15th June, Hong Kong: 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE had to win twice to capture the Men's Open title fo the 40th Hong Kong International Open while Victoria Chin won the Women's crown for Malaysia for the third consecutive year.

Hussain had to beat topseed, Yeri Ramadona of Indonesia twice en-route to winning hsi second Hong Kong Open title. The Emirati edged Ramadona, 188-168 in the first match to force the decider.

While the Indonesian struggled in both the matches to manage only 168 while Hussain cruised to a comfortable victory with 232 to win the title. Hussain, who was seeded third after the earlier Stage 2 finals, brushed aside second seed two Hong Kong nationals, Rocky Hui and Wu Siu Hong, 223-184-201 to face the topseed.

Wu, won the first match beating a second Indonesian and fourth-seed, Hardy Rachmadian and compatriot and sixth-seed, Eric Tseng 219-187-174 to advance to the semi-finals.

Hussain completed the second stage in third position with 2155 as Ramadona topped the field with 2205 and Hui second with 2178. Rachmadian took fourth position with 2098, Wu fifth with 2095 and Tseng sixth with 2077.

A third Hong Kong national bowler, Wicky Yeung missed the cut by 15 pins finishing seventh and a fourth Hong Kong national, Ashley Hui took eighth position with 2050. Stage 1 leader, Shaker Al Hassan managed ninth with 2039 and China's Yang Wei completed the top 10.

Meanwhile, the women's title match could have gone into another decider had challenger, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia not ended with a split in the tenth frame of the first match to lose 209-213 to topseed, Victoria Chin.

Chin had doubled in the ninth and tenth frame with a spare in the bonus frame to finish the game with 213. Limansantoso needed only to mark her final frame to take the tie into the decider.

The Indonesian had earlier sailed past third-seed, Rebecca Voukolos of Australia and winner of the first stepladder match and team-mate, Putty Armein, 205-171-181 to earn a crack at the title.

Armein also had an easy victory in the first match by beating fourth-seed, Gloria Yung of Hong Kong and a third Indonesian, Novie Phang, 193-151-135 to advance to the semi-finals. The champion, picked up HKD26,000 (approx. US$3,350) and the first runner-up, settling for HKD17,000.

The second runner-up earned HKD7,000 while positions four to six pocketed HKD3,500, HKD2,500, HKD1,800 and HKD1,000 respectively.

The men's champion collected HKD55,000 (approx. US$7,000) leaving the first runner-up settling for HKD22,000. The second runner-up earned HKD14,000 with positions four to six picking up HKD7,000, HKD5,000, HKD4,000 and HKD2,000 respectively.

The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women qualified for the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg which will be staged at the same bowling center, SCAA tomorrow.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

14th June, Hong Kong: Current Asia ranked No. 1, Shaker Al Hassan of UAE and 2013 Milo All-Stars The Masters champion, Natasha Roslan won the Men's Open and Women's Open Stage 1 finals of the 40th Hong Kong International Open on Saturday.

Debutant Shogo Wada of Japan set the early pace with an opening game of 233 to lead ex-national, Rocky Hui of Hong Kong in second by 9 pins and Timmy Tan of Malaysia third another 9 pins away.

Hui stepped up his pace with two massive games of 255 and 235 to pull away in front of the pack and built up a healthy lead of 99 pins as Shaker Al-Hassan moved up into second spot and a second Malaysian, Jonathan Ding kept with the leading duo in third.

Despite a poor 143 suffered in the fourth game and recover slightly with 200 in the fifth, Hui continued to lead for the next two games but saw his huge margin reduced to just 21 pins by Shaker.

Finding hard to keep a strong pace, Hui handed the lead to Tan after the sixth and seventh games. Tan too suffered two lowly games as Shaker took advantage of it to surge into the lead after the eight game.

The Emirati left-hander ended with 205 and 212 to win the stage with 2101, 64 pins ahead of Ding in second with 2045 while Tan settled for third position with 2037. China's Yang Wei did well to finished fourth with 2016 followed by Hui completing the top 5 with 2004.

