9th June, Hong Kong: Top seed, Fahad Al-Emadi of Qatar and third-seed, Esther Cheah of Malaysia had to fight hard over two matches to win the Men's and Women's Open Masters titles of the 38th Hong Kong International Open on Saturday.

Fahad Al-Emadi, who ended the Stage 2 finals in the lead with 2260, was forced into the second deciding match after losing the first match to challenger and second-seed, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE, 204-214.

But the Qatari bounced back in the title match with a turkey from frame 3 and a four bagger from frame 8 to take his maiden victory, 229-193. Despite posting a clean game, Hussain was unable to roll even a single double strike to threaten Fahad.

"I had barely made it through in yesterday's Stage 1 and to end the second stage as top seed was totally surprising," said the 27-year-old Qatari national bowler, who picked up HK$55,000 (approx. US$7,000). "And to come away with the win is simply unbelievable."

Hussian had ealier eliminated two lefties, third-seed Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia and winner of the first match, Lee Tak Man of Macau, 238-214-210 in the closely contested second match.

The Emirati settled for HK$22,000 (approx. US$2,830) as first runner-up while Aiman took home HK$14,000 (approx. US$1,800) as second runner-up.

Lee, who was seeded No. 6, defeated fourth-seed, Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain and the only local survivor and fifth-seed, Wicky Yeung, 214-152-180 to advance into the second match.

Meanwhile, Esther Cheah of Malaysia forced top seed, Jazreel Tan of Singapore into the second decider after winning the first match, 242-225. In the championship match, Esther went on a strikefest taking a comfortably victory, 267-235 to capture the Women's Open crown.

The Malaysian had earlier defeated No. 2 seed and team-mate, Shalin Zulkifli and winner of the first match, Joey Yip of Hong Kong 235-185-191 to meet the top seed.

"It has been more than 2 years since my last title and I almost forgot how victory tastes like," said the 25-year-old Esther, who won the Milo Junior All Stars title back in 2009. "It's good to return to the winning circle once again."

Esther won HK$26,000 (approx. US$3,300) for her effort while Jazreel settled for HK$14,000 (US$1,800) for finishing second. Shalin earned HK$7,000 (approx. US$900) after slipping down to third.

Fifth-seed Joey Yip took the first match by beating fourth-seed, Zatil Iman of Malaysia and sixth-seed, Yap Seok Kim of Singapore, 224-180-213 to advance into the second match.

Jazreel ended the earlier Stage 2 finals with 2273 to advance into the stepladder finals as top seed. Shalin finished second with 2212 and Esther third with 2197. Zatil, Joey and Yap made the cut in fourth to sixth positions.

Eric Tseng of Hong Kong and Putty Armein of Indonesia had narrowly missed the stepladder finals by 5 and 6 pins respectively when the duo finished seventh in their respective Stage 2 finals.

The top 16 Asian men and top 6 Asian women also qualified for the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg which will be held tomorrow at HK Bowling City.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

8th June, Hong Kong: Three-time champion, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong and 2009 ABF Tour TOC winner, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia topped the Men's and Women's Open Stage 1 Masters finals of the 38th Hong Kong International Open.

Wu, who had a moderate start with 231, 193, 234, 198 and 223, was fifth at the halfway mark of the 10-games Stage 1 finals as Kuwaiti Fadhel Al Mousawi led the field of 33, 29 pins ahead of early leader, Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain in second.

Lee Tak Man of Macau grabbed the lead only after the sixth game but was overtaken by Wu Siu Hong, who followed his fifth game with 237 as Lee slipped to second, 3 pins adrift.

The three-time Hong Kong Open champion fired 241, 236, 201 and 211 to end the block with 2211 in the lead. Malaysia's Syafiq Ridhwan stormed home with 248 to snatch second spot with 2203.

UAE's Hussain Al Suwaidi, who moved up to second after posting a big game of 277 in the seventh game, hung on to third with 2120 despite a lowly 160 in the tenth and final game.

Fadhel finished fourth with 2117 while another early pace-setter, Adrian Ang of Malaysia rounded up the top 5 with 2106. Ang's team-mate, Aaron Kong completed the top 18 to make the cut for the next stage with 1961.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Sharon Limansantoso, who was tussling for the lead with Singapore's Jazreel Tan in the early stages, drew clear of the field to end the block with 2154, 29 pins ahead of Philippines' Yap Seok Kim, who settled for second with 2125.

Jazreel finished third with 2087 followed by left-hander Zatil Iman of Malaysia in fourth position with 2054. Sharon's compatriot, Putty Armein completed the top 5 with 2033.

