28th April, Kuwait: Australian Jason Belmonte emerged as the Men's champion for the third time when he defeated Swede Martin Larsen 207-146 in the final setpladder match in the 5th Kuwait International Open while Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong bagged the Women's crown.

Belmonte, who trailed Martin Larsen in Sunday's first block by 46 pins, overtook the Swede with a sizzling second block with 1875 and winning 7 out of the 8 matches contested. The Aussie's highest 8-game series saw him totaled 4124 over the two blocks and a massive 257 pins ahead of Larsen.

The outstanding performance put Belmonte in topseed for the final stepladder match against Larsen which was quite lop-sided. Larsen ran into all sorts of problems with four splits as the champion had a turkey from frames four to sixth which sealed the victory even before the match ended.

"I had a poor start in the first block yesterday but when I brought home

266, 256 and my second perfect game, I kew I had a shot at the title the next day," said the delighted two-handed Aussie.

"Larsen has all sorts of problems on Lane 10 and fortunately for me, I had a different line to bowl. Winning the title for the third time is tremendously satisfying and especially in such a strong field. I need a break after competed in so many tournaments so close.

Belmonte, who won the 2005 and 2006 crown, took the match 207 to Larsen's 146 to emerged as the Men's champion for the third time and the fat pay check of US$25,000. Larsen, who reached the finals after edged out fourth-seed, Andrew Frawley of Australia, 202-201, settled for second and US$12,000.

Frawley first eliminated fifth-seed, Sami Konsteri of Finland, 211-202 to face third-seed, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE whom he beat 246-202 to advance to the next match. Hussain and Konsteri ended in fourth and fifth positions to take home US$6,000 and US$5,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han won her third title of the year when she narrowly defeated second-seed, Putty Armein of Indonesia, 205-203 in the Women's final stepladder match. Chan, who won the women's crown in the ABF Tour grand finals in January and the Thailand Open early this month, won US$2,750.

Armein, who won US$1,900 for finishing second, had earlier ousted Mauritius' Nasha King 241-216 before going down to the champion. Nasha faced the Indonesia in the second match after she beatMexican Teresa Healey, 182-155 in the first match.

HRH Princes Naima Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, sister of the Prince of Kuwait, presented trophies to the winners after which ABF President and Kuwait

Bowling Federation President, Sheikh Talal Al-Mohamad Al-Sabah presented tokens of appreciation to Princes Naima.

The top 16 Asian men made the cut for the ABF Tour Kuwait leg which will be held tomorrow (April 29) at the same venue Cozmo Bowling Centre. The leg will be telecast LIVE over Kuwait TV commencing 12 noon.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

27th April, Kuwait: It was a Swedish delight for Martin Larsen as he led the Top 16 finals of the 5th Kuwait International Open ahead of Australian Jason Belmonte, who shot his second perfect game of the tournament in the last game.

The top 16 cut from this morning's round of top 32 qualifiers took to the lanes at Cozmo Bowling Centre for their first block of 8 games round-robin match-play finals. American Patrick Healey set a blistering pace with a 249 and winning the match against his opponent to earn a bounus of 30 pins to take an early lead.

England's Dominic Barrett also set a cracking pace to sit just 2 pins behind the leader. Healey won another game with a strong 236 to stretch his lead with Swede Martin Larsen closing in second. Top 32 finals leader, Jason Belmonte was slow in his stride and was lying midfield.

The lead changed hands at the halfway mark when Sami Konsteri of Finland amassed 1051 plus bonuses, 13 pins from Larsen. Two consecutive

losing games saw the Swede taking over the lead and Larsen went on to end the first block with a total of 2115.

"I changed my ball to the Roto Grip "Cell" for this final and it gave more room for the ball to go down the lane," said Larsen who won the 2003 World Championship Trios gold medal in Malaysia.

Australian, Jason Belmonte shot his second perfect 300 of the tournament in the last game to surged up the field and into second spot. The Aussie's perfect game reduced the gap from 164 to just 46 pins on a total of 2039.

"I didn't have the best of start and I had to change everything including the ball roll, my release, my speed and a slightly different line," said Belmonte. "I used the same Storm Rapid Fire and it is predictable.

The Finn Konsteri rebounded to clinch third spot with a total of 1924 while two back-to-back 266 games from the defending champion, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia took him up to fourth on a total of 1923..

UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi, who was at one stage trailed Larsen, dropped to fifth position on a total of 1902. The bowlers will continue their second block of 7 games plus a position round eighth game on Monday morning. The top 5 at the end of the block will advance to the stepladder finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

27th April, Kuwait: Overnight leader, Jason Belmonte and Andrew Frawley ruled in the Top 32 finals of the 5th Kuwait International Open finishing 1-2 going into the Top 16 match-play finals at Cozmo Bowling Centre on Sunday morning.

With a comfortable 163 pins before the start of the 8 games Top 32 finals, Jason Belmonte started cautiously with a 217 opening game. The two-handed Aussie then up his pace to reel off 251, 257 and 215 to retain his lead and with 146 pins cushion.

Despite ending with a lowly 178 in the eighth game, Belmonte finished with 8-game score of 1734 and a 26-game total 5853. Compatriot, Andrew Frawley posted the highest 8-game series with 1827 giving him a total of 5764 to give Australia a 1-2 finish.

Last year's ABF Tour Saudi leg champion, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE snatch third spot with 5697 relegating Swede Martin Larsen into fourth spot with 5685. Finn Sami Konsteri did well to stay amongst the leaders taking up fifth position with 5663.

Two bowlers almost shot perfect games in the finals. Frawley missed by 1 pin in game 4 with 299 while Kuwaiti, Fadel Al-Mousawi also knock down 299 earlier in the second game. Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong and the only female bowler in the finals finished 13th.

Defending champion, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia neede a big game of 266 to squeeze into the next stage in 14th while the cut off at 16th went to Argentine Lucas Legnani. England's Nick Froggatt missed the cut by 16 pins finishing 17th.

The Top 16 advanced into two blocks of 8 games round-robin match-play finals over two days with the first block starting after the lane maintenance. Thirty pins will be added to the score for a win and 10 pins for a draw..

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

26th April, Kuwait: Overnight leader, Jason Belmonte of Australia ended the three days of qualifying in the 5th Kuwait International Open at Cozmo Bowling Centre with a comfortable margin of 163 pins going into the finals.

Belmonte led after the second block on Friday with an 85 pin cushion and put in another sizzling performance to outclass a strong field with an 18-game total of 4119 over the three days of grueling qualifying rounds.

Despite posting only 1311 in the final block, the 24-year-old was able to finish in pole position and 163 pins ahead of his nearest rival. Belmonte downed 1349 on the opening day with a perfect game, followed it up with 1459 on Day 2.

Last year's ABF Tour Saudi leg champion, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE did well to finish second with 3956 followed by Squad B leader, Martin Larsen of Sweden third with 3955. Squad A leader, Dominic Barrett of England took fourth spot with 3945.

Belmonte's compatriot, Andrew Frawley, who posted the highest 6-game series with 1478, hauled himself up from 17th position to fifth with 3937 ahead of Squad D leader, Sami Konsteri of Finland in sixth spot with 3894.

American Tim Mack (3868), Kuwaiti Basel Al-Anzi (3867), American Patrick Healey (3834) and Argentinian Lucan Legnani (3797) completed the top ten from seventh to tenth positions respectively.

Other strong contenders for the title were Ronnie Russell (USA-11th), Prince Mohammad Al-Saud (KSA-12th), Nick Froggatt (AUS-14th), Peter Ljung (SWE-18th), Chan Shuk Han (HKG-20th), Paul Moor (ENG-21st) and defending champion, Ryan Lalisang (INA-23rd)..

Omair, Yaqoub Al-Shati, Dhari Al-Bishi and Mohamad Khaled, who finished in 39th, 43rd, 58th and 73rd respectively.

Chan Shuk Han will also lead three other women to the stepladder finals. Indonesia's Putty Armein finished the second best female with 3474 followed by Mexico's Teresa Healey and Mauritius' Nasha King. England's Kirsten Penny missed out in fifth.

The top 28 plus 4 local Kuwaiti advanced to the Top 32 finals for another 8 games with pinfalls carried forward in which the Top 16 will make the cut for the semifinals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

25th April, Kuwait: First block leader, Jason Belmonte continued to shine on Day 2 of the 5th Kuwait International Open at the end of the second block qualifying rounds at Cozmo Bowling Centre on Friday evening.

