16th April, Bangkok: Kim Bolleby of Sweden and Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand captured the Men's and WOmen's Open Masters titles of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothin on Wednesday evening.

In the all-lefty Men's Open stepladder championship match, Bolleby was forced into the sudden-death decider to win the title after the Swede lost the first match, 199-206 to sixth-seed and challenger, Vincent Lim of Singapore.

Bolleby was on course to take the title in the first match when he rolled three strikes-in-a-row from frame six but a split in the ninth frame costed him as Lim had a double in the third and fourth frames for a clean game.

But the 23-year-old winner of the 2011 H.H. Emir Cup and 2011 Dubai Open, bounced back brilliantly to out-class the Singaporean, 244-222 for a well deserved victory.

Lim eliminated two Hong Kong finalists fifth-seed, Michael Mak and fourth-seed, Joshua Chow 239-210-155 in the first match before advancing to the finals with victory over third-seed, Shaik Abdul Hameed of India and second-seed, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit of Thailand, 243-218-182 in the second match.

The champion topped the Men's Open Round 3 finals with 1410 to take top seed ahead of Badin in second with 1355 and Abdul Hameed third with 1353. Chow, Mak and Lim finished fourth to sixth positions with 1346, 1318 and 1287 respectively.

Bolleby picked up the top prize of 300,000 Baht (approx. US$9,290) while Lim settled for 150,000 Baht and Badin 75,000 Baht.

Meanwhile Angkana Netrviseth gave Thailand their first-ever Women's Open Masters crown in the Thailand Open's history. Angkana defeated challenger and second-seed in the all-Thai finals, 205-193 to win her first international title as well.

Benchawan advanced to the title match after she dispatched third-seed, Tanaprang Sathean of Thailand and winner of the first match, Wendy Chai of Malaysia, 198-191-179 in the second match.

Sixth-seed, Chai ousted fifth-seed, Korngunya Aree of Thailand and fourth-seed, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong, 190-169-165 to proceed to the second match.

In the earlier Women's Open Round 3 finals, Angkana topped the round with 1217 followed by Benchawan in second with 1166 and Tanaprang third with 1157. Chan, Korngunya and Chai made the stepladder finals in fourth to sixth positions with 1140, 1131 and 1126 respectively.

The champion pocketed 100,000 Baht (approx. US$3,090) as champion while Banchawan and Tanaprang earned 50,000 and 25,000 Baht respectively.

The top 16 Asian men and top 14 Asian women qualified for the third leg of the 2014 ABF Tour Thailand which will be held at the same centre tomorrow.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

16th April, Bangkok: Hong Kong national bowlers, Michael Mak and Eric Tseng finished one-two in the Men's Open Round 2 Finals of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open ahead of defending champion, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE in third.

The 19-year-old PBA-WBT Saudi Open first runner-up got off the block with a sizzling 268 to lead Thailand's Annop Arromsaranon in second by 21 pins. Mak followed it up with 225 and 199 but found his lead being reduced to just 10 pins as Shaker mounted his challenge.

Mak bounced back with another stunning 279 to pull away from the Emirati left-hander to 93 pins after the fourth game but stumbled again in the fifth with just 189 and having his gap reduced again to 34 pins.

The leader ended strongly with 257 to end the round with 1417, 82 pins ahead of team-mate, Eric Tseng, who stormed home with 248 and 245 to snatch second spot with 1335 and giving Hong Kong a one-two finish.

Shaker settled for third with 1325 a further 10 pins away. Annop and 2014 ABF Tour Kuwait champion, Mahmood Al Attar of UAE rounding out the top 5 with 1305 and 1303 respectively.

Rickle Kam made the cut in 18th position with 1196 while Benjamin Hong of Singapore missed the cut by 6 pins finishing 19th position.

The top 18 men will be joined by the top 3 local and top 3 overseas seeded qualifiers to bowl another 6 games from scratch in Round 3 Finals later today. The Women's Open qualifiers will also contest their Round 3 Finals at the same time.

The top 6 men and top 6 women will qualify for the stepladder shootout finals after the ROund 3 Finals. The men's champion will stand to take home the top prize of 300,000 Baht (approx. US$9,290) while the women's champion will earn 100,000 Baht top prize.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

15th April, Bangkok: Singapore's ex-national youth, Nur Dyana and Jung Dong Hun of Korea shared the glory by winning the Ladies' Graded and Men's Graded A Masters titles of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open on Tuesday evening.

