24th May, Busan: Overnight squad leader, EJ Tackett of Hungtington, Ind., continued his relentless pace to end the second block qualifying rounds of the 2018 PBA-WBT Busan Cup International Bowling Tournament with an easy win.

The 29-year-old scorched the lanes at Rainbow Square with a scintillating 289 in his sixth and opening game of the second block to extend his lead from 5 to 60 pins. KPBA women pro, Jeong Hojeong trailed the American in second.

Tackett increased his lead over his nearest opponent with a superb 225 to 71 pins as Jeong downed only 206 to remain in second. With another good game of 248 in the third, his lead increased yet again to 118 pins.

PBA pro Jason Sterner of Cocoa Beach, Fla., who was down in 32nd position in the first block, rolled the tournament's second perfect game, to leapfrog into seventh position and crucially in the top 11. Tackett went on to win the squad with 205 and 245 for a second block of 1212 and a 10-game total of 2434.

Korean national team member and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games multiple gold medallist, Ryu Seoyeon rounded the top 5 with 2261. Overnight third-placed Tomoyuki Sasaki of JBC, Japan slipped down to sixth with 2250.

Two Koreans, ex-international, Cho Youngseon of Kwangju and Kim Jinseon of Gumi rolled big games of 269 and 279 respectively to make the cut in seventh and ninth positions with 2246 and 2228. The cut at 11th position went to Seo Hyeonjin with 2220.

2014 Incheon Asian Games triple gold medallist and Korean National Team member, Lee Nayoung missed the cut by 5 pins to finish in 12th position with 2215. Squad A will take to the lanes and will be followed by Squad D and Squad C in the afternoon and evening.

The top 11 from each of the four squads totalling 44 finalists will make the cut for the final round on May 25. They will bowl 6 games from scratch to determine the top 4 advancing to the Stepladder shootout finals on May 26.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Busan, Korea.