20th March, K.Lumpur: The Men's Open Masters title of the 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open remained in Malaysia as top seed, Adrian Ang emerged as champion while debutant, Kelly Kulick gave America their second victory in the Ladies' division.

Both the champions were forced into the third and deciding game in the best-of-3 finals when the contenders drew level after the second game. In the men's division, top seed Adrian Ang narrowly beat challenger, Osku Palermaa 163-147 as both struggled in very difficult lane conditions.

In the second match, Palermaa got the better of Adrian after the Finn made the changes quicker than the Malaysian. Adrian was just unlucky when he could not find a connecting strike to go down, 200-238 forcing a decider.

Adrian got off to a better start with a double as the Finn failed to repeat his form shown in the second. The third game and match

appeared to have favoured the Malaysian when Adrian got a turkey while Palermaa opened in frame 5.

Although Adrian got a double in frames 8 and 9, an opened frame in the tenth gave the Finn a slim chance after he fired a turkey from frame 7 onwards. Needing to strike out to beat Adrian, Palermaa shot a solid pocket but left pin 10 standing.

It did not mattered thereafter and Adrian celebrated his victory with 220-214, cheered on by a large crowd of supporters and congratulations from the Finn, coaches and team-mates.

"All I need to do was to focus on my game. I lost it a bit and luckily I was able to get back my focus as the game went on," confessed the 22-year-old newly-crowned champion, Adrian Ang.

"In the first game, we were struggling and my coach told me to use a different ball on the left lane and another on the right. It sure paid off which I'm glad."

"Actually I was very nervous and I just couldn't watch his last shot. Osku is a very good bowler and once he found the line, he is just simply great."

The champion also had to work hard when he beat No. 7 seed, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE, 261-187, 238-247 and 199-169 for a 2-1 victory in the semi-finals while Palermaa also took three games to beat No. 4 seed, Yusuf B Abdul Raof of Malaysia, 213-170, 183-202 and 207-159 for a 2-1 win in the other semi.

Adrian sailed through the quarter-finals by ousting No. 8 seed, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE, 2-0 and Palermaa again took three games to knockout Singapore's Basil Low in his quarter-finals encounter.

Meanwhile, PBA Tournament of Champion winner and top seed, Kelly Kulick retained the ladies' crown for America following the footsteps of her compatriot, Carolyn Dorrin-Ballard, who won last year.

But her victory did not come easy either after being stretched to the third and deciding game in the finals against challenger, Chien Hsiu-Lan of Chinese Taipei. Two unlucky splits in the first game put the American on the back foot losing 184-211 to the Taiwanese.

A quick ball change made the difference in the second game when she bounched back with a 218-212 victory to force the deciding game. Although Chien started the third match with a double, Kulick again was forced to trail by two frames after a split in the second frame.

A turkey from frame four and another double in the eighth and ninth frames gave the American a breather as Chien failed to knock down a single strike after her early double which gave Kulick a 211-201 victory.

"Yes it was very exciting. Each game came down to the last frame," said the delighted American, Kelly Kulick.

"The lanes were drastically different and I had to make many changes. So I went to my bag and had to find a suitable ball. I'm glad I made the right change early."

Kulick breezed through to the finals after beating No. 5 seed, Liza Del Rosario, 2-0 in the first semi-finals while Chien took three games to defeat 2008 AMF World Cup champion and No. 3 seed, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan of Singapore, 2-1 in the other semi.

Chien had an easier passage into the semi-finals when he knocked out No. 7 seed, Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia, 2-0 in the quarter-finals while the American needed three games to beat No. 8 seed, Siti Safiyah Amirah of Malaysia in her quarter-finals round.

Adrian Ang pocketed the top prize of RM35,000 (approx. US$10,000) as Palermaa settled for RM17,000. Yusuf B Abdul Raof and Hussain AL-Suwaidi took home RM7,000 each although Yusuf finished third.

Kelly Kulick won RM15,000 and Chien Hsiu-Lan settled for RM7,500. Yeong-Nathan and Rosario fourth took home RM4,000 each as losing semifinalists but the final podium went to the Singaporean.

Photos courtesy of Starpix.

19th March, K.Lumpur: American PBA pro, Kelly Kulick underlined her prowess to take pole position at the end of the Ladies' Open Masters Round 2 finals of the 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open as two Malaysians finished 1-2 in the Men's division.

World Championship Trios gold medalist, Chen Hsiu-Lan from Taiwan set the opening pace with a cracking 245 to lead a field of 21 finalists from Round 2 and the six seeded qualifiers. But a sizzling 278 from American PBA pro, Kelly Kulick saw the debutant surging to the lead by 12 pins from Chien.

Apart from a lowly 194 in her next game, Kulick bowled consistently with 217, 225, 200, 225 and 259 to end the 8-game block in pole position with a total of 1812 pinfalls. The Taiwanese trailed Kulick throughout and was content with second on 1777.