Bruno Malieri of Australia made up the 6 finalists registering the 200-average mark in the tough conditions faced by many bowlers. Shaker's compatriot, Hussain Al Suwaidi held the cut in 18th position with 1914.

Adhiguna Widiantoro of Indonesia missed the cut by just 4 pins in 19th position. Ashley Hui and newly-crowned Youth Open champion, Tony Wong, were the only two Hong Kong nationals making the cut in 11th and 16th positions.

Meanwhile, Natasha Roslan of Malaysia, who trailed Rebecca Voukolos of Australia before the tenth and final game, won the stage with 2084. The Australian settled for second position with 2070 while a second Malaysian, Victoria Chin clinched third spot with 1999.

2014 Thailand Open champion, Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand, who set the opening pace, finished fourth with 1986 while ex-national, Joey Yip of Hong Kong rounded out the top 5 with 1978.

2014 ABF Tour Thailand leg champion, Kritsanakorn Sangaroon of Thailand was the cut in 15th position with 1848. Nerosha Keligit of Malaysia missed the cut by 6 pins finishing 16th while defending champion, Esther Cheah managed only 18th.

2009 Hong Kong Open champion, Chan Shuk Han, last year's Youth Open champion, Joan Cheng and Victoria Chan were the three Hong Kong national bowlers who survived the cut for next stage.

The top 18 men and top 15 women will be joined by the 6 seeded men and 6 seeded women qualifiers for another 10 games in Stage 2 finals tomorrow. The top 6 men and top 6 women will proceed to the stepladder finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

14th June, Hong Kong: 2012 Youth Under-18 first runner-up, Tony Wong comfortably retained the Youth Open Masters crown of the 40th Hong Kong International Open ahead of Shinsuke Ameku of Japan in second and team-mate, David Tsang third.

Recently-crowned Singapore Open Youth Open champion, Syaffiq Ikhwan of Malaysia got off the block with 225 in his opening game to lead Tsang in second by 12 pins as Wong and Ameku tied in third, a further 2 pins away.

The Malaysian youth held the lead for the next two games after rolling 199 and 223 before handing the lead to Wong in the fourth game and trailing the Hong Kong national youth by 12 pins.

Wong was consistently posting strong games to stretch his lead and by the sixth games, he had as much as 85 pins cushion ahead of his nearest opponent. His team-mate, Tsang got close to Wong after the seventh game but the leader was simply too good.

The 19-year-old champion eventually ended the 10-game finals with 2067, 100 pins ahead of the Japanese youth in second with 1967. Tsang settled for third spot with 1962 while early pace-setter, Syaffiq missed the podium in fourth with 1956.

A third national youth and first runner-up of the Youth Under-18 Masters finals two days ago, Otto Leung rounded out the top 5 with 1936.

Meanwhile, Yeung Chin Yeung of China beat two Singaporeans to capture the Men's Grade B Masters title with 1914 over 10 games. Soo Ee Swee took second position with 1910 followed by his compatriot, Jeremiah Tan third with 1893.

Tan was 4 pins ahead of Yeung after the ninth game but managed only 199 while Yeung rolled a big game of 224 to snatch victory. A third Singaporean and top qualifier, Jeremy Fang finished fourth with 1863 with Tang Jian Liang of China completing the top 5 with 1843.

The Women's Grade B title did go to Singapore when Alicia Teo Hwee Min edged Esther Lo of Hong Kong by 19 pins with 1374 to Lo's 1355. Rocica Lai Hoi Sze of Hong Kong took third spot with 1345.

Maggie Wong, also from Hong Kong finished in the money in fourth position with 1322 while Mandy Cheung Wai Man rounded out the top 5 with 1312.

