early lead with 226, 1 pin ahead of Pan in second and Chou Chia-Chen of Chinese Taipei, a further 1 pin away in third.

Chou took a brief lead after the second game as Hsu Chon-Yi moved into the lead after the third game. Chou bounced back to lead the field after the fourth game with Tsai Hsin-Yi and Pan trailing in second and third.

A strong game from Pan allowed the Taiwanese to snatch pole position with 1063. Tsai settled for second spot with 1047 with Chou in third with 1039. The three Taiwanese could only finished fifth, sixth and seventh overall.

Esther Cheah, Siti Safiyah and Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia remained in the top three positions of the Ladies' Open division after two squads have completed their first block of five games. Squad D and Squad C will end the first day of qualifying later this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.