6th December, Abu Dhabi: Top seed, Thomas Larsen of Denmark had to beat challenger, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland twice in the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour finals to win his first World Tour title on Friday.

Both Larsen and Koivuniemi started off well exchanging strikes and were locked at the halfway mark in the first game of the title match. But it was the Finn who struck out to take the first game, 280-239.

In the deciding game, the Dane made no mistake when he rolled three consecutive strikes from frame 2 forcing Koivuniemi into an error with a split in the third frame.

Larsen struck thrice again as Koivuniemi struggled to repeat the form he displayed in the first game eventually going down to Larsen, 204-247.

"Atfer I had qualified well, I was slightly confident that I'll do well in the finals," said the 23-year-old Larsen from Assens, Denmark. "Mika has been bowling well too and I knew it was not going to be an easy match.

"I did well too in the first game, but Mika had better carry. In the second match, he made a few bad shots and that gave me the chance to win if I can focus on my game.

"I'm completely thrilled to have won my first World Tour title. In fact this is my first major title apart from one EBT title I won this year."

Koivuniemi had earlier ended Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong's fine run with a victory in the fourth match, 258-165 to face the top seed. Wu edged third seed, Dominic Barrett of England, 248-235 in the third match.

In the second match, Wu ousted fourth-seed, Osku Palermaa of Finland and sixth-seed, Joline Planefors of Sweden, 248-215-236 and sailed past seventh-seed, Mohammed Janahi of Bahrain and Shaker Al Hassan of UAE, 237-223-225 in the opening TV final match.

Larsen picked up a whopping AED 110,000 (approx. US$30,000) for the win while Koivuniemi settled for AED 70,000. Wu went home with AED 40,000 as Barrett, Palermaa and Planefors earned 20,000, 15,000 and 12,000.

Shaker and Mohamed Janahi won AED 10,000 and AED 8,000 each. The next 2014 PBA World Bowling Tour moves to second stop in Doha with the 13th Qatar Bowling Open and then the third stop in Riyadh with the 7th Kingdom of Saudi Open the following week.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

5th December, Abu Dhabi: Top qualifier Thomas Larsen of Denmark literally led from start to finish to win Round 4 Finals of the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour to advance into the TV Finals as top seed.

Four-time PBA Tour Bowler of the Year, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland got off the block in style with 279 in his opening game but only led top qualifier, Thomas Larsen by 1 pin as Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong and Sweden's Martin Paulsson rolled 269 and 268 respectively.

Another sizzling game of 265 from Larsen put the Dane in the lead while Koivuniemi stayed close to the leader with 259. PBA World Championship winner, Dominic Barrett moved up to third with a big game of 280.

Larsen held a slender lead of just 4 pins past the halfway mark with Barrett taking over second spot and Koivuniemi slipping down to third and Paulsson in fourth.

The leader continued his relentless pace of 266 and 256 yet had to content with a small lead of 8 pins as Barrett rolled back-to-back 259 to stay close in second and Koivuniemi third.

Larsen closed out the round with 246 to advance into the TV Finals with 1546 with Koivuniemi snatching second spot with 1514 followed by Barrett in third with 1495 while a second Finn, Osku Palermaa stromed home to take fourth spot with 1423.

Sole female in the field, Joline Planefors of Sweden finished fifth with 1414 on a handicap of 8 pins per game. Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong took sixth position with 1393 ahead of Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain on a final game of 279 for 1387 total.

PBA pro, Mike Fagan, who was in sixth before the final game managed only 214 to be edged out of the top 7 by just 3 pins. Shaker Al Hassan earned the 8th and final TV Finas spot as the top Emirati with 1360.

Round 3 leader, Robert Andersson of Sweden failed to make the cut ending in 15th position so did his compatriot, Martin Paulsson who was second in Round 3.

The TV Finals shootout will commence at 3.30pm local time and the champion will earn a whopping AED 110,000 (approx. US$30,000). In addidtion, the champion will earn 100 World Bowling Tour ranking points.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

5th December, Abu Dhabi: Robert Andersson and second perfect gamer, Martin Paulsson gave Sweden a one-two finish in Round 3 Finals of the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour followed by Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong in third.

UAE national bowler, Shaker Al Hassan set a blistering pace with an opening game of 288 followed closely by Osku Palermaa of Finland in second with 279 and Martin Paulsson third with 278.