Hong Kong's best performer was national bowler, Milki Ng who took ninth position with 1961 behind four other Malaysian women.

The top 18 men will be joined by the 3 local seeded qualifiers, Joshua Chow, Wicky Yeung and Michael Mak and the 3 overseas seeded qualifiers, Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia, Mohammed Al Jahromi of Bahrain and Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia for another 10 games Stage 2 finals.

The top 15 women will be joined by 3 local seeded qualifiers, CHan Shuk Han, Joey Yip and Zoe Tam and the 3 overseas seeded qualifiers, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, Julia Lam of Macau and Shayna Ng of Singapore for their second stage tomorrow.

The top 6 men and top 6 women will then advance to the stepladder shootout finals. Players positions 4,5 and 6 will meet in the first match. The winner will then meet the second and third seed in the second match. Winner of the third match will challenge the top seed for the title in a beat-twice format.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

8th June, Hong Kong: Macau youth, Lam Lek Long captured his second youth title after edging Hong Kong's Stanley Lau by 12 pins in the Youth Open Masters finals of the 38th Hong Kong International Open on Friday morning at HK Bowling City.

World Youth bound, Tony Wong set a blistering pace in his two opening games of 266 and 200 to lead team-mate, Stanley Lau by 39 pins but a lowly 171 in the third game saw the youngster slipping behind Macau's Zoe Dias Ma by 26 pins.

Ma led for the next three games before he handed the lead to his team-mate, Lam Lek Long after the seventh game as Lau regain second spot and trailing by 14 pins.

The 16-year-old Macau Anglican College Form 4 student conitnued to lead the lead despite posting only 194 and 172 but ended strongly with 223 to seal the victory and winning his second title with 2029.

Lam, who switched from spinning to hook style of play back in 2010, had captured his first title by winning the Youth Under-18 Masters yesterday.

Lau settled for second position with 2017, 12 pins adrift while early pace-setter, Zoe DIas Ma finished third with 2014. Another Hong Kong youth, David Tsang, who was second before the final game, dropped out the podium in fourth with 1975.

Meanwhile, Singapore celebrated a superb double by winning both the Men's Graded B and Women's Grade B Masters titles. 14-year-old Singapore Sports School's Timothy Tham upstaged his senior peers by winning the men's title with 2338.

China's William Yang pipped Malaysia's Bong Kihow to take second spot with 2321 while the Malaysian, who leading at one stage, slipped down to third with 2313.

Daphne Oh Xin Yi, who was second runner-up in yesterday's Youth Under-18 Masters finals, made amends to cruise to a comfortable victory in the Women's Grade B finals with 1543. The member of Team Agape Bowling Academy, Singapore was 96 pins ahead her nearest opponent.

Macau's Fatima Choi stormed home to clinch second spot with 1447 while Malaysia's Zarina Halim settled for third position with 1443.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

7th June, Hong Kong: Mohammed Al Jahromi of Bahrain and Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong broke into the top 3 bracket of the Men's Open overseas and local pool of the 38th Hong Kong International Open on final day of qualifying on Thursday.

At least a dozen players made the cut for the finals on the last day of qualifying rounds. Leading the fray was Mohammed Al Jahromi, who notched up an improved 739 series over his lower 639, to leapfrog from first in the mixed pool to second in the overseas pool with a 6-game tally of 1430, 2 pins behind leader Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia.

The Bahraini earned the bye for Stage 2 finals and pushing down Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang into third spot on 1412. Malaysia's Syafiq Ridhwan dropped out of the top 3 bracket and will have to contest the Stage 1 finals.

Notable movers were newly-crowned Malaysian Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli jumping up to fifth with 1409 and Aaron Kong up into eighth with 1377.

Zakareya Al Zooqari of Qatar squeezed into 12th spot with 1358. Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge winner, Alex Liew also made the cut seventh in the mixed pool with 1335 while another Malaysian, Kang Bo Long made the cut in the last squad for eighth in the overseas pool.

Hong Kong national bowler, Wicky Yeung registered two 700-series of 729 and 722 to snatch second in the local pool and earning the bye for Stage 2 finals. Joshua Chow and Michael Mak claimed first and third pushing down Lau Kwun Ho into fourth.

Wicky's break into the top 3 allowed an additional local bowler to join the finals which was taken up by Rickle Kam. Lo Tsun Tak also made the cut in the last squad to take up sixth position with 1380.

PBA bowler, Robert Smith of USA will not be defending his title hence, Tony Tang and Eric Lau will have to bowl in a one-game roll-off to break the tie at 1319.

In the Women's Open division, the two local seeded qualifiers, Chan Shuk Han and Zoe Tam made way for two additional local women to join the finals and they were Sonia Ho and Hazel Lam. The cut for the last spot was held by Frankchesca Li of Hong Kong on a score of 1118.

