6th September, Kuching: Ex-international, Johnathan Chan of Sunway Megalanes, Malaysia topped the overall Open division qualifying standings of the Sarawak International Open Bowling Championships 2023 at the end of the first block.

Fellow-Malaysian, Cheah Yung Ren topped the opening squad with 969 followed by reigning Malaysian Open Women's Masters champion, Lavina Kho Jia Jie of Sarawak, Malaysia in second with 886 and Sarawakian, Daniel Tan Yan Han in third with 873.

When Chan took to the lanes in the second squad, the Malaysian got off to a blistering start with back-to-back 262s. He then added 244 in his third game before finishing off with a sizzling 283 in the final game to win the squad comfortably.

Chan also recorded the highest 4-game series of 1051, the first to surpass the 1,000-mark. National youth, Ahmad Azriq Izamuddin did well to finish second with 993 while team-mate, Nur Jeehan Iezzaty Bte Suffian took third spot with 959.

Chan Jia Wei of Bowling Is Science, Singapore ended the day in the lead of the final Squad D with 938 ahead of Malaysia's Intan Qistina Bte Tamring in second with 933 and Muhammad Aiman Syahin in third with 913.

With all squads combined, Chan led followed by Ahmad Azriq and Cheah in second and third. Both Chan and Ahmad Azriq also topped their respective Classified and Youth Under-25 divisions. The first day's Joker Squad is being contested at press time.

The one-game Joker Squad is for qualifiers who wish to improve their lowest game of their first block in an attempt to move into the top 60 qualifying standings. The bowlers will resume with their second block of 4 games tomorrow, again divided into four squads.

There will also be an additional Joker Squad at the end of the second day of qualifying. The top 60 in the Open division, top 60 in the Classified division and the top 60 in the Youth Unnder-25 division will qualify for their respective Masters Finals on September 8 and 9.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuching, Sarawak.