The Men's Open and Women's Open Stage 1 finals will be contested later this afternoon. 33 men and 24 women will bowl 10 games and the top 18 men and top 15 women will advance to Stage 2 finals joined by the 6 seeded qualifiers for another 10 games tomorrow.

The top 6 men and top 6 women will qualify for the stepladder grand finals to determine the champion. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian Women will also qualify for the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg on June 16.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

13th June, Hong Kong: 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand took over the lead of the Men's Open Masters table as the 40th Hong Kong International Open moved into its final day of qualifying on Friday.

Surasak became the first and only qualifier to surpass the 1400-mark with two three-game series of 727 and 712 to take over the lead with 1439. The Thai dislodged overnight leader, Hardy Rachmadian of Indonesia with 1384 into second spot.

Wang Zhi Yong surprised the field when the Chinese national bowler moved into third spot with 1377 to join both Surasak and Rachmadian automatically into Stage 2 finals.

2014 ABF Tour Egypt leg champion, Prince Mohammad Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, who was third last night dropped out of the top bracket with 1372 while Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia rounded out the top 5 with 1364.

Two of the three Hong Kong seeded bowlers, Wu Siu Hong and Eric Tseng made the top bracket of the local pool with 1353 and 1326 respectively to skip Stage 1 joined by 2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Wicky Yeung in second with 1337.

Current cut as of 1.00pm squad in tenth position went to 2012 ABF Tour TOC winner, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand with 1284 (averaging 214.0). The last squad will be at 8.30pm after which a desperado squad will be held to add three more qualifiers for Stage 1.

There were no changes atop the Women's Open overseas pool except defending champion, Esther Cheah of Malaysia improving to finish third with 1284 to earn the bye. Putty Armein of Indonesia and Julia Lam of Macau remained first and second with 1292 and 1289 respectively.

Milki Ng, who was the top Hong Kong seeded qualifier, topped the local pool with 1268 to automatically qualified for Stage 2 finals. Ng is joined by Gloria Yung and Joey Yip in second and third with 1196 and 1185.

2009 Hong Kong Open champion, Chan Shuk Han and 2013 Asian Youth All Events bronze medalist, Joan Cheng are the only two Hong Kong seeded qualifiers remaining. Current cut went to Hui Tong of Macau with 1180 (averaging 196.67).

The top 24 women qualifiers and the top 30 plus 3 qualifiers from desperado squad will contest the Stage 1 finals tomorrow. The top 15 women and top 18 men will be joined by the seeded qualifiers for another 8 games in Stage 2 on June 15.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

12th June, Hong Kong: Three-time Hong Kong Men's Open champion, Wu Siu Hong and 2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Milki Ng will be eyeing to bring glory to Hong Kong with victory in the finals of the 40th Hong Kong International Open.

Wu, who took the Men's Open title in 2003, 2006 and 2007, underlined his claim on the title after topping the local pool with 1353. The Hong Kong national bowler was sidelined in the beginning of the year and had to skip his Middle-East run due having to undergo an appendectomy operation.

The 29-year-old is back in training and has prepared well for his favourite tournament and hope to de well before heading to neighbouring Macau for this year's Macah-China International Open next week.

The leader ended a good year when he bagged the 2013 East Asian Games Masters gold medal beating favourite, Choi Bok Eum of Korea.

On Wu's heels is 2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Wicky Yeung with 1337 while left-hander and 2010 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Joshua Chow is third with 1286. The top 3 will advance automatically into Stage 2 finals on June 15. 2013 Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games two-gold medalist, Michael Mak missed the top 3 cut to head positions 4 to 9 with 1257.

2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand took over top spot of the overseas pool with 1439 and becoming the first qualifier to surpass the 1400-mark in the extremely tricky lane conditions at SCAA Bowling Centre.

The Thai dislodged overnight leader, Hardy Rachmadian of Indonesia, who slipped to second with 1384 while Hardy's team-mate, Ryan Lalisang occupied third position with 1364. The current cut in tenth position in the mixed pool was held by Macau's Choi Io Fai with a total of 1250.