Her performance underlined that her win in the PBA Tour was no fluke. 2007 Malaysian Open champion, Zandra Aziela was Malaysia's best

finisher tieing with 2008 AMF World Cup champion, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan in third with 1660.

Another former Malaysian Open champion, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines finished fifth with 1656 followed by Malaysian Backup Elite squad member, Hee Kar Yen sixth with 1651. 2009 Indonesia Open champion, Tannya Roumimper and 2005 Champion, Siti Safiyah Amirah completed the top 8 who advanced into the next knockout stage.

Kulick also topped the Round 1 finals with 1800 ahead of Sharon Koh of Malaysia in second and Filipina, Lisa Del Rosario third with 1766 and 1765 respectively. Twenty-one advanced into Round 2.

The men's competition was a more fiercely contest affair which saw a keen tussle between Dubai Open champion, Osku Palermaa of Finland and recent Brunswick Euro Challenge runnerup, Adrian Ang of Malaysia.

The Finn was leading Ang by just one pin after the second game but it was the 22-year-old Malaysian who got the better of Palermaa to stamp his mark at the halfway mark after rolling 218 and 269 in the next two games.

Ang went on to fire consistent lines of 181, 258, 259 and 223 to complete the round in the lead with 1873. Defending champion and third place finisher in Paris, Zulmazran Zulkifli stormed home with a 289 scorcher to snatch second spot giving Malaysia a 1-2 finish.

Palermaa settled for third spot with 1822 followed by the surprised Malaysian national youth, Yusuf Bin Abdul Raof in fourth with 1759. 2009 Thailand Open champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand finished fifth with 1757.

Asian Youth Games Masters gold medalist, Basil Low showed what he is made of in the senior ranks with a superb sixth place with 1699 followed by two Emiratis, Hussain Al-Suwaidi and Shaker Al-Hassan squeezing into the next round in seventh and eighth places.

One of the top 4 overseas seeded qualifiers and 2009 Asia Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong was unlucky to miss the cut in ninth despite finishing strongly in his final two games. Favourite and current European Tour leader, Dominic Barrett of England finished a dismal 23rd position.

UAE's Naif Oqab, who topped the Round 1 finals played earlier, failed to advance managing only 13th. Zulmazran Zulkifli finished second in that round followed by Asian Indoor Games Team silver medalist, Kelvin Keong third. Twenty-seven make the cut into Round 2.

The top 8 men and top 8 women would contest the quarterfinals in a elimination knockout format with the top seed meeting the eighth-seed, second seed meeting the seventh-seed and so on in a best-of-3 matches.

Winners of the quarterfinals will meet in the semifinals and subsequently the winners of that will face-off in the final title match to decide the champion.

17th March, K.Lumpur: Hong Kong wonder kid, Michael Mak shone in the qualifying rounds after setting a new benchmark of 1458 to take over top spot of the Men's Open Masters qualifying table at the 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open.

Michael Mak, who has taken Asia youth by storm after capturing the Asian Youth Games Singles gold last year in Singapore and most recently, Asian Youth CHampionship Masters gold medal in Kuwait, has yet to win a title in the senior ranks.

The 16-year-old almost claimed his first senior title but American PBA pro, Doug Kent denied the youngster the title at the 2009 Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge in Manila with a 192-180 victory.

A senior title is long overdue and with his recent form and consistency in qualifying, Mak is in a strong position to challenge for top honours. The leader chalked up a sizzling 1458 to dislodge his team-mate, Wu Siu Hong into second spot on 1426.

Naif Oqab of UAE, who was twice runnerup in the Dubai Open and H.H. EMir Cup, posted 732 and 651 for a total of 1383 to finish second in the overseas pool while Thailand's Yannaphon Larpapharat and Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit completed the top 5.

Malaysian National Backup squad member, Kang Bo Long continued to lead the local pool and second overall with 1408. His team-mate, Mohd Noer Said improved to take up second with 1406 while 2006 champion, Alex Liew finished third with 1378.

Meanwhile, last year's third runnerup, Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia staked her claim to the Ladies' crown after an inspired performance in her qualifying effort. Tannya, who trailed leader, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong by 16 pins earlier today, bettered both her two best series.

The Indonesian lass shot 729 and 696 for a new total of 1425 to become the first women to break the 1400-mark and taking over the lead of the division. Hong Kong's Sylvia Kong, who has shown tremendous improvement in her game recently, also post 1403 to finish second.

2009 Asian Women Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han settled for a distant third with 1270 while newcomer, S.P. Li of Chinese Taipei and Korean

seasoned campaigner, Kim Eun Jung competed the top 5 in the overseas pool.

Malaysian National Backup squad member, Dayang Khairuniza's two previous best series was 621 and 614 posted on Saturday. But Dayang improved her scores with 677 and 657 for a total of 1334 to take over the lead in the local pool.

Reigning National Women champion, Sin Li Jane settled for second with 1303 while Nur Syakirah Yeoh posted an impressive 1300 to finish third in the pool.

