20th December, Seberang Prai: Reigning National champion, Muhammad Syazirol topped Squad A after the second block to share top spot of the Mixed Open qualifying standings with Squad B winner, Ng Wee Yap of Bowling Is Science Singapore.

Syazirol, who was fourth in the first block with 1291, added 1375 in his second block to top Squad A with a 12-game tally of 2666. Overnight leader, Kim Ho Jin of Sehan University, Korea finished second to the Malaysian with 2630. His team-mate, Kang Tae Young leapfrog from 12th in the first block to third with 2613.

National kegler, Gillian Lim and Yeri Rmadona of DKI Jakarta, Indonesia rounded out the top 5 of this squad with 2566 and 2561 respectively. Meanwhile Ng, who was 12th in the first block with 1259, registered the highest 6-games series of 1407 to top the second squad with 2666 thus sharing top spot with Syazirol.

Wan Muhd Naqib, who had a poor first block with 1204 and was in 29th position, did much better in the second block with 1381 to finish in second to the Singaporean on 2585. Benjamin Ang of Singapore remained in third with 2579.

2012 champion and overall leader in the first block, Syafiq Ridhwan of Malaysian National squad had a poor second block of 1151 to slip down to ninth with 2539. Nur Amirah Auni of MMBC/Penang and Izz Naqiuddin Putera completed the top 5 with 2569 and 2557 respectively.

Syazirol and Ng shared top spot after the scores of the two squads were combined. The two Koreans occupied third and fourth spots followed bu Wan Muhd Naqib in fifth, Ang in sixth, Nur Amirah in seventh, Lim in eighth, Ramadona in ninth and Izz Naqiuddin in tenth.

Due to the overwhelming response, the organiser has since increased the number of qualifiers from 40 to 48. Peter Khor of Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore was the cut in 48th position with 2414. Sebastian Chua of Trinity Bowling Singapore finished in 47th with 2416.

Missing the cut by 3 pins were Adam Azza of Azlina X-Proshop, Malaysia and Danish Iskandar of Kedah with a same total of 2411. The top 48 will contest the 8-game Masters finals tomorrow commencing at 10.00am local time. The top three with the highest pinfalls will proceed to the Stepladder Shootout finals to determine the champion.