Wu Siu Hong, who advanced to this round after he finished third, surged ahead by following up with 267 in the second game from a good 256 in the first. Palermaa remained in second while Shaker and Paulsson slipped down after a poor 174 and 170.

Wu continued to hold a 20 pin margin over the two-handed Finn in second as Andersson fired a superb 269 to move up to third while PBA pro, Mika Koivuniemi made his move to inch closer to the leading duo.

Andersson began to pull away after he downed 278 and 290 in his next two games as Wu and the recovering Paulsson fought out the minor placing.

Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain rolled the tournament's fifth perfect game in the fifth to leapfrog from 16 to 10 and put himself in contention for the next round.

Andersson rounded off the round with 196 for a 1489 total, 38 pins ahead of Paulsson snatching second spot with 1451 as Wu settled for third position with 1432.

Koivuniemi took fourth spot with 1411 making up four finalists hitting the 1400-mark. Janahi rounded out the top 5 with 1394 followed by early pacer setter, Shaker in sixth position with 1375.

Palermaa, PBA pro Mike Fagan, Frederik Ohrlaard of Denmark, desperado qualifier, Abdulla Al Dolijan of Saudi Arabia, Mahmood Al Attar of UAE and Michael Mak of Hong Kong survived to advance into the next rouns from seventh to 12th.

Kuwait's Yaqoub Al Shatti missed the cut by 22 pins after a disastrous 185 in his last game while the biggest disappointment was Round 2 winner, Jimmy Dan Mortensen who was seventh before his final game of 157 leaving the Dane in 14th position.

The top 12 will be joined by the top 8 seeded qualifiers for another 6 games in Round 4 Finals tomorrow. The top 7 plus the highest Emirati outside the top 7 finishers will advance to the TV Finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

5th December, Abu Dhabi: Second perfect gamer, Jimmy Dan Mortensen of Denmark won Round 2 Finals of the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour ahead of PBA pro, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland and Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong second and third.

Sandra Andersson set a cracking pace with an opening game of 269 to lead the field of 20 finalists, just 1 pin ahead of East Asian Games Masters gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong in second.

Wu followed it up with another splendid game of 259 to take over the running as Engand's Paul Moor added 255 in his second game to a 247 in the first to move up into second spot while Andersson dropped off with a poor 153.

The pace got quicker when PBA pro, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland rolled a big game of 279 take over the lead at the halfway mark with 753 series, 8 pins ahead of second perfect gamer, Jimmy Dan Mortensen of Denmark hot on his heals.

Mortensen kept a strong pace in the second half with 253, 194 and 223 to win the round with 1415. Koivuniemi settled for second with 1381, 34 pins adrift while Wu slipped down to third with 1355.

"It's quite different during the qualifying rounds when I ony used one ball," said Mortensen. "But in the finals I had to use four different balls because we're changing lanes after each game.

"I'm happy with my performance in this round and I hope I can carry this form to the next round later today."

Moor took fourth spot with 1342 followed by Hareb Al Mansoori of UAE rounding out the top 5 with 1312. Kevin Karlsson of Sweden and Mohamed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia finished sixth and seventh positions with 1309 and 1306.

Kuwaiti Yaqoub Al Shatti, Frederick Ohrlaard of Denmark and a second Saudi and desperado qualifier, Abdulla Al Dolijan making up the top 10 who advanced into the next round.

Emirati, Ali Al Rashdi and early pace setter, Sandra Andersson of Sweden missed the cut in 11th and 12th positions respectively.

The top 10 will be joined by qualifiers from positions 9 to 22 for another 6 games Round 3 Finals later today. The Top 12 will make the cut for Round 4 Finals tomorrow.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

4th December, Abu Dhabi: 2013 EBT German Open champion, Joline Planefors of Sweden stunned the field after going into the top of the qualifying standings of the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour.

Planefors, who had already earned a bye after her first three series, totalling 2173 for Round 3 finals in 12th position. But the 23-year-old Swede who resides in Copenhagen, Denmark, improved her lowest series with 768 en-route to top spot with 2278.

Apart from the EBT title she won this year, Planefors also picked up wins in Bulgaria, St. Petersburg and Iceland for which she currently leads the EBT ranking.

"I'm really surprise I can out do the men," said Planefors. "The pattern looks easy but still we had to have a lot of strikes. I'm really very surprise that I can out do the men.

"I didn't have to make a lot of changes on the lanes except changing my bowling balls in between each game and each squad."

