14th August, Jakarta: Zulmazran Zulkifli retained the Men's Open Masters title of the 7th Indonesia International Open for Malaysia while Tannya Roumimper ousted topseed to keep the Women's trophy in Indonesia..

Topseed, Zulmazran Zulkifli had to work hard to take the title after he was beaten 171-196 in the first game forcing a decider in which the 25-year-old edged challenger and team-mate, Syafiq Ridhwan, 227-221.

The victory was Zulmazran's second Men's Open Masters title of the year after he successfully defended the Malaysian International Open title in March. The champion had earlier topped the second block finals with a total of 3445 after he rolled 1714 to add to his first block score of 1731.

Overnight leader, Syafiq Ridhwan finished sixth with 3284 to squeeze into the top 6 stepladder finals and went on to win the first stepladder

match against another Malaysian and No.5 seed, Kang Bo Long and No. 4 seed, Hussain Al-Suwaidi, 206-187-181 to advance into the next match.

Syafiq blitzed the lanes with a convincing victory over second-seed, Hengky Susanto of Indonesia and the fourth Malaysian and third-seed, Adrian Ang, 275-218-224 to challenge Zulmazran for the title.

Zulmazran was richer by 120 million Indonesia rupiah (RM42,000) while Syafiq took home 60 million (RM21,000) and Hengky 30 million.

Meanwhile, topseed Kim Eun Jung of Korea failed to capture the Women's Open Masters crown when she went down to challenger, Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia, 169-212 and 148-205 to settle for the first runner-up spot as the champion retained the title for Indonesia.

Tannya, who was seeded second, ousted overnight leader and third-seed, Ivana Hie of Indonesia and winner of the first match, Zatil Iman of Malaysia, 224-183-212 to earn a crack at the title.

Fourth-seed Zatil edged fifth-seed, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong and Indonesia's favourite, Putty Armein, 187-170-179 in the first stepladder match.

Kim topped the second block of the earlier finals with 3181 after knocking down 1579 to add to her first block score of 1602. Tannya and Ivana finished second and third with 3155 and 3150 respectively.

Zatil took fourth spot with 3148, 14 pins ahead if Chan while Putty made the cut with 3082. Philippines Open champion, Fatin Syazliana missed the cut finishing seventh, 47 pins adrift sixth place.

Tannya won 40,000 million rupiah (MR14,000) with the Korean settling for 20,000 million (MR7,000) as first runner-up and Ivana 10 million as second runner-up.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Tan, Millennium Bowling Club.

13th August, Jakarta: Malaysians dominated the Men's Open Masters first block finals of the 7th Indonesia International Open with SYafiq Ridhwan, Zulmazran Zulkifli and Kang Bo Long taking up one-two and four positions.

Hall of Famer and USBC Ambassador, Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines opened account with a cracking pace of 244 to lead the field of 39 finalists, 9 pins from World Games tow bronze medalist, Adrian Ang of Malaysia.

But a poor 152 in his second game saw the Filipino nose diving out of contention as PBAP second runner-up, Daniel Lim surged into the lead after a scintilating 267 second game with newly-crowned PBAP Classic champion, Wu Siu Hong in hot pursuit.

The first three games of 192, 222 and 257 gave two-time PBAP Classic champion, Syafiq Ridhwan the lead after three games but Wu moved into the lead at the halfway mark, 7 pins ahead of Syafiq.

The 23-year-old reigning national champion bounced back with 257, 177, 237 and 190 to end the block in front with an 8-game total of 1736. Two-time Malaysian Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli stormed home with 289 to snatch second spot with 1731 and give Malaysia a one-two finish.

Wu settled for third with 1708 followed by another Malaysian, Kang Bo Long who tied fourth spot with current Asia No. 1, Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE with 1694. Top qualifier, Chester King of the Philippines took sixth spot with 1670.

With the top 8 tightly bunched up with less than 80 pins separating them, the race for the top 6 stepladder finals will surely be hotly contested when the finalists return for their second block on Friday.

Meanwhile, Ivana Hie surprised the strong field to take the lead in the Women's division with a total of 1642 thanks to a big game of 268 in her final game. 2006 Asia No. 1, Kim Eun Jung, who fought for the lead with Ivana, settled for second with 1602.

World Games Mixed Doubles bronze medalist, Zatil Iman of Malaysia, rolled fairly consistent lines to come home third with 1581 followed by team-mate and top qualifier, Fatin Syazliana in fourth with 1565.

World Women's Championship Masters finalist and top local seeded, Putty Armein stayed in contention with a fifth-place finish on 1541 while sixth spot went to Singapore Open Youth Girl champion, Kristel Oh of Singapore Sports School with 1536.

The finalists will resume with their second block of 8 games tomorrow with the top 6 men and top 6 advancing to the stepladder finals. The first match will be amongst No. 4,5 and 6 seeds.

