26th June, Moscow: Diandra Asbaty of USA defeated Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli 2-0 while Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE survived to beat Finland's Lasse Lintila 2-1 for the World Ranking Masters 2004 titles.

The match between the 24 year-old WRM debutant, Diandra Asbaty and Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, turned out to be a one-sided affair as Shalin struggled to find the form she had throughtout the tournament. Asbaty easily won both the matches, 257-163 and 277-169 for a straight 2-0 win and the 2004 title.

The title was decided when Shalin had an open frame in the fourth frame of the second match while the champion reeled off four consecutive strikes which made it difficult for the runner-up to catch up.

The 2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist went on to capture the title adding strikes up to the ninth frame and a firmed high game of 277.

The match between Finland's Lasse Lintila and UAE's Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi was more like a see-saw with the pendulum swinging from one bowler to the other. Lintila never gave Mohd Khalifa any chances at all in the first match when he romped home, 244-188 to take the first point.

But the burly former World Champion, Khalifa came back with a vengence to cruised to a 269-196 to level at 1-1 in the second match.

An open frame in the first frame of the third match, put Lintila on his back foot but recovered with a turkey from frame 2 while the champion also responded with a turkey from frame 3. An open frame in the sixth frame for Khalifa also swung the pendulum towards Lintila but he too opened in the same frame.

Another turkey by the champion from frame eighth and the runner-up not responding, Khalifa went on to finish the match, 210-190 for a well-desevred win. Mohd Khalifa brought back the Men's title to Asia while Diandra Asbaty gave the American Zone their first success in the World Ranking Masters series since it started in 2001.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

25th June, Moscow: Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE and Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli shone for Asia as they cruised into the finals of the World Ranking Masters 2004 to face Lasse Lintila of Finland and Diandra Asbaty of USA.

The former World Champion gave his opponent Remy Ong of Singapore, little chance of an upset as he cruised to a 2-0 win with 197-179 in the first match and 223-204 in the second to book his a spot in the finals.

In the other all-Finn semifinals, Lasse Lintila put a stop to Pasi Uotila's charge when Lintila narrowly clinched the first match with 40 pins to Uotila's 36, after being forced into a 9th and 10th frame roll-off to break the tie at 187. Lintila then survived another narrow win in the second match, 220-211 to make the finals of the Men's division.

Lintila will be looking to keep the Men's title in Europe when he meets Mohd Khalifa Al-Qubaisi following the success of Belgium's Gery Verbruggen in last year's tournament.

Meanwhile, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia had an easy passage into the Women's finals when she easily won both the matches, 203-153 and 223-160 to knock out England's Kirsten Penny. Penny was never in the hunt at all while Shalin was on a roll.

2003 World Championship Masters champion, Diandra Asbaty of USA was equally impressive when she won both the matches with 200-182 and 226-204 defeating Finland's Reija Lunden to make the finals in her first-ever appearance in the World Ranking Masters series.

The women's final between three-times Asian Bowler of the Year and the World Champion, Diandra Asbaty promises to be the match of the 2004 season.

The finals will commence tomorrow, Saturday 26th June and LIVE scores will be featured at this website.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

25th June, Moscow: Diandra Asbaty of USA moved into the Women's semifianls of the World Ranking Masters 2004 defeating Colombian Juliana Guerrero 2-0 while Pasi Uotila upset top-seed Perti Mannonen 2-0 in the Men's division.

The 24 year-old American, who qualified fifth in the preliminary rounds, was matched against fourth-seed Juliana Guerrero of Colombia. The 2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist eadged Guerrero 211-203 in the first Women's quarterfinal match and then went on to easily take the second match 207-167 for a 2-0 win over her opponent.

Top-seed, Shalin Zulkifli was equally impressive after knocking out eighth-seed, Lee Eun Ock of Korea in two straight matches, 231-217 and 193-186 for her 2-0 win.

Finland's Reija Lunden had to work harder after she lost to WRM 2002 champion, Jennifer Tan of Singapore in the second match by a two pins, 191-193 despite taking the first match 192-183. In the third and crucial

match, Lunden criused to a more convincing win over the former champion, 212-157 to book her semifinal spot with a 2-1 win.

