16th January, Jakarta: Hong Kong's "Wonder Boy", Wu Siu Hong rallied on from a third frame mistake to overcome his opponent, Joonee Gatchalian of the Philippines to capture the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions men's crown while Wendy Chai defeated Esther Cheah in the all-Malaysian final for the women's crown.

The 20 year-old student from Hong Kong displayed superb fighting spirit to rally on for a well deserved win despite a single-pin miss in the third frame. Wu started off the final match against Filipino, Joonee Gatchalian with a double strike but soon found himself trailing by 22 pins in the fourth frame when his opponent had a turkey from the second to the fourth frames.

The mistake did not put the champion off his concentration as he brought home four-in-a-row from the sixth frame onwards to level off at the eighth frame. Wu went on to clinch the title with a score of 235 while Gatchalian could only manage 227.

"I was very nervous in the beginning of the match and made the mistake in the third frame," said the 21 year-old champion.. "After the sixth frame, my

coach told me to make some adjustments and it paid off," added Wu. "I am now looking forward to the 2005 Tour starting with the Hong Kong Team's participation in Kuwait leg in March."

Wu had a similar third frame miss in the semifinal match against Malaysia's Adrian Ang but again demonstrated great fighting spirit to string together 8 stirkes-in-a-row to earn his place in the finals, 248-222. Malaysia's hope of a men in the finals were dashed when Alex Liew went down to the runner-up, Joonee Gatchalian in the other semifinal match, 223-246.

In the all-Malaysian women's final, young Esther Cheah almost stole the glory when she started off strongly with a turkey but an open frame in the fourth put her rythmn off and she were not able to come back thereafter. Her more experienced opponent, Wendy Chai displayed better composure to pip Cheah with an eventual score of 206-197.

"There was a lot of pressure in the final match but I told myself that I just have to bowl my game," exclaimed the 27-year-old champion. "Because I had some problem in the odd lane, I had to make some adjustment and it paid off," added Chai.

Cheah almost became the youngest-ever champion to emerge from Malaysia in a major tournament but she had to face a more experience bowler. The 18-yearold settled for second despite knocking our Malaysia's

top women bowler, Shalin Zulkifli, 234-175 in the second women semifinal match while the champion edged Sarah Yap, 195-183 in the other all-Malaysian match.

The champion Wu Siu Hong won the top prize of US$20,000 with Gatchalian settling for US$6,000 and the two loosing semifinalists, Adrian Ang and Alex Liew, US$2,500 each. Wendy Chai pocketed US$10,000 for her effort while Cheah took home US$4,000. Shalin and Sarah Yap won US$1,800 each as loosing semifinalists.

The four-day event was a great success and it concluded an ammazing tour organized by the Asian Bowling Federation. As a finale to the the 2004 Tour, Tyrone Ongpauco finished it off with a perfect game while Ryan Lalisang kicked off the Tour with a first-ever perfect game on Live TV in the first leg in Malaysia.

The 2005 Tour will kick off in Doha next month after the H.H. Emir Cup in Qatar and another West Asian leg in Kuwait in March before start in Malaysia end of March. There will altogether 8 stops before the 2005 Tournament of Champions back in Jakarta in January 2006.

The ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions was televised LIVE on Malaysia's Astro Supersport, Singapore's Starhub and Indonesia Metro TV (to be confirmed). Highlights of the finals will also be televised later on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It will also be broadcast later in parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Mr Murali, Asian Bowling Digest.

15th January, Jakarta: Malaysian women put up a devastating performance to out knock all their opponents making it an all-Malaysian semifinals in the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions after the quarter finals were played at Jaya Ancol Bowl this afternoon.

Wendy Chai, the ABF Tour Malaysia leg champion, got the ball rolling when she defeated local favourite and Inodensia leg champion, Putty Armein 234-222 to take up the first semifinals spot. The 26-year-old did not put a foot wrong the the match against Armein in the match while the Tour ranked No. 1 had an open frame in the 8th.

At the same time, top-seed Sarah Yap edged Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung 182-165 to join Chai as Malaysia's second women semifinalist. Asian Ranked No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli then took on Filipina, Irene Benitez in the third women's quarter final match and earned for her semifinal spot with a score of 206-193.

The final spot went to Esther Cheah, who outclassed Asia's top women bowler, Liza Del Rosario 225-204 to make it an Aall-Malaysian semifinals.

"I am extremely pleased with the performance of our bowlers, especially the women," said Chris Batson, Malaysian national chief coach. "We will sure have a champion in the women's division but I am also confident that Alex or Adrian may stand a chance to take the men's title as well."

While the men's first quarterfinal match started with Daniel Lim loosing to Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong 157-213, Malaysia bounched back when Alex Liew demolished former World Cup champion and current Asian ranked No. 1, Ahmed Shaheen, 258-163 to take the first Malaysia' semifinal spot.

The highlight of the match was probably between local hero, Rayn Lalisang and Filipino, Joonee Gatchalian. Both bowlers traded strikes after strikes but an open frame in the fourth by Lalisang made way for Gatchalian to close the door on Lalisang. Gatchalian went on to clinch the match, 238-224 for a well-earned semifinal slot.

15-year-old Adrian gave Malaysia the best outing todate when he cruised to take up the final semifinal spot and Malaysia's second in the men's division knocking out UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan, 226-177.