The top 33 men and top 24 women will contest the 10-games Stage 1 finals tomorrow at 1.30pm. The top 18 men and top 15 women will advance to Saturday's Stage 2 finals for another 10 games joined by the 6 seeded men and 6 seeded women qualifiers.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

7th June, Hong Kong: Three-time Hong Kong Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli is eying to win the Women's Open Masters crown of the 38th Hong Kong International Open for the fourth time after the Malaysian stormed into pole position.

Shalin, who was fourth before her latest attempt, improved her 650 series with 713 to leapfrog into the lead with 1415. The Malaysian, who won the title in 2010, did not defend her title when she was about to have her first child last year.

Since returning to the national side after almost a year's absence, the 34-year-old proved she has what it takes to be a champion earning her trip to Hong Kong after a successful roll-off back in Malaysia.

Overnight leader in the overseas pool, Julia Lam settled for second with 1390 while defending champion, Shayna Ng of Singapore is also eying to retain the title she won last year after finishing third with 1377.

The trio will also earn a bye in Stage 1 finals and automatically into Stage 2. Shalins team-mate, Zatil Iman, who is fourth with 1372, will surely try to improve her position in an attempt to make the top 3 slots.

2009 Hong Kong champion, Chan Shuk Han headed the local pool with 1369 and the national bowler will be joined by ex-national, Joey Yip and team-mate, Zoe Tam for Stage 2 finals in second and third respectively.

Meanwhile the top qualifier in both the Men's Open overseas and local pool remained unchanged with Malaysia southpaw, Muhd Nur Aiman in the lead with 1432 followed by Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia in second with 1412.

India's Dhruv Sarda moved into third spot with 1395 dislodging Syafiq Ridhwan of Malaysia into fourth position on 1392. Qatar's Salem Al Marzouqi rounded up the top 5 overseas qualifiers.

Another southpaw and 2010 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Joshua Chow remained firmly in the lead with 1451 ahead of 2011 ABF Tour Macau leg champion and World Youth-bound, Michael Mak in second with 1444.

Hong Kong national youngster, Lau Kwun Ho claimed the third and final spot for Stage 2 finals in third with 1434. Three-time Hong Kong Men's champion, Wu Siu Hong, Eric Tseng and Wicky Yeung are the top 3 local seeded qualifiers who have to contest the Stage 1 finals.

At press time, the cut for the finals in the Men's Open division is at 1315, held by Qatar's Zakaria Al Marzooqi. Qualifying will end late tonight and a desperado squad will be held for the top 3 highest single-game scorer to join the finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

6th June, Hong Kong: 2011 Malaysian Open champion, Muhd Nur Aiman staked his claim on the Men's Open Masters title of the 38th Hong Kong International Open after taking over the lead in the overseas pool at HK Bowling City on Wednesday.

Muhd Nur Aiman registered a sizzling 774 during his qualifying round for a 6-game aggregate of 1432 to move into top spot and became the fourth bowler to surpass the 1,400 mark. The Malaysian southpaw, who also topped last week's Singapore Open qualifying table ended the ROund 2 finals in a dismal 12th position.

Aiman will be hoping to put behind him that disappointment and do well during the finals especially after having also earned a bye into Stage 2 Masters finals here in Hong Kong.

Syafiq Ridhwan also notched up an improved 6-game tally of 1392 to move into second spot behind his team-mate. Qatar's Salem Al Marzouqi did well to take up third spot with 1385.

There were no changes atop the local pool with Joshua Chow, Michael Mak and Lau Kwun Ho claiming the top 3 spots. Three-time Hong Kong Open champion, Wu Siu Hong, Eric Tseng and Wicky Yeung are the three local seeded qualifiers.

The current cut at 11th position is the mixed pool went to Elvis Law with a total of 1276 which is anticipated to reach the 1320-mark by the end of tomorrow's final day of qualifying.

Meanwhile in the Women's Open division, defending champion Shayna Ng made good her two attempts provided by HKTBC to post 714 and 663 for a 6-game tally of 1377. The Singaporean finished just 10 pins behind overnight leader, Julia Lam of Macau on 1387.

2010 Indonesia Open champion, Zatil Iman of Malaysia also impressed with a superb 723 series to give herself 1372 total to take up third spot in the overseas pool and crucially earning the bye into Stage 2 finals.

Chan Shuk Han continue to lead the local pool with 1369 followed by Milki Ng in second with 1256 while newcomer, Vannesse Tang clinched third spot with 1221. Chan, Milki and Zoe Tam are the top 3 local seeded qualifiers as well.