Meanwhile, 2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Milki Ng will be hoping to wrestle the Women's Open crown back for Hong Kong since her team-mate, Chan Shuk Han took it in 2009. Ng topped the local pool with 1268.

2011 ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Gloria Yung and ex-national, Joey Yip will join Ng for Stage 2 finals after having secured second and third with 1196 and 1185 respectively.

Overnight leader, Putty Armein of Indonesia remained in the lead of the overseas pool with 1292 ahead of Rebecca Voukolos of Australia in second with 1268 and 2014 Thailand Open champion, Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand storming into third with 1257.

Current cut for the Women's Open division went to Anak Agung Ayu of Indonesia with a total of 1129. The top 3 local and top 3 overseas earned bye into Stage 2 finals.

The top 16 men and top 16 women at the end of the two stages of masters finals will also qualify for the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg to be held on June 16.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

11th June, Hong Kong: Indonesians dominated the qualifying rounds of the 40th Hong Kong International Open underway at SCAA Bowling Center with Hardy Rachmadian, Ryan Lalisang taking the first two spots of the Men's Open and Putty Armein topping the Women's table.

Rachmadian, the 2012 Asian Championships Masters bronze medalist registered the highest 3-game series of 728 to add to his second 3-game series of 656 to head the Men's standings with 1384. Singapore Open perfect game winner, Ryan Lalisang gave Indonesia one-two finish with 1364.

Tomoyuki Sasaki of the Japan national team debuting at the championship, took third spot with 1340. The top 3 men in the overseas pool will earn a bye into Stage 2 finals. Akaash Ashok Kumar of India finished fourth with 1334.

Qualifiers positioned 4 to 12 will have to battle it out in Stage 1 finals. Another Australian debutant, Bruno Malieri rounded out the top 5 with 1319.

Whilst three-time Hong Kong Open champion, Wu Siu Hong, Michael Mak and Eric Tseng are the three local seeded qualifiers, Wu topped the local pool with 1353 ahead of 2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Wicky Yeung in second with 1337.

Joshua Chow will join Wu and Yeung as the top 3 local qualifiers for Stage 2 finals. Mak finished third with 1257 while Tony Wong completed the top 5 with 1247. Yang Wei of China headed the mixed pool with 1270.

2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand is the cut at 10th position in the mixed pool with 1214 as qualifying moves into the last two days.

Putty Armein of Indonesia topped the Women's Open division overseas pool with 1279 followed by Rebecca Voulkolos of Australia in second with 1268. 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia rounded out the top 3 with 1236.

Likewise, the top 3 women qualifiers in the overseas pool will also earn a bye into Stage 2 finals. Julia Lam and Filomena Choi of Macau took fourth and fifth positions with 1224 1221 respectively.

2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Milki Ng, 2009 Hong Kong Open champion, Chan Shuk Han and 2013 Asian Youth All Events bronze medalist, Joan Cheng are the three seeded qualifiers.

Ng, however also topped the Women's Open local pool with 1268, joined by 2011 ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Gloria Yong in second with 1196 and ex-national, Joey Yip third with 1185.

The top 3 local qualifiers will earn a bye into Round 2 finals while Chan Shuk Han and Eva Leong completed the top 5 with 1174 and 1155 respectively. Alisha Nabila of Indonesia headed the mixed pool with 1146 while Hong Kong national bowler, Zoe Tam is the cut at eighth position with 1083.

Qualifying will run for another two days before the Stage 1 finals on June 14. 33 Men's Open qualifiers will contest 10 games in Stage 1 finals where the top 18 finishers plus the 6 seeded qualifiers will advance to Stage 2 finals on June 15.

24 Women's Open qualifiers will also contest 10 games in Stage 1 finals where the top 15 plus the 6 seeded qualifiers will advance to Stage 2 finals.

The top 6 men and top 6 women at the end of Stage 2 finals will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine the winners.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.