7th March, Doha: Timothy Tham of Singapore and Michael Mak of Hong Kong made the top bracket of the qualifying standings after ending Squad D of the PBA-WBT H.H. Emir Cup 2019 in first and second positions.
Squad B winner and overnight leader, Muhd Jaris Goh of Singapore had a poor start at the start in the second block with 173 and saw his lead reduced from 72 to 29 pins as his compatriot, Timothy Tham fired a superb 257 to move into second spot.
2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist, who was second overnight, managed 204 and slipped down to third. Jaris Goh recovered slightly with 203 and 255 in his next two games to take his lead back up to 80 pins.
Tham continued to trail his team-mate with 204 and 203 while Mak managed only 170 and 217 in the eighth and ninth games to remain in third. Both Tham and Mak shot identical 248 in the tenth game to put pressure on Jaris Goh resulting in him knocking down only 193.
Squad D top 3, Michael Mak, Timothy Tham and Muhd Jaris Goh
Tham added a second 248 in the 11th game to take over the running as Jaris Goh again managed only 194. Mak shot 257 to take over second spot pushing down the pace-setter to third. Tham ended with a scintilating 268 in the final game to seal the squad with 1428 for a total of 2694 and picked up the high series award of US$200.
The Hong Kong national also ended strongly with 246 to claim second spot with 1342 and a total of 2649. Jaris Goh remained in third despite another poor game of 181. A third Singaporean, Cheah Ray Han and Qatar's Khalid Al-Sada completed the top 5 with 2574 and 2559 respectively.
The top two finishers of the squad, Tham and Mak leapfrog into third and fifth in the overall qualifying standings and crucially earning a bye. Jaris Goh remained in pole position with 2921 from his Squad B effort.
Top Qatari qualifier and winner of two high series awards, Ghanim Aboujassoum remained in second with 2696. Yousef Al-Jaber of Qatar took fourth spot with 2664 while Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and 2016 H.H. Emir Cup champion, Danielle McEwan of USA completed the top 7 with 2623 and 2608.
Positioned eighth reserved for top Qatari outside the top 7 was 2017 H.H. Emir Cup winner, Jassim Al-Muraikhi with 2569. PBA pro Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, N.C., was knocked out of the top bracket and had to settle for ninth position with 2606.
Timothy Tham picking up Squad D high series award of US$200
The cut in 25th position went to Kuwait's Dhari Alameeri with 2406. Mohammed Jamal, Fahad Al-Emadi and Nasser Rashid Al Mansoori made the cut in 26th to 28th positions reserved for Qataris not in the top 25. Yaqoub Alshatti of Kuwait missed the cut by 35 pins in 33rd position. A one-game desperado squad will be contested soon after to add four additional qualfiers for Step 1 finals which will also be held later this evening.
The finalists will bowl six games and the top 12 will be joined by the top 8 seeded qualifiers for another six games in tomorrow's Step 2 finals. The top 6 with the highest pinfalls at the end of Step 2 finals will advance to the knockout Step 3 and 4 finals.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha, Qatar.
Related stories:
Singaporean eyeing second high series award
Qatari wins second high series award
American PBA pro leads Squad C
Singaporean takes over lead
Singaporean tops Squad B first block
Qatari youth wins Squad A
Qataris dominate opening squad
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• Squad A - Series 2
• Squad B - Series 1
• Squad B - Series 2
• Squad C - Series 1
• Squad C - Series 2
• Squad D - Series 1
• Squad D - Series 2
• Qualifying Standings