Perfect gamer, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE took fourth spot with 2259 ahead of PBA World Championships winner, Dominic Barrett of England in fifth with 2241. Early leader, Mohamed Al Marzooqi and Naif Oqab, both of UAE rounded out the top 7 with 2239 and 2231 respectively.

2012 Saudi Open champion, Martin Larsen, who had cracked into the top bracket on Monday, dropped out to head the second bracket in tenth position with 2230. Emirati, Hassan Al Zaabi, who is in 11th, will most likely earn eighth as top Emirati qualifier outside the top 7.

While 2013 Dubai Open champion, Mahmood Al Attar of UAE in 12th will occupy ninth spot for Round 3 finals. Robert Andersson of Sweden is the cut at 22nd position in the second bracket with 2132.

2012 World Youth Masters gold medalist, Daniel Fransson of Sweden headed the third bracket in 23rd position with 2124 while the cut at 38th position went to Adel Ali Al Jallaf of UAE with 2078.

A late entry, PBA ro Mike Fagan of USA had three squads this morning to move into 27th position after he posted 667, 760 and 732 for a total of 2120 while Martin Paulsson of Sweden rolled the second 300 of the tournament to move up into 31st position.

Positions 38 and 39 reserved for local qualifiers in the first seven days will likely go to Hareb Al Mansoori and Khamis Darwish with 1987 and 1983 respectively.

Six more squads remained for the day with the last squad at 11.30pm local time. A desperado squad will be staged to include the top 2 highest one-game scorers making the cut in 41st and 42nd position.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

3rd December, Abu Dhabi: 2013 Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel EBT champion, Thomas Larsen of Denmark registered the highest 3-game series of Day 10 qualifying rounds of the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour to take over pole position.

Larsen, who was 64th after two attempts, improved with 705 in an earlier squad before firing a stunning 807 series to take over the lead of the qualifying rounds with a 9-game tally of 2268.

The 24-year-old's best finish was 11th in the 2013 Brunswick Ballmaster in Helsinki, Finland and is currently seventh in the European Tour ranking with 465 points. Larsen will be hoping to do well here and next week's 13th Qatar Bowling Open for an improved poisition.

Perfect gamer, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE slipped down to second with 2259 while his fellow compatriot, Mohamed Al Marzooqi also dropped one spot to third with 2239.

2010 and 2012 EBT winner and newly-crowned PBA World Championship winner, Dominic Barrett of England cracked into the top bracket in third last night but settled for fourth position after he posted 773, 725 and 740 for a 9-game tally of 2238.

Martin Larsen of Sweden, who was the first bowler to post three consecutive 700-series to move into the top bracket last night, is sandwiched in sixth between two Emiratis, Naif Oqab and Hassan Al Zaabi in fifth and seventh respectively.

2013 Dubai Open champion, Mahmood Al Attar of UAE is the leading Emirati outside the top bracket lying in tenth but he will most likely earn eighth spot for Round 4 finals.

Top female qualifier was Joline Planefors of Sweden, who quickly made the Round 3 cut in 12th position with 2173 behind Bahraini, Mohamed Janahi in 11th. The other female was England's Samantha Hannan occupying the cut at 22nd position with 2108.

Denmark's Frederik Ohrlard headed the third bracket in 23rd position with 2103 while the final cut in 38th position went to Hong Kong's Wicky Yueng with 1993.

Two Finns, Osku Palermaa and three-time PBA Bowler of the Year, Mika Koivuniemi finished 29th and 30th position respectively.

Qualifying will end tomorrow and qualifiers for Round 2 finals will bowl 6 games on December 5. The top 10 finishers will advance to Round 3 Finals joined by qualifiers ranked 9 to 22 for another 6 games.

The field will be cut to 12 and joined by qualifiers from the top bracket in positions 1 to 8 for the final 6 games. The top 7 plus top Emirati will advance to the TV Finals on December 6.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

2nd December, Abu Dhabi: 2012 Kingdom of Saudi Open champion, Martin Larsen of Sweden rolled with three consecutive 700-series to storm into the top bracket of the qualifying table at the 1st Abu Dhabi Bowling Tour at Khalifa Bowling Centre in Zayed Sports City.

Larsen took to the lanes in his opening squad with a mixed result but was able to bring home a 723 series with 256, 189 and 278. The Swede followed it up with a splendid 771 series with 235, 268 and 268 for a 6-game total of 1494.

Sensing that he was well lined up to the lane conditions, Larsen finished the day's work with another superb 736 in his third squad for a 9-game tally of 2230 to move into third position of the Round 1 qualifying table.