16th March, K.Lumpur: 2009 Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong surged to the top of the leaderboard after a superb qualifying round of the 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open at SUnway Mega Lanes on Monday.

Wu Siu Hong, who was ranked Asia No. 1 last year with a total of 576.5 points but without a single title to his credit, stamped his mark after chalking up a sizzling 739 series to add to his other best 3-game sereis of 687.

Both the series gave the 26-year-old a total of 1426 to take the overall lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table. Wu's who captured the Malaysian Open title back in 2005, had two international titles in 2008 winning the Guam Open and Taipei Open.

Taking top spot in 2009 Asian Ranking was his ability to turn in consistent finishers in most of the major ranking tournaments and

with his performance in the qualifying rounds, Wu will be one of the strongest title contender.

Naif Oqab of UAE, who was twice runnerup in the Dubai Open and H.H. EMir Cup, posted 732 and 651 for a total of 1383 to finish second in the overseas pool while India's Dhruv Sarda took third spot with 1351.

Malaysian National Backup squad member, Kang Bo Long continued to lead the local pool and second overall with 1408. His team-mate, Mohd Noer Said improved to take up second with 1406 while 2006 champion, Alex Liew finished third with 1378.

Asia Women Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han gave Hong Kong some cheers when she took over top spot of the Ladies' Open Masters overseas qualifying table with 1270. Chan shot 657 and 613 for the lead.

Chan will surely be able to improve her lowly 613 to increase the benchmark for the Ladies' division. Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper took second spot with 1254 followed by Korea's Kim Eun Jung in third with 1190.

Malaysian National Backup squad member, Dayang Khairuniza's two previous best series was 621 and 614 posted on Saturday. But Dayang improved her scores with 677 and 657 for a total of 1334 to take over the lead in the local pool.

Reigning National Women champion, Sin Li Jane settled for second with 1303 while Nur Syakirah Yeoh posted an impressive 1300 to finish third in the pool.

The Round 1 Open Masters finals will held at 9.00am on March 19th where the Men's Open field will be cut to 25 and will be joined by the top 4 local and top 4 overseas for Round 2. Likewise, the Ladies' Open field will be cut to 21 and joined by the top 3 local and top 3 overseas for Round 2.

The top 8 finishers at the end of the Round 2 finals will advance to the elimination quarterfinal rounds where the topseed will face the eighth-seed, second-seed vs the seventh-seed and so on for a best-of-three games matchplays.

Winners will proceed to the semifinals and thereafter to the title match to determine this year's champions.

14th March, K.Lumpur: Reigning National Women champion and Backup Elite squad member, Sin Li Jane is eying for her third title after topping the Ladies' Open Masters qualifying table of the 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open on Saturday.

Sin Li Jane, who captured her first major international title after winning the Girl's Open Masters crown at the 2008 MILO Junior All-Stars, won her second major title after emerging as the 2009 National Women champion.

Apart from the her first triumph, the 18-year-old from Perak also impressed her selectors after she bagged the Masters Gold medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Championship in Belfast, Northern Ireland defeating two-time AMF World Cup champion, Ann-Maree Putney of Australia.

Li Jane's first two best attempts of 662 and 592 for a total of 1254 put her in second behind team-mate, Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore on

Saturday. But the reigning national champion chalked up a better second best series of 641 on Sunday to take over top spot with 1303.

With three more days left for qualifying and a chance to make further improvements, her consistency will put Li Jane in a strong position to challenge for the Ladies' Open title. Jacqueline settled for second with 1278 while Hee Kar Yen took third spot with 1237.

Korea's Kim Eun Jung, who nows resides in Penang and is a youth coach, topped the overseas pool with 1160 followed by India's Sabeena Saleem in second with 1083.

Meanwile, another member of the Backup Elite squad, Kang Bo Long set the benchmark for the Men's Open Masters qualifying after two consistent best series of 698 and 682 to take top spot with 1380.

Kang, who was seeded second last year and lost to eventual champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli in the semifinals to end up third, will be hoping to improve on his previous performance to take his first major international title.

2006 Malaysian Open champion and winner of multiple international titles, Alex Liew also look a strong contender after turning in 1378 to take up second behind Kang. Mohd Noer Said did well to finish third with 1362.

The first overseas men to compete in this year's champion was the strong team from Tenpin Bowling Federation of India. Dhruv Sarda showed tremendous improvement with 1341 to lead the overseas pool.

Shabbik Dhankot, who was fourth overnight, improved with 1325 to finish second spot as N.P. Singh was the third Indian to surpass the 1300-mark with 1306 to take up third spot. Hong Kong bowlers were beginning to make their attempts and will surely make an impact in the next few days.

Qualifying will continue through to Thursday, March 18 and the Masters finals will be staged over Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20.

The top 3 local Men's Open and top 2 local Ladies' Open finishers in the finals will make Team Malaysia while the top 3 men and top 2 ladies foreign finishers will make up the Rest fo the World team for the Canon Cup 2010 Challenge on Sunday, March 21.