14th April, Taoyuan: Top-seed, Yuki Murahama of Japan captured the Open division title of the 1st Formosa International Classic 2024 which concluded at DongDong Bowling Alley after defeating challenger, Johnathan Chan of Malaysia, 217-200 in the final.

Third-seed, Chan had earned a crack at the title after ousting second-seed, Abang Afiq Yazid Bin Abang Yazid of Dotmod and winner of the first stepladder match, Chong Jun Foo of Sarawak, 224-202-184 in an all-Malaysia second stepladder match. But had his fine run was ended by the Japanese champion.

Fourth-seed Chong won the first stepladder match with victory over fifth-seed, Jovan Chua of Singapore and Muhammad Adam Darwish of Penang, Malaysia 244-206-186 to move into the semi-finals.

Murahama, who earned a whopping TW Dollars 350,000 (approx. US$10,800) as champion, ended the Round 2 finals as top-seed with a six-game total of 1459. Abang Afiq finished second with 1389, 70 pins adrift. Chan took third spot with 1386 followed by Chong in fourth with 1367.

Chua and Muhammad Adam made the cut for the stepladder finals in fifth and sixth positions with an identical total of 1359. Stanley Lau of Confianza, Hong Kong missed the cut by just 14 pins after ending in seventh position with 1353.

Chan took home TW Dollars 175,000 and Abang Afiq pocketed TW Dollars 100,000 as first and second runners-up. No Taiwanese made the stepladder finals. Lee Cheng En was the top Taiwanese taking up eighth psotion with 1352 while the top local qualifier, Lin Yi Feng finished in a disappointing 14th position.

In the earlier Round 1 finals, Chan topped the round with 1401 followed by Chua in second with 1386 and Abang Afiq third with 1379. Haziq of Team Junior Kegler, Malaysia survived the cut in 26th position with 1234 while 2017 World Championships gold medalist, Xu Zhe Jia of Chinese Taipei missed the cut by two pins in 27th position.

A total of 260 athletes participated in this inaugural international classic. Bowlers played three blocks of six games each which was divided into four squads. Variying number of bowlers made the finals in four separate divisions based on their 18 games bowled.

Photos courtesy of the Organizing Committee.