The final semifinal spot went to Kirsten Penny of England, defeating Venuzuela's Alicia Marcano, 2-1. Penny took the first match 183-176 and lost the second, 199-204 but she managed to edge out her opponent 211-205 in the third match. Kirsten Penny will face Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli in the Women's semifinal match while the other match between Reija Lunden and Diandra Asbaty promises to be a thriller.

In the Men's division, Pasi Uotila of Finland create an upset when he knocked out fellow-countryman and top-seed, Petri Mannonen in two straight games, 182-145 and 196-195 for a 2-0 win and a place in the semifinals.

Another Finn, Lasse Lintila had a easy passage when he outclassed 2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist, Michael Little of Australia 2-0 with scores of 212-160 and 265-206. Singapore's Remy Ong edged out the other Australian, Jason Belmonte 2-1 in three matches winning the crucial match by a single pin, 206-205 for his semifinal spot.

Second-seed, Mohd Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE, fought back galantly to win 2-1 and a spot in the semifianls with 215-186 and 233-199 against Colombia's Andres Gomez after loosing the first 228-253.

Mohd Khalifa will meet Remy Ong in the Men's semifinal match while it will be an all-Finn clash between Pasi Uotila and Lasse Lintila in the first match.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

25th June, Moscow: Petri Mannonen of Finland led from start to finish to qualify for the quaterfinals of the World Ranking Masters 2004 at the end of the fourth block while Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia topped the Women's division.

The 24 year-old Finn led from start to finish from the word "Go" to end the qualifying rounds with a total of 5408 after an impressive 1358 in the final block of 6 games. World Championship Bronze medalist, Mohammed Khalif Al-Qubaisi, who trailed the leader most of the way, topped Squad D with 1421 to accumulate 5372 over the 24-games preliminary rounds in second.

World Championship Masters Gold medalist, Michael Little scored a superb 1375 for a total 5234 to overtake fellow-countryman, Jason Belmonte for third spot. Belmonte settled for fourth place with 5213.

Remy Ong (SIN-5177), Lasse Lintila (FIN-5142), Andres Gomez (COL-5108) and Pasi Uotila (FIN-5096) all made the quarterfinals from fifth to eighth positions respectively.

Overnight leader, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia topped the Women's division after securing top-seed for the quarterfinals with a total of 5097, 98 pins ahead of Finland's Reija Lunden. The early leader settled for second spot with 4999, followed by Kirsten Penny of England in third with 4982.

Colombia's Juliana Guerrero continued to improving to finally take up fourth after another superb 1324 in Squad D to total of 4865. World Championship Gold medalist, Diandra Asbaty settled for fifth on 4835.

Alicia Marcano (VEN-4816), Jennifer Tan Bee Leng (SIN-4795) and Lee Eun Ock (KOR-4751) made the quarterfinals from sixth to eighth.

The men and women will be starting quarterfinals knockout stage shortly with the semifinals and finals to be played on Saturday, 26th June.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

24th June, Moscow: Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia took over the lead of the Women's division at the end of the third block of the World Ranking Masters 2004 while Petri Mannonen of Finland maintained pole position.

The three-time Asian Bowler of the Year scored a superb 1384 on lines of 221, 259, 217, 259, 206 and 222, to give her a 18-game total of 3823. Shalin, who also topped Squad C with 1384, took over the lead from early leader, Reija Lunden of Finland, who totalled 3771, 52 pins away in second.

World Championship Doubles Gold medalist, Kirsten Penny of England maintained third spot with 3658 pushing down Diandra Asbaty of USA, into fourth position with 3611.

Juliana Guerrero (COL-3595), Jennifer Tan Bee Leng (SIN-3575), Bettina Lund (DEN-3547) and Lee Eun Ock (KOR-3546) took up fifth to eighth positions respectively.

Two block leader, Petri Mannonen of Finland stretched his lead slightly from 76 to 99 pins after 18 games to maintain his pole position in the Men's division. Mannonen became the only bowler to pass the 4000-mark score with a total of 4050 to lead from World CHampionship Bronze medalist, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE, who totalled 3951.

Jason Belmonte of Australia, who topped Squad C with 1336, moved up 9th overnight to third on 3888 with Finland's Lasse Lintila, who also improved from seventh to fourth position with 3872.

Squad B top scorer, Remy Ong of Singapore dropped to fifth with 3863 followed by Michael Little (AUS-3859), Andres Gomez (COL-3851) and Daniel Falconi (MEX-3791) taking up sixth to eighth places.

