30th June, Doha: Lee Yu Wen captured the 6th Qatar International Open Bowling Championship title defeating top-seed, Bandar Al-Shafi of Qatar, 671-661 and giving Singapore a second straight win.

In a totally dominated finals by left-handers, the 25-year-old Lee ended a 4-year drought to capture the prestigious title and the top prize of US$40,000 after he took the final stepladder match to 3 games. Top-seed and homester, Bandar Al-Shafi outclassed Lee in the first match, 258-200 but found the champion a tough customer when Bandar went down 215-241 in the second match.

Bandar could not response to Lee's better strikes rate and ended the match 188-235 allowing the the champion to take the title for Singapore following Remy Ong's success last year. The runner-up settled for US$18,000 for his effort.

Lee had earlier ousted another Qatari and third-seed, Mubarak Al-Muraikhi 402-333 over two games before going on to knockout UAE's Shaker Al-

Hassan in the winners' playoff match, 418-394. The second-seed Shaker defeated fifth-seed, Mika Koiveneimi of Finland 2-1 in the first match.

Britt Bronsted of Denmark took her second consecutive title after she finished as the top female bowler competing in this year's championship. Nadil Aqeel of Bahrain settled for second ahead of Rahma Al-Sharqi of UAE in third spot.

An extra stepladder finals were played which saw newly-crowned Singapore National champion, Jason Yeong Nathan emerging as champion. Nathan defeated Qatari, Mohammed Jamal, 2-1 on total pinfalls of 632-581 to taste his first international success.

The 22-year-old third-seed had also defeated second-seed, Mark Buffa of Canada, 646-555 over 3 games before challenging for the title. Mohammed Jamal also knocked out top-seed, Martin Larsen of Sweden, 378-360 over 3 games in the first match before going down to the champion.

Bronsted took home US$5,000 for her second win while Jason Yeong Nathan celebrated with his team-mate, Lee Yu Wen with US$2,000.

Photos by Thomas Fox, Singapore Bowling Federation.

29th June, Doha: Southpaws dominated the top 16 finals of the 6th Qatar International Open Bowling Championship occupying the top 4 positions with homester, Bandar Al-Shafi leading the top 5 into the stepladder finals.

Bandar, who finished as runner-up in the 2001 World Ranking Masters, posted the highest 8-game finals with 1900 to add to his 1802 scored in the earlier top 36 finals to head into the stepladder finals as top seed with 3702.

Another southpaw and two-time winner of the ABF Tour, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE took second spot, just 8 pins adrift on a total of 3694 ahead of Qatar's Mubarak Al-Muraikhi in third with 3617. Singapore National Championship runner-up, Lee Yu Wen took fourth place with 3581.

Making the final spot in the stepladder finals was Mika Koiveneimi of Finland, who totalled 3568, 13 pins from Lee while Englishman, Nick Froggatt missed the cut by 51 pins on a total of 3517.

Top qualifier and 2004 World Ranking Masters champion, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE could only manage 3462 to finish seventh with Naif Oqab of UAE, Paul Moor of England and Sayed Ibrahim, also from UAE in eighth to tenth positions.

Shaker Al-Hassan will meet Mika Koiveneimi in the first stepladder finals while Mubarak Al-Muraikhi will face Lee Yu Wen in the other match. The winners of the two matches will meet each other to determine who will face the top-seed, Bandar Al-Shafi whilst the losers will battle it out for fourth and fifth places.

Photos courtesy of Qatar Bowling Federation.

28th June, Doha: 2004 World Ranking Masters champion, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of UAE stormed into the lead of the qualifying table in on-going 6th Qatar International Open Bowling Championship.

Khalifa, who was third overnight, shot to the front after improving one of his 3-game series from 634 to 721 to give him a 9-game total of 2203 for the lead. The new leader, who did not compete in this year's World Ranking Masters in Florida, will surely be the one to beat in this strong field.

Bandar Al-Shafi dropped to second but lead four top Qatari bowlers to occupy the next four positions. Bandar was just 26 pins behind Khalifa with 2177 followed by Mansoor Al-Awamy in third with 2163, Ahmed Shaheen and Mubarak Al-Muraikhi, 2103 and 2099 respectively.