Nur Dyana, who was battling with China's Qin XiuLi, eventually prevailed to capture her first international title in the Ladies' Graded Masters finals with 1676. Thailand's ex-national bowler, Benchawan Poungthong snatched second position with 1615 after two strong games of 237 and 215 in the seventh and eighth gmaes.

Qin settled for third spot with 1599 while Pachai University's Jeon Ye Ran and Rho Gyu Min completed the top 5 with 1552 and 1505 respectively. Alexandra Foo of Macau, China took sixth position with 1427.

Nur Dyana, trained by ex-Singapore national coach, William Woo, pocketed 40,000 Baht (approx. US$1,240) while Benchawan and Qin took home 20,000 and 10,000 Baht each.

Meanwhile, Jung Dong Hun gave Pachai University another title after the 23-year-old Korean snatched the Men's Graded A Masters crown by a single pin. Jung was trailing leader Chran Chandhanaratn of Thailand by 49 pins going into the final game.

The Korean ended stronger with a final game of 228 for a total of 1626 while the Thai managed only 178 to settle second with 1625. Jeremy Fang of Singapore finished third with 1597. Khairul Anuar Sidek missed the podium in fourth position with 1564.

Mohammed Yahya Al Hashimi, who was setting the early pace, slipped down to round out the top 5 with 1553. Desperado squad qualifier, Kim In Sub of Korea finished sixth with 1543.

The champion was richer by 120,000 Baht (approx. US$3,720) while Charn Chandhanartn settled for 60,000 Baht and Fang picked up 30,000 Baht.

The Men's Open finalists will contest the Round 2 Finals tomorrow morning at 9.00am local time. The top 18 finishers will join the 6 seeded qualifiers for Round 3 Finals at 1.30pm. The Ladies' Open will also contest ROund 3 Finals at the same time.

The top 6 Men's Open and Ladies' Open finishers will preceed to the stepladder shootout finals to determine the champion.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

15th April, Bangkok: Korean youths from Pachai University put in a dominating display by taking the top 3 positions of the Men's Graded B Masters finals of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothin on Tuesday.

Kim Kyun Nam, 20 snatched the title in his last two games to take victory with 1618 pinfalls, 26 pins ahead of team-mate, Jung Sung Jin in second with 1592. Park Sun Hong completed the sweep in third position with 1573.

Jeremy Fang of Singapore, who led after two games, settled for fourth position with 1571 while Singapore youth from Agape Bowling Academy, Zachery Wong completed the top 5 with 1568.

Ekapong Srinorrasakslip of Thailand, who led from game 3 to 7, ended on two poor games of 162 and 139 to slip down to sixth position with 1563. Marut Chityuti and Chonnakan Chukanchitipat finished in the money in seventh and eighth positions.

The champion pocketed 80,000 Baht (approx. US$2,480) while the first and second runner-ups took home 40,000 Baht and 20,000 Baht respectively.

Meanwhile, Terdporn Manopiboon of Thailand captured his third consecutive Senior title with a total of 1284 and 36 pins handicap. The victory was Terdporn' fourth Senior title including his win in 2010.

Newcomer, Cheng Peng Sheng of Macau, China finished second with 1214, 70 pins adrift while last year's first runner-up, Harsh V. Sarda of India settled for second runner-up with 1185. This was also Sarda's fifth podium finish in six years.

Terdporn earned 40,000 Baht (approx. US$1,240) with Cheng and Sarda taking home 20,000 and 10,000 Baht respectively. The Men's Graded A and Ladies' Graded Masters finals will be contested later today.

The Men's Open Masters Round 2 Finals will be staged tomorrow at 9.00am local time and Round 3 Finals for Men's and Ladies' Open at 1.30pm.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

14h April, Bangkok: 2009 Thailand Open champion and overnight leader, Yannaphon Larpapharat won the Men's Open qualifying rounds of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open while Wendy Chai of Malaysia topped the women's division on Monday.

Yannaphon, who completed his third block with 1148, topped the overall standings for a 15-game tally of 3594, a comfortable 142 pins ahead of his nearest rival, Shaik Abdul Hameed of India in second with 3452.

Kim Bolleby, who topped Squad C earlier, finished third overall with 3384 while perfect gamer, Atittarat Cheng of Thailand, who led the final squad of the day with 3348, settle for fourth position.

Squad A leader on Day 1, Joshua Chow of Hong Kong managed only 1070 and nearly missed the top 3 spots but ended strongly with 256 in his final game to complete the top 5.