Sarah Yap will meet Wendy Chai while Shalin Zulkifli is matched up against Esther Cheah. Two southpaws, Joonee Gatchalian and Alex Liew, are matched in the men's first semifinals while Adrian Ang will face Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg was staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) competed in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions will be televised LIVE on Malaysia's Astro Supersport, Singapore's Starhub and Indonesia Metro TV (to be confirmed). Highlights of the finals will also be televised later on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It will also be broadcast later in parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.

14th January, Jakarta: Overnight leader, Ryan Lalisang maintained pole position at the end of the final eight games of matchplay to move into the quarter finals knockout stage while a 705 scratch over the last three games saw Sarah Yap of Malaysia finishing as top seed in the women's division.

Ryan Lalisang of Jakarta, Indonesia kept his home country flag flying by maintaining his pole position through the final eight games of matchplay, holding a healthy 112 point buffer over the strong challenge of Hong Kong's wonderkid Wu Sui Hong.

Despite being the frontrunner, Lalisang said: "I used a different hand position today and that gave me better pin carry. I didn't need to change bowling balls but I did slow my speed down a little. Who would I like to play against in the quarterfinal? I think a match against Joonee Gatchalian of Philippines would be a good one."

Well, Lalisang got his wish as Gatchalian drew him in the next round and this will be one of the televised matches on Saturday afternoon. The other will be Daniel Lim of Malaysia against aforementioned Wu Sui Hong, a very tasty dish to put in front of the lucky viewers.

A packed concourse cheered to the rafters this afternoon when Filipino Tyrone Ongpauco hit the Tour's second perfect game, his lucky 13th game of this final. Unfortunately, he finished in 15th place on a 208 average overall.

A very handy total of 705 scratch over her last three games saw Sarah Yap of Malaysia take over pole position at the close of the ladies' matchplay, outpointing previous leaders Wendy Chai of Malaysia and Filipina Liza Del Rosario.

"I decided to change my bowling area today," Yap said. "I was bowling the wrong line yesterday and I learned from that mistake and today I knew what I had to do. I was really surprised to have finished as the number one. I looked around at the scores towards the end of the game and didn't think that I had taken over the lead, but now I'm very comfortable in the top eight."

Current Asian Ranked No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli, who was inducted into the World Bowling Writers International Bowling Hall of Fame during the press conference Wednesday evening, made up grounds today from sixth to take

up third for the next stage with 3380 while overnight leader and ABF Tour Malaysia Leg champion, Wendy Chai settled for fourth position with 3368.

The scheduled televised ladies' matches Saturday afternoon will open with Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia against Filipina Irene Benitez and then local hero Putty Armein will face Malaysia's Wendy Chai. The winners of those matches will advance to the semifinals on Sunday afternoon.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg was staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) competed in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions will be televised LIVE on Malaysia's Astro Supersport, Singapore's Starhub and Indonesia Metro TV (to be confirmed). Highlights of the finals will also be televised later on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It will also be broadcast later in parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.

13th January, Jakarta: The opening day of the inaugural ABF Tour Tournament of Champions saw Malaysia's Wendy Chai and Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang setting the pace to take the lead in the Women's and Men's divisions. at Jaya Ancol Bowl.

Malaysia's petite Wendy Chai, 27, from Kuala Lumpur, set the pace for the opening eight-game block this afternoon, bowling just two sub-200 games and with a high of 257 to hold a five-point buffer over Filipina Liza Del Rosario from Manila. Del Rosario had a slightly higher average, 224.88 over Chai's 224.25, as the Malaysian gleaned more bonus points from games won and tied.

"I really didn't know I had taken over the lead from Putty Armein of Indonesia until the end," said Chai who totalled 1849. "I didn't bowl very well at the start as I found the lanes different from the practice session this morning. I changed my release and got better pin carry. After that I did what I always try to do, just bowl my best. I'm very happy to be in the lead and hope that I can carry on bowling well to get into the last eight tomorrow night."

ABF Tour Indonesia leg champion, who led briefly in the early stages, settled for third with a total of 1815 ahead of Malaysia's Sarah Yap in fourth with 1801 and Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung in fifth with 1797. Shalin Zulkifli (MAS-1759), Jenny Ho (HKG-1708) and Irene Garcia Benitez (PHI-1696) completed the top 8.

In the men's division, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia, the talented player who set the lanes alight in Malaysia early last year by hitting the first and only perfect game of the 2004 ABF Tour, sits atop the leader board after the first nine games of the men's matchplay today, playing his trump card of full home center experience.

"I bowl here at Jaya Ancol Bowl nearly every day," he told us, "so I think I have a big advantage over most of the field, although Remy Ong and Ahmed Shaheen know the center well and can always post high scores. But I'm certainly the man to beat. I usually bowl around a 220 average here, so the condition suits me well. I'm now very confident that I can reach my target of getting into the last eight."

Lalisang totalled 2233 for the lead, 42 pins ahead of 15-year-old Adrian Ang of Malaysia with 2191 in second spot. Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong took third spot with 2188 while UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan and Qatar's Ahmed Shaheen finished fourth and fifth positions with 2091 and 2067 respectively.

Two Malaysians, ABF Tour Phlippines leg champion, Alex Liew (2053) and reigning Malaysian International Open champion, Daniel Lim (2040), ABF Tour Singapore Leg champion, Jack Wong (2023) of Singapore rounded up the top 8.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg was staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) competed in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions will be televised LIVE on Malaysia's Astro Supersport, Singapore's Starhub and Indonesia Metro TV (to be confirmed). Highlights of the finals will also be televised later on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It will also be broadcast later in parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.