The winner of the first match will meet No. 2 and 3 seeds for another match to earn a chance to challenge the topseed for a one-plus-one championship match to decide the champion.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Tan, Millennium Bowling Club.

12th August, Jakarta: Asian champion and 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm Classic runner-up, Chester King of the Philippines ended the Men's Open Masters qualifying rounds of the 7th Indonesia International Open atop the leaderboard on Wednesday.

Chester King, who lost to Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong in the stepladder finals of the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm Classic on home turf just last week, will be hoping to maintain his form and to make amends with a win here in Jakarta.

The Filipino rolled a 6-game total of 1391 from two of his best 3-game qualifying round of 714 and 677 to lead the overall qualifying table. Malaysian national youth and southpaw, Rodson Tong finished second with 1382 followed by Singapore's Remy Ong thid with 1352.

Newly-crowned PBAP champion, Wu Siu Hong tied fourth spot with two-time Malaysian Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia with 1337.

Ex-national, David Sitorus led the local charged as seeded No. 1 in the local pool ahead of Hendky Susanto and Jerry R. as the top 3.

In the women's division, World Women's Championship Masters finalist, Putty Armein found her renewed form to lead Indonesia's challenge as No. 1 seed in the local pool followed by ber fellow-compatriot, Tannya Roumimper of Bandung in second.

This year's Philippines Open women champion, Fatin Syazliana of Malaysia topped the overseas pool with an impressive 1284 from 657 and 627 series. Last year's Asia Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong took second spot with 1247.

World Games 2009 Mixed Doubles bronze medalist and a stepladder finalist of last week's PBAP Classic, Zatil Iman finished third with 1233.

Meanwhile, Singapore Open Youth Boys champion, Rickle Kam of Hong Kong topped the Youth Boy's Under-22 overseas qualifying table with 1239 from a 647 and 592 series. Kuwait's Dhari Al-Beeshi finished second with 1192.

Singapore Open Youth Girls champion, Kristel Oh of Singapore Sports School took pole in the Youth Girl's Under-22 overseas qualifying table with 1164 with team-mate, Fok Ka Wai second with 1113.

Newly-crowned Youth Girl's Under-18 champion, Jessica Florencia of Medan led the local charge as No. 1 seed followed by Priyanka and Rinnie P. second and third.

The Men's and Women's Open Masters first block of 8 games will be contested tomorrow, 13th August and another 8-game block on Friday, 14th August. The top 6 men and women at the end of the 16-games will advance to the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Tan, Millennium Bowling Club.

9th August, Jakarta: Singapore's Jeremy Fang captured his second consecutive title after he emerged the Men's Graded A champion of the 7th Indonesia International Open at Senayang Bowling Center on Sunday evening.

Jeremy Fang, who won the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm Classified division title just last week, kept his fine form rolled 2401 in the 12-game Men's Graded A Masters finals. Simon Hutauriuk of Indonesia finished second with 2346.

American, Matthew Cole of Bali, Indonesia did well to finish a creditable third with 2330 while Kuwait's Ali Saleem and Rudy Gunawan of Indonesia rounded up the top 5 with 2327 and 2304 respectively.

Newly-crowned Youth Girl's Under-18 champion, Jessica Florencia of Medan, nearly captured her second consecutive title but was denied fellow-country women, Angelina. Despite finishing strongly with 242 in her final game, Jessica fell short by just 8 pins.

Angelina took the victory with 2284 while Jessica downed 2276. Iyenwati G. gave Indonesia a top 3 finishing when she claimed third spot with 2216.

Tan Bie Liang and ex-national, Lily Suhaimi of Jakarta completed the top 5 with 2213 and 220 respectively.

Qualifying continues through to 12th August and the Men's and Women's Open Masters first block of 8 games will be contested 13th August and another 8-game block on 14th August. The top 6 men and women at the end of the 16-games will advance to the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Tan, Millennium Bowling Club.

9th August, Jakarta: Milo Junior All Stars Youth Girl's Graded champion, Jessica Florenia of Indonesia, captured the Youth Girl's Under-18 title of the 7th Indonesia International Open on Sunday at Senayang Bowling Center.

The 17-year-old Jessica from Medan Mandiri romped home a comfortable winner with a 10-game total of 1942, 227 pins ahead of her nearest opponent, Syncheria of Indonesia, who finished second with 1715.

The champion led from start and although she had two low games of 166 and 150 in the fourth and ninth game, the margin she had built up was more than enough for her to seal victory.

Shinta Noen settled for third spot with 1714 followed by Cheya C. and Rinnie P. completing the top 5 with 1656 and 1581 respectively.

In the Boy's Under-18 division, Cheppy also took a convincing victory with 1902 over M. Iqbal in second with 1897 and Asian Youth Games Masters finalist, Dennis Ronova third with 1862.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Tan, Millennium Bowling Club.