Yannaphon, Atittarat and Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit remained in the top 3 of the local pool to earn a bye into Round 3 Finals. Shaik Abdu Hameed, Bolleby and Chow were the top 3 in the overseas pool to also earn a bye.

Defending champion, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE was unlucky when he missed the top 3 to head the mixed pool (local and overseas) for Round 2 Finals with 3323. A fifth left-hander, Vincent Lim of Singapore and Michael Mak of Hong Kong rounded out the top 5 of the mixed pool.

Ashley Hui of Hong Kong was the cut at 26th position with a total of 2951 or average of 196.73 while Fahad Falah of UAE missed the cut by 13 pins with 2938.

Qualifiers in the mixed pool together with four additional qualifiers from the desperado squad will contest Round 2 Finals on April 16. The top 18 finishers will be joined by the 6 seeded qualifiers for Round 3 Finals.

Angkana Netrviseth, Tanaprang Sathean and Kantaporn Singhabubpha of Thailand occupied the Women's Open local pool and Wendy Chai of Malaysia, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong and Nur Dyana of Singapore occupied the top 3 overseas pool.

Because there are only 14 qualifiers, all the Women's Open finalists will skip Round 2 and proceed directly to contest Round 3 Finals on April 16.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

13th April, Bangkok: Overnight leader, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand stamped his mark in the Men's Open Masters standings by extending his lead after the second block of qualifying block of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open on Sunday.

Yannaphon, who won the 2009 Thailand Open, posted a splendid 1207 to take his 10-game tally to 2446 and opening up a gap of 162 pins iver his nearest rival and defending champion, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE in second.

Shaker registered 1158 to give himself a total of 2284 while Shaik Abdul Hameed of India, who finished third to Yannaphon in the same squad, tied third spot with Squad C leader, Kim Bolleby of Sweden with 2264.

Yannaphon topped the local pool ahead of perfect gamer, Atittarat Cheng in second with 2233 followed by Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit in third with 2129. The top 3 in the local pool earned a bye into Round 3 Finals.

In the overseas pool, Shaker took over top spot with 2284 with Bolleby and Shaik Abdul Hameed tieing second position with 2264.

Squad A leader, Joshua Chow of Hong Kong and a fourth left-hander, headed the mixed pool (local and overseas) with 2261. Singapore's Vincent Lim and a fifth lefty, finished second behind Chow with 2238.

Current cut at 26th position went to UAE's Hareb Al Mansoori with 1943 while Hong Kong's Achilles Hung is off the cut by 3 pins on 1940.

In the Women's Open division, Wendy Chai of Malaysia continued to lead the overseas pool with 2075 after she topped Squad C. Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong and Nur Dyana of Singapore occupied second and third positions with 1934 and 1909 respectively.

Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand led compatriots, Kantaporn Singhabubpha and Tanaprang Sathean to take up top spot in the local pool with 2034. Kantaporn and Tanaprang totaled 1933 and 1907 respectively.

Since there were only nine women in the mixed pool comprising of Thais, all the qualifiers will skip Round 2 Finals and contest Round 3 Finals on April 16. The top 6 finishers will proceed to the stepladder shootout finals.

Qualifiers will bowl their third block of 5 games tomorrow which will determine the qualifiers. A one-game desperado squad will be staged to add four Men's Open qualifiers for Round 2 Finals after the last squad.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

12th April, Bangkok: 2012 Dubai Open champion, Kim Bolleby of Sweden grabbed top spot of the Men's Open overseas qualifying table after topping the last squad of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open while Wendy Chai of Malaysia led the Women's Open overseas pool.

The 22-year-old left-hander, who won two bronze medals in the 2012 World Youth Championships in Bangkok, posted an impressive 1147 with lines of 222, 227, 237, 203 and 258 in the first block. Thai veteran, Siriphon Mayura finished second with 1035, a distant 112 pins adrift while Chinese Taiepi's Cheng Hsing-Chao took third spot with 991.

Bolleby led two other lefty, Shaik Abdul Hameed of India in second with 1142 and defending champion, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE to take up the top 3 spots of the overseas pool for a bye into Round 3 Finals.

Squad D leader, Yannaphon Larpapharat led the top 3 spots in the local pool with 1239 ahead of compatriots, Atittarat Cheng and Annop Arromsaranon with 1167 and 1119 respectively. Surasak Manuwong of Thailand headed the mixed pool (local and overseas) with 1110.

Current cut with all three squads having bowled their first bock of 5 games is held by Dhruv Sarda of India with 952. Mahmood Al Attar of UAE is just on spot off the cut in 27th position with 944.

