10th April, Manila: Filipino Chester King ended a long drought to capture the 3rd Euromed-Storm International Masters Challenge defeating fourth-seeded, Cheng Chao-Sheng of Chinese Taipei, 237-201 at Pearl Bowling Center this afternoon.

The Manila businessman, who just turned 30 last month, ended a long spell without a major international title since capturing the AVIVA-ABT Hong Kong Leg in 2002. King started the final stepladder match with five strikes-in-a-row against fourth-seeded and challenger, Cheng Chao-Sheng prevent Cheng's charge for the title.

The runner-up and winner of the Bevida-Storm Challenge, could not keep pace with the champion despite a late charge from the sixth frame on a turkey but left an open frame in the ninith to finished the match with 201 while King comfortably completed a fine run for a 237 score. The champion had earlier topped the field of 8 finalists over the 8-game round-robin finals with 1904.

Cheng won the first match against third-seeded, Lim Zhong of Singapore,

221-200 before edging second-seeded, Lasse Lintila of Finland, 217-212 in the second match. King took home the top prize of Peso 1,000,000 (approx. US$18,330) while Cheng settled for Peso 500,000 (approx. US$9,165).

Stage 1 leader, Lasse Litila of Finland went home with Peso 250,000 (US$4,582) for finishing third followed by Lim Zhong in fourth and winning Peso 125,000 (US$2,290). Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli, who was fourth before the final match, missed the stepladder ending up in fifth spot. Korea's Kweon Hyeok Young finished sixth ahead of Stage 2 leader, Remy Ong of Singapore in seventh. The only other women in the finals, Cecilia Yap trailed the field in eigth.

This tournament is participated by over one hundred of the top bowlers from eleven countries. The prestige that comes with winning this title as well as the Champion's purse worth one million pesos has made this tournament one of Asia's best.

The EuroMed-Storm Masters Challenge is sanctioned by both the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF). It draws the top bowlers from the Asian, American, and European zones. EuroMed Laboratories, Storm Products Inc., Manila Hotel, Wave Products, Manila Bulletin, Pearl Bowling Center, Pagcor and Kegel Asia are proud sponsors of this Masters Challenge.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

9th April, Manila: Southpaw, Remy Ong of Singapore topped the 3rd Euromed-Storm International Masters Challenge semifinals at Peral Bowling Center ahead of Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli in second and Cheng Chao-Sheng of Chinese Taipei in third.

Ong, the 2004 Qatar Open champion, who was third in the quarter finals set the lanes at Peral Bowling Center on fire when he posted 237, 197, 201, 211, 216, 277, 215, 227, 244 and 262 for a 10-game total of 2287. The 27 year-old took over the lead from pace-setter, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia with two games to go for the lead.

Shalin settled for second after leading most of the way, just 9 pins adrift on 2278 followed by Bevida-Storm Challenge champion, Cheng Chao-Sheng in third with 2236. Singapore's Lim Zhong did well to stay amongst the leaders in fourth position with 2213.

Quarter finals leader, Lasse Lintila of Finland finished fifth with 2195 while the only other women in making the cut for the next stage, Cecilia Yap took up sixth spot with 2179.

The remaining Filipino survivor was Chester King taking up seventh position with 2177 with the last spot going to Korea's Kweon Hyeok Young with 2160. Missing the cut by just 3 pins was Filipina, Liza Del Rosario on 2157. Others notable semifinalists to miss the cut were Australia's Jason Belmonte (12th-2123), Azidi Ameran (14th-2107), Biboy Reviera (17th-2098), Alex Liew (19th-2079) and Tim Mack (20th-2064).

The top 8 bowlers will play 7 round-robin matches and one position-round match to determine the top 4 for the stepladder Grand Finals.

Photos courtesy of Guam Bowling Congress.

6th April, Manila: Cheng Chao-Sheng and Cheng Chao-Yu of Chinese Taipei, displayed their dominance on the lanes as they rolled 2436 and 2372 respectively to capture the Bevida-Storm Challenge which ended at Pearl Bowling Centre at Paranaque City.

Egay Latag of LCTBA, finished a close third just ten pins behind Chao-Yu. Egay led almost the whole way before the younger cheng took over after the eighth game. Cheng Chao-Sheng received 100,000.00 pesos for winning the Bevida-Storm Challenge.

Danny Tuazon, pba, finished fourth with a 2307 series. the top 12 bowlers cashed in this competition. Renato Bucalis (TPE-2264), Eleazar Rubio (CETBA-2216), Yap Seok Kim (PBAP-Bowlmart-2203), Dominic Dee (TPE-2168), Liza Del Rosario (PBAP-Bowlmart-2159), Benshir Layoso (MTBA-2143), Ben Ayoong (BHBA-2126), and Micmic Salvador (SLETBA-2124) rounded up the top 12 bowlers of the Bevida-Storm Challenge.

Former World Bowler of the Year, Tim Mack (USA), Jason Belmonte (AUS), current World Bowler of the Year, and Shalin Zulkifli, Asia Bowler of the Year

will see action today as they try to qualify for the EuroMed-Storm International Masters Challenge.

This tournament is participated by over one hundred of the top bowlers from eleven countries. The prestige that comes with winning this title as well as the Champion's purse worth one million pesos has made this tournament one of Asia's best.

The EuroMed-Storm Masters Challenge is sanctioned by both the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF). It draws the top bowlers from the Asian, American, and European zones. EuroMed Laboratories, Storm Products Inc., Manila Hotel, Wave Products, Manila Bulletin, Pearl Bowling Center, Pagcor and Kegel Asia are proud sponsors of this Masters Challenge

Photos courtesy of MTBC.

3rd April, Manila: Defending champion, Gu Young Jin of Korea, shot a 775 series in his first attempt to top today's qualifying table of the 3rd Euromed-Storm International Masters Challenge underway at Pearl Bowling Centre at Paranaque City.

Gu had lines of 278, 268, 229, 254, 218 and 185 for a sizzling 1432 series to take up the top qualifier of the day. His fellow-countryman, Park Kyung Shin posted 1410 for second highest qualifier position. Both the Korean professional bowler will automatically qualfy for the finals which will begin on the April 8th.

Meanwhile the top qualifying position went to Filipina, Liza Del Rosario of PBAP-Bowllmart-Boysen after she totalled 1465. Markwin Tee of PBAP-Bowlmart recorded the second highest in the leaderboard with 1445 while Gu Young Jin was third overall.

ABF Tour Malaysia leg semifinalist, Liza Clutario of PBAP-Bowlmart took up fourth position with a scoreline of 1423 while 2003 AVIVA-ABT Grand Slam champion, Purvis Granger of PBAP-Bowlmart rounded up the top five with 1421.

Biboy Rivera of TBAM-Prima (1417), Park Kyung Shin (1410), Chester King (1405), Tyrong Ongpauco (1405) and Kim Young-Pil (1391) completed the top 10 from sixth and tenth positions respectively. In the Bevida-Storm Challenge event, LCTBA's Egay Latag impressed with a total of 1506 to grab the lead with PBAP-Bowlmart's Liza Clutario in second with 1488 and Nilo Penado third with 1485. Qualifying continues through to April 7th and the finals will be played on the 8th and 9th April.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.