The men and women will complete their preliminary rounds with the fourth block of 6 games tomorrow (25th June) when the top 8 will advance to the quarter finals knockout stage on Saturday, 26th June.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

24th June, Moscow: Petri Mannonen and Reija Lunden of Finland continued to lead Men's and Women's second block of 6 games in the World Ranking Masters 2004 at Planet Bowling Centre.

First block leader, Petri Mannonen stretched hid lead from 32 pins to 76 pins after another superb display of consistency scoring 1357 in the second block to give him a total of 2745.

2003 World Championship Masters Bronze medalist, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE trailed the Fin with 2699 while Remy Ong of Singapore, who was seventh yesterday, topped Squad B with a score of 1399 for a total of 2661 to move up to third spot. Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong dropped one spot to fourth with 2608.

Michael Little (AUS) and Andres Gomez (COL) tied in fifth with 2597 while Lasse Lintila (FIN-2573) and Gery Verbruggen (BEL-2560) finished in the top 8 for seventh and eighth positions respectively.

Reija Lunden of Finland maintained the lead of the women's division at the end of the second block after she scored 1259 to total 2522 and stretched a 3-pin lead to 32 pins.

2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist, Diandra Asbaty of USA moved up from fifth to second spot with a total score of 2490 followed by World Championship Doubles Gold medalist, Kirsten Penny of England improved one spot from fourth to third on 2483.

Bettina Lund of Denmark dropped one spot to fourth on 2470 while Juliana Guerrero of Colombia scored the highest 6-games score of 1335 in Squad B to take up fifth place with 2442. Shalin Zulkifli (MAS-2439), Lee Eun Ock (KOR-2390) and Wendy Chai (MAS-2374) finished sixth to eighth positions respectively.

The men and women will continue their third block of 6 games after later today and a final block day on 25th June. The top 8 after 24 games will advance to the quarter finals knockout stage after the final block.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

23rd June, Moscow: Petri Mannonen gave Finland a good headstart in the World Ranking Masters 2004 by leading the Men's division after Reija Lunden of Finland led in the Women's.

The 24 year-old enginner, gave Finland a good headstart in the tournament after Reija Lunden took the slender lead in the Women's division earlier. Mannonen knocked down lines of 209, 223, 253, 212, 233 and 258 for a total of 1388 to lead 2003 World Championship Masters Bronze medalist, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE, who totalled 1356.

Asian Ranked No. 1 and World Ranking Masters debutant, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong did well to stay with the leaders on a total of 1304 while 2002 World Ranking Masters champion, Gery Verbruggen of Belgium was fourth with 1272.

2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist, Michael Little (AUS-1271), Martin Blixt (SWE-1267), Remy Ong (SIN-1262) and Lasse Lintila (FIN-1251) finished in the top 8 from fifth to eighth positions respectively.

The men will continue their second and third block of 12 games tomorrow (24th June) with a final block day on 25th June. The top 8 after 24 games will advance to the quarter finals knockout stage after the final block.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.

23rd June, Moscow: Reija Lunden of Finland took a slender lead in the Women's first block of 6 games of the World Ranking Masters 2004 underway at Planet Bowling Centre.

The 37 year-old Computer System Architect, took the lead with lines of 200, 180, 225, 238, 223 and 197 for a total of 1263, just 3-pins ahead of three-times Asian Bowler of the Year, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, who scored 1260.

Lunden, who won the Team Gold medal in the 1995 World Championship in Reno, USA, also led the first block at last year's World Ranking Masters in Florida, USA and was knocked out in the quarter finals to England's Kirsten Penny.

Third spot went to Denmark's Bettina Lund with 1219, another 6-pins ahead of Kirsten Penny in fourth place with 1213. 2003 World Championship Masters Gold medalist, Diandra Asbaty of USA finished fifth with 1195 while Michaela Goebel (GER-1180), Tanya Petty (GER-1164) and Patricia Ciotti (VEN-1150) completed the top 8 from sixth to eighth respectively.

The women will continue their second and third block of 12 games tomorrow (24th June) with a final block day on 25th June. The top 8 after 24 games will advance to the quarter finals knockout stage after the final block. The Men's first block of 6 games is in progress at press time.

Photos courtesy of Kubasov Vladimir, www.Bowlclub.ru.