Meanwhile, last year's champion, Remy Ong of Singapore made good progress to move up from 14th last night to seventh with a total of 2083, just two pins behind Englishman, Stuart Williams in sixth spot with 2085.

Saeed Al-Hajri of Qatar (8th-2082), Faha Al-Emadi of Qatar (9th-2077) and newly-crowned ABF Tour Philippines leg champion, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE rounded up the top 10 positions.

Qualifying ends this evening and the top 32 will qualify for the semifinals on Wednesday, 29th June. The top 16 at the end of the semifinals will proceed to the finals at the end of which the top 3 will make the cut for the stepladder finals to determine the champion.

Photos courtesy of Lawrence Lustig, www.Bowlclub.ru.

27th June, Doha: Stuart Williams of England made an impressive debut in the 6th Qatar International Open at the end of 30 squads to take up sixth spot to make the top 32 for the semifinals at the International Bowling Center.

The stocky Englishman posted 744, 674 and 667 in his 9-game series for a total of 2085 pushing down Qatar's Saeed Al-Hajri into seventh position. The World Ranking Masters semifinalist has assured himeself a spot in the semifinals, which will be contested Wednesday, 29th June.

The top 5 positions of the qualifying leaderboard remained unchanged with Bandar Al-Shafi of Qatar maintaining pole position with a total of 2177 followed by another Qatari, Mansoor Al-Awamy on 2163 while 2004 World Ranking Master champion, Mohammed Al-Qubaisi of UAE in third with 2116.

2004 Asian Ranked No. 1, Ahmed Shaheen and ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Mubarak Al-Muraikhi, both from Qatar retained fourth and fifth positions ahead of Williams with 2103 and 2099 respectively.

Other foreign bowlers making headway were, Andres Gomez of Colombia (10th-2065), Mika Koivuniemi of Finland (11th-2054), Lee Yu Wen of Singapore (12th-2044), Thomas Leandersson of Sweden and defending champion, Remy Ong of Singapore (tie 13th-2042).

Three-time World Tenpin Masters champion, Tore Toregerson of Norway (18th-2015), Paul Moor of England (21st-2006), Nick Froggat of England (23rd-1999) and Martin Larsen of Sweden (30th-1960). ABF Tour Kuwait leg champion, Andrew Frawley of Australia (50th-1858) and last year's women champion, Britt Bronsted of Denmark (60th-1797) have yet to make the cut.

Qualifying continues through to 28th June and the top 32 will qualify for the semifinals on Wednesday, 29th June. The top 16 at the end of the semifinals will proceed to the finals at the end of which the top 3 will make the cut for the stepladder finals to determine the champion.

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.

26th Jun, Doha: Bandar Al-Shafi topped the qualifying leaderboard of the 6th Qatar International Open after 24 squads have been completed at the International Bowling Center.

The ex-international posted 766, 723 and 688 in his 9-game qualifying round to take the lead with a total of 2177. Bandar's fellow-countryman, Mansoor Al-Awamy took second spot, just 14 pins adrift with a total of 2163.

Mansoor knocked down 755, 722 and 686 to stay ahead of 2004 World Ranking Masters champion, Mohammed Al-Qubaisi of UAE in third spot with 2116. 2004 Asian Ranked No. 1, Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar finished fourth with a total of 2103 followed by his team-mate and 2004 ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Mubarak Al-Muraikhi in fifth with 2091.

Saeed Al-Hajri was sixth with 2082 ahead of Fahad Al-Emadi of Qatar and newly-crowned, ABF Tour Philippines leg champion, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE in seventh and eighth on a scoreline of 2077 and 2076.

Mika Koivuniemi of Finland and Tomas Leandersson of Sweden made up the top 10 with 2054 and 2042 respectively. Qualifying continues through to 28th June when the top 32 will make the cut for the semifinals on the 29th June. The top 16 at the end of the semifinals will proceed to the finals. The top 3 will make the cut for the stepladder finals to determine the champion.

Photos courtesy of Qatar Bowling Federation.