In Squad C, Wendy Chai of Malaysia shot into the lead of the Women's Open overseas pool with 1102 to dislodge Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong into second spot with 924. Ex-national youth, Nur Dyana of Singapore was third with 920.

In the local pool, Banchawan Poungthong led with 1034 followed by 2013 ABF Tour Macau champion, Angkana Netrviseth in second with 1022 and Kantaporn Singhadpha third with 942.

All the top 3 Men's Open and Women's Open local and overseas pool will earn bye into Round 3 Finals while the rest of the qualifiers will contest Round 2 Finals on April 16. Two more blocks of 5 games each remained to be played over the next two days.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

12th April, Bangkok: 2009 Thailand Open champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand took over the lead of the Men's Open qualifying standings after topping Squad D first block of the 40th MWA Thailand International Open at Bu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothin.

Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand set a cracking pace with an opening game of 256 in the second squad of the day to lead 2012 Thailand Open champion and ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong by 22 pins.

Surasak surged into the lead after the second game following his superb 245 as his compatriot, Yannaphon Larpapharat moved up into second spot with a sizzling 280, just 6 pins adrift and Annop slipping down to third.

The Thai national bowler rolled another scintilating 269 to take over the running 36 pins ahead of defending champion, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE trailing in second after the Emirati rolled 277 in the third game.

Another superb 234 in the fourth allowed Yannaphon to open up a gap of 61 pins as Shaker continued to trail in second. The leader closed out with another splendid 264 for a 5-game total of 1239.

India's Shaik Abdul Hameed stormed home with 254 in his last game to snatch second spot with 1142 while Shaker settled for third with 1126. Early pace-setter, Annop and Surasak completed the top 5 with 1119 and 1110 respectively.

Yannaphon became the new overall leader dislodging Squad A leader and perfect gamer, Atittarat Cheng in second and Annop taking third spot in the local pool. Shaik Abdul Hameed, Shaker and Squad A leader, Joshua Chow occupied the top 3 spots in the overseas pool.

Surasak headed the mixed pool (local and overseas) followed by compatriot, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit in second with 1078. Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE and Akaash Ashok Kumar of India rounded out the top 5 with 1089 and 1074.

Current cut at 26th position is held by India's Parvez Ahmed with a total of 916. With the third and last squad of the day taking to the lanes for their first block of 5 games, standings after the first 5 games will be clearer.

Three blocks of 5 games each will be played over three days at the end of which qualifiers will be determined. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women will also qualify for the ABF Tour Thailand 2014 which will be staged at the same centre on April 17.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

12th April, Bangkok: Thai national youth, Atittarat Cheng rolled the tournament's first perfect game en-route to leading the opening squad of the Men's Open first block qualifying round at the 40th MWA Thailand International Open.

The 19-year-old averaged an impressive 233.4 after ending the first block of 5 games with 1167 pinfalls with a 300 in the third game. Joshua Chow of Hong Kong, who led after a superb opening game of 258, settled for second with 1102.

Atittarat's younger brother and also a member of the Thai national youth, finished third with 1049 ahead of Michael Mak and Eric Tseng of Hong Kong in fourth and fifth positions on totals of 1046 and 995 respectively.

With just one squad, Atittarat, Atchariya and Tavakron Angngen occupied the top 3 positions of the Men's Open local pool and will earn a bye into Round 3 finals. Likewise Chow, Mak and Tseng occupied the top 3 positions of the Men's Open overseas pool to earn a bye into Round 3 finals.

Qualifiers positioned 1 to 26 in the mixed pool (local and overseas) will have to battle it out in Round 2 finals where the top 18 will advance to Round 3 finals and joining the 6 seeded qualifiers. There is also four slots for qualifiers from the desperado squad for Round 2 finals.

Another 6 games will be contested in Round 3 finals and the top 6 finishers will advance to the stepladder shootout finals.

Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong was the only Women's Open qualifier in Squad A and she posted 924 to take up the top spot of the overseas pool. The second and third placed qualifiers will join her to earn a bye into Round 3 finals.

The top 3 in the Women's Open local pool will also earn a bye while positions 1 to 18 in the mixed pool will have to bowl in Round 2 finals. Squad B has been cancelled while Squad C will be staged later this afternoon and Squad D in the evening.

Three blocks of 5 games each will be played over three days at the end of which qualifiers will be determined. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women will also qualify for the ABF Tour Thailand 2014 which will be staged at the same centre on April 17.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.