14th June, Kuching: Sarawak Open Classified first runner-up, Chong Jun Foo of Hero Bowling snatched the Classified Masters title of the Sarawak International Open Bowling Championships 2024 with a massive 289 in the ninth and position-round game.

Ex-international Phumin Klanbida of Thailand set the early pace with a cracking 264 in his opening game to lead Matthew Ong Tzi Ming by two pins. Nada Nawwarah Binti Abdul Jalil of Negeri Sembilan and Adam Chew of Singapore trailed in third an fourth.

Ong took over the lead for only one game after a 227 in the second game. Nada Nawwarah also led for one game after the third before the Thai regained his lead after the fourth game. Dayang Yumi Azreen of ABAS, Sarawak was in second for two games.

Chong Jun Foo fired a massive 280 in his fourth game to move into second and added 233 in the fifth to take over the running. Despite a 203 in the sixth game, Chong managed to keep his lead, albeit only 13 pins ahead of his nearest rival.

Ex-international, Daniel Tan of ABAS, Sarawak rolled 273, 251, 259 and 207 in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth games to move into the lead. Newly-crowned U25 Masters champion, Muhammad Hafiz Darwisy of MMBC, Peanang took up second, just one pin behind while Chong slipped to third, a further 47 pins adrift.

The positioned round game nine was a tense affair amongst Tan, Muhammad Hafiz and Chong on the same pair of lanes. Tan struggled and managed only 191. Chong was on fire sparing his first frame and struck home for a stunning 289 game to snatch victory with 2096. Hafiz returned 229 to finish second with 2082.

Edric Lim Xian Jun, who was 87 pins behind the leader before the final game, also fired a stunning 294 to snatch third position with 2060 pushing down Tan to fourth with 2050. Abang Aqasha Bin Abang Esmiera of ABAS, Sarawak rounded out the top five with 2040.

Chong pocketed the top prize of RM20,000 (approx. US$4,250) as champion. Muhammad Hafiz, who had bowled a total of 20 games in the U25 Finals and Classified Finals, added RM10,000 as first runner-up while Edric Lim took home RM4,000 as second runner-up.