Overnight leader and perfect gamer, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE remained in the lead with 2259 followed by early leader, Mohamed Al Marzooqi of UAE in second with 2239 ahead of Larsen.

Three more Emiratis Naif Oqab, Hassan Al Zaabi and this year's Dubai Open champion, Mahmood Al Attar took fourth to sixth positions with 2226, 2209 and 2184 respectively.

Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain rounded out the top 7 of the top bracket with 2182. The eighth position is reserved for the leading Emirati outside the Top 8 who will advance into Round 4 Finals.

Asian Inddor Games Team gold medalist, Michael Tsang of Hong Kong headed the second bracket in tenth with 2171 as his team-mate Eric Tseng is the cut at 22nd position with 2013.

Robert Andersson of Sweden headed the third bracket in 23rd position with 2004 in his first three attempts while the cut at 38th position went to UAE's Abdul Rahman Salim with 1869 for Round 2 Finals.

ABF Tour UAE leg champion, HRH Mohammed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and UAE's Adel Lootah are off the cut to tie in 43rd position with 1866.

Positions 39 and 40 are reserved for the top 2 Emirati qualifiers from the first 5 days of the qualifying rounds and positions 41 and 42 will be occupied by the top 2 from the desperado squad.

Qualifying will continue for another two days with the Round 2 and 3 Finals being contested on December 5 and Round 4 and the TV Finals on December 6.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.

1st December, Abu Dhabi: Top Emirati national bowler, Hussain Al Suwaidi shot the tournament's first 300 to take over top spot in the qualifying rounds of the inaugural 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour underway at Khalifa Bowling Centre.

Hussain, who had 42 perfect games to his illustrious bowling career, rolled his 43rd 300 at the 5.00pm squad take his 9-game tally to 2259. The Emirati fired 224, 248 and 300 for a sizzling 772 series to add to his 748 and 739.

Apart from winning the 2012 Asian Championships Doubles gold medal in Hong Kong, the 29-year-old only has the 2013 ABF Tour Bahrain leg success to show this year and has yet to pick up an open title.

His lest title came back in 2010 when he took the Hong Kong Open although Hussain did win the 2008 Abu Dhabi Open and the 2007 Dubai Open. A first international title on home soil will be a big boost for the Emirati national bowler.

Leader for the past seven days, Mohamed Al Marzooqi of UAE slipped down to second with 2239, 20 pins adrift while this year's UAE representative to the World Cup, Naif Oqab finished third with 2226 to give UAE the top 3 positions.

Hassan Al Zaabi took fourth spot with 2209 while Bahrain's Mohamed Janahi rounded out the top 5 with 2182. The first European, Kim Bolleby of Sweden shot his second 700-series of 752 to take his 9-game total to 2144 for sixth position.

Sayed Al Hashemi of UAE finished seventh with 2132. The eighth spot is reserved for the top Emirati outside the top 7 who will earn two byes into Round 4 finals. The ninth position is reserved for Emirati for Round 3 Finals.

Yaqoub Al Shatti of Kuwait headed the second bracket with 2111 in tenth position ahead of Shaker Al Hassan of UAE in 11th with 2111, Filipino, Banshir Layoso in 12th with 2110 and newly-crowned Dubai Open champion, Mahmood Al Attar in 13th position with 2102.

Salem Al Qubaisi of UAE is the cut at 22nd position of the second brack with 1945 while another Emirati, Abdulsalam Buafra headed the third bracker in 23rd position with 1942. Current cut in 38th position went to Mohammed Al Nuaimi with 1734.

Whilst the early overseas bowlers who have arrived Abu Dhabi are from Hong Kong, many more from other Middle East countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Europe are expected to be here by tomorrow.

The top 8 qualifiers will advance to Round 4 finals. The top Emirati in position 9th and in positions 10th to 22nd will advance to Round 3 finals while qualifiers in positions 23rd to 38th plus top 2 Emiratis in the first 5 days of qualifying and top 2 from desperado squad will contest Round 3 Finals.

The top 10 finishers in the 6-games Round 2 finals will be joined by qualifiers ranked 9th to 22nd for another 6 games in Round 3 Finals. The field will be cut to 12 to join the top 8 qualifiers for Round 4 Finals.

The top 7 plus the top Emirati (outside the the top 7 finishers) will advance to the TV Finals to decide the champion.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Abu Dhabi.