The current cut at ninth position in the mixed pool went to Leong Mei Sheung of Hong Kong at 1135 and is estimated to increase to around the 1200-mark by tomorrow.

The 33 men and 24 women will contest the Stage 1 finals on June 8. The top 18 men with the 6 seeded qualifiers and top 15 women with the six seeded qualifiers will contest the Stage 2 finals on June 9.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

5th June, Hong Kong: The lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying leaderboard of the 38th Hong Kong International Open changed hands after another Hong Kong national bowler, Joshua Chow surged into pole position on Tuesday.

Chow, winner of the 2010 ABF Tour Macau leg, posted a sizzling 747 series to take his 6-game tally to 1451 and the overall lead. Overnight leader and last year's ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Michael Mak slipped down to second with 1444.

The leader, who was second with 1394, improved his lower 690 effort after his tenth attempt so far. Lau Kwun Ho, Michael Tsang and Wicky Yeung rounded up the top 5 local qualifiers with 1434, 1391 and 1387 respectively.

Foreign participants have begun to make their qualifying rounds and the stand out was 2011 Malaysian Open champion, Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia taking pole in the overseas pool with 1432. Muhd Syafiq Ridhwan finished second with 1392.

Salem Al Marzouqi of Qatar earned the bye in third spot with 1385 while Salem Al Hajras of Kuwait and Adrian Ang of Malaysia completed the top 5 in the overseas pool with 1344 and 1301.

The lead in the Women's Open division remained unchanged with last year's ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Julia Lam firmly in front with her superb 1338 effort.

The lead in the Women's Open division remained unchanged with last year's ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Julia Lam firmly in front with her superb 1338 effort.

2010 Indonesia Open champion, Zatil Iman of Malaysia took second spot with 1372 and 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia earned the bye into Stage 2 finals in third spot with 1352.

Two-time Malaysian Open champion, Zandra Aziela finish fourth with 1240 ahead of SEA Games Team silver medalist, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia in fifth position with 1217.

Hong Kong national bowler Chan Shuk Han, who is also the top local seeded qualifier, topped the local pool which will earn her the bye into Stage 2 finals. She amassed a 6-game tally of 1338. Newcomer Xana Wong and Cookie Lee finished second and third with 1220 and 1219 respectively.

Qualifying will continue for another two days and the Stage 1 finals for the Men's and Women's Open division will be contested on June 8. Stage 2 finals will be held on June 9.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

4th June, Hong Kong: 2011 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Michael Mak returned from injury to lead the Men's Open Masters qualifying table at the 38th Hong Kong International Open underway at HK Bowling City.

After a long road to recovery from a leg injury, the 18-year-old Michael Mak and triple gold medalist at the 2010 Asian Youth Games registered the first 1,400 6two 3-games qualifying series of 746 and 698 to take pole position with 1444.

Mak lead fellow team-mate and 2009 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Joshua Chow moving up from fourth yesterday to second with 1394 ahead of overnight leader, Michael Tsang slipped down to third with 1376.

National keglers, Lau Kwun Ho and Wicky Yeung completed the top 5 local qualifiers with 1365 and 1346. The top 3 in the local pool will earn a bye and automatically advance to the Stage 2 finals.

The top 3 local seeded bowlers, Wu Siu Hong, Eric Tseng and Wicky Yeung will make their attempts as well in order to earn their automatic qualification into Stage 2.

Lee Tak Man of Macau and his compatriot, Jose Manuel Machon took the top 2 spots in the overseas pool with 1082 and 1048 followed by Kuwaiti Ebrahim Al Dubyyan third with 909.

Meanwhile, 2011 ABF Tour Macau champion, Julia Lam surprised the field by taking the lead in the Women's Open Masters qualifying standings with an impressive 1387. The 35-year-old national bowler also posted the highest 3-game series with 720.

Chan Shuk Han, who is also the top local seeded qualifier, topped the local pool with 1338. The Hong Kong national team member also posted a 709 series for the lead. Xana Wong and another Hong Kong national bowler, Milki Ng finished second and third with 1220 and 1219.

Foreign competitors from China, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and UAE are expected to arrive today and tomorrow to commence their qualifying attempts.

33 Men's Open and 24 Women's Open in the qualifying standings will contest the 10-games Stage 1 Finals on June 8. The top 18 men and top 15 women finishers, joined by their respective top 6 seeded qualifiers, will contest another 10 games Stage 2 finals on June 9.

The top 6 men and top 6 women will advance to the stepladder shootout finals to determine the champions. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women will also qualify for the ABF Tour Hong KOng leg on June 10.

Photos by Terence Yaw.