The 24-year-old Aussie, who led in the first block with just 1 pin from Kuwaiti Basel Al-Anzi, stretched his lead to 85 pins on a 12-game total of 2808. Belmonte chalked up lines of 215, 258, 276, 242, 211 and 257 for the highest 6-game series so far in the tournament to maintain his lead.

Englishmen, Dominic Barrett, who took over the lead in Squad A with 1446 in his second block, finished behind Belmonte with 2723 while Basel Al-Anzi kept Kuwait's challenge in sight taking pole in Squad D with a third place finish on 2674 pinfalls.

American Tim Mack mounted his challenge for the title after he improved from his ninth place finish in the first day to take up fourth spot on 2667 ahead of Squad B leader, Martin Larsen of Sweden in fifth position on 2631.

"I bowled much better today after a good rest from the travel to Kuwait before the first block," said the globe-trotting Aussie from Orange in New South Wales. "Leading the qualifying rounds is important when the field cuts down to 32 especially with pins carried forward to the next round.

Defending champion, Ryan Lalisang who took last year's crown and a rare double when the Indonesian also won the ABF Tour Kuwait leg, managed to improve 2 spots to 26th but will have to step up his pace to assure himself a spot in the next round.

The current cut off average stood at 199.25 in the 28th position where four-time World Cup champion, Paeng Nepmuceno of the Philippines finished 29th. Newly-crowned Saudi Open and ABF Tour Saudi leg champion, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE in 33rd position.

Others were Colombia's Andres Gomez in 46th position, Cyrus Cheung of Hong Kong 48th, Josh Blanchard of USA 50th, England's Stuart Williams 51st and Kirsten Penny 57th and this year's H.H. Emir Cup champion, Bandar Al-Shafi 65th position.

The qualifying round will end today after a grueling 18 games over three days. The top 28 plus 4 local Kuwaiti will advance to the Top 32 finals for another 8 games with pinfalls carried forward.

The top 16 at the end of the quarterfinals will make the cut for the 16-games round-robin matchplay semifinals over a further two days. The top 5 at the end of the semifinals will advance to the stepladder grand finals on April 28.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

24th April, Kuwait: Australia's bowling ambassador, Jason Belmonte shot the tournament's first perfect game enroute to topping the qualifying rounds of the 5th Kuwait International Open underway at Cozmo Bowling Centre late Thursday evening.

Belmonte could not have asked for a better start when he reeled in 12-consecutive strikes in the opening game of the 6-game first block qualifying rounds in Squad C of the day. The Aussie gave a glimps of his unique two-handed style of bowling to delight the large weekend crowd that had gathered.

The leader followed the perfect game with 254 to take a massive 99 pins in Squad C ahead of Colombia's Andres Gomez. The 24-year-old could not sustain his hot streak posting three sub-200 games but bounched back with 233 in the final game to end the block with 1349 in the overall lead.

"I only got into Kuwait early this morning travelling from across one end of the globe to another and my tireness could have accounted for the three sub-200 games," said the globe-trotting Aussie.

"The lanes were perfect in the beginning but as more and more bowling balls got the oil everywhere, it became difficult too. It's great to see so many strong and familiar faces in this year's championship and I certainly look forward to the challenges in the next few days.

Argentine, Lucas Legnani managed to narrow down the gap to 55 pins to take second spot in the squad with 1294 and sixth overall. Kuwait's Basel Al-Anzi, who topped Squad D, took second spot with 1348 while Squad B leader, Martin Larsen of Sweden finished third overall with 1325.

Swede Peter Ljong and Kuwait's Fadel Al-Mousawi finished fourth and fifth spots with 1312 and 1298 while Norway's Mads Sandbaekken, who set the benchmark with 1290 in the opening squad A ended up in seventh overall when all the four squads were completed late Thursday evening.

Finland's Sami Konsteri, American Tim Mack and Englishman, Dominic Barrett completed the top 10 from eighth to tenth positions respectively.

Defending champion, Ryan Lalisang struggled and only managed 28th position. The best female was ABF Tour Grand finals champion, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong in 32nd position.

The bowlers will continue with two more squads over the next two days for a total of 18 games. The top 28 plus four local Kuwaitis will advance to the quarterfinals for another 8 games with pinfalls carried forward.

The top 16 at the end of the quarterfinals will make the cut for the 16-games round-robin matchplay semifinals over a further two days. The top 5 at the end of the semifinals will advance to the stepladder grand finals on April 28.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.