23rd July, Tainan: Chinese Taipei bowlers swept the Men's and Women's Masters titles of the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open fifth-seed, Ku Ching Ho and top-seed, Chu Yu Chieh defeated their opponents in the stepladder finals.

Ku forced top-seed and 6th Qatar International Open champion, Lee Yu Wen into the sudden-death deciding match after he took the first match, 223-215. In the decider, Ku gave his opponent little chance to mount a fight back and went on to clinch the title with 215-196.

The fifth-seed eliminated fourth-seed, Chester King of the Philippines and sixth-seed, Hsiao Ching Liang, 216-181-203 to move up the ladder to challenge two Filipinos, second-seed, C.J. Suarez and third-seed, Tyrone Ongpauco. Ku out-classed his opponents to win comfortably 226-198-188 for a crack at the title.

The champion took home NT$200,000 (US$6,330) while Lee settled for second with NT$100,000 (US$3,160). The Filipino challengers, Suarez, Ongpauco and King ended up in third to fifth with Hsiao remaining in sixth position.

In the all-Chinese Taipei women's stepladder finals, top-seed, Chu Yu Chieh easily defeated challenger, Wang Yu Ling, 204-167 to capture the women's crown. The third-seed, Wang settled for second despite ousting second-seed, Pan Yu Fen and winner of the first match, Huang Tsia Feng, 227-222-206 but found the champion too strong to wrench the title away from her.

Huang took the first match after she knocked out fourth-seed, Chien Chiu Lan and Singapore's Catherine Kang, 259-178-188 but was eliminated in her next match. Pan dropped to third while Huang ended up in fourth. Chu won NT$70,000 (US$2,210) for her effort with Wang Yu Ling claiming NT$40,000 (US$1,264).

The top six bowlers from both the men and women divisions, made the cut for the stepladder finals at the end of the second block of 8 games earlier.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.

22nd July, Tainan: 2003 AMF World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez of the Philippines, prevented a total domination by the local bowlers to top the Men's Open Masters first block of 8 games in the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open while the local women took the top 8 positions led by Chu Yu Chieh.

Despite starting with a low score of 168 in the first game, Suarez posted two massive games of 267 in the next and seventh game to top the field of 40 finalists with a score of 1783. Philippines Open second runner-up, Cheng Chao Sheng finished second, just 31 pins adrift on 1752 followed by Ku Ching Ho in third with 1729.

6th Qatar International Open champion, Lee Yu Wen of Singapore did well to take fourth spot with 1712 ahead of three Chinese Taipei bowlers. Chen Chi Jung (1705), Tsai Tung Yun (1690) and Chen Chun Chieh (1683) finished fifth to seventh positions respectively.

Filipino Tyrone Ongpauco took eighth with 1660 with Asian Championship Masters Gold medal, Koa Hai Yuan in ninth with 1646. Philippines Open champion, Chester King and Lin Yi Hung of Chinese Taipei tied in 10th position with 1640.

The local women totally dominated the women's division by taking the top 8 positions. Top qualifier, Chu Yu Chieh showed her brilliance when she posted 1650 to top the field of 33 finalists followed by Chien Chiu Lan in second with 1603 and Pan Yu Fen third with 1600.

Only the top three women managed to finish above the 200-mark average in the difficult lane conditions faced by most finalists. Huang Tsai Feng (1577), Lin Yi Fan (1576), Wang Yu Ling (1569), Huang Chiung Yao (1559) and Huang Shiau Su Ling took up fourth to eighth positions.

Hong Kong's Janet Lam was the best non-Taiwanese picking up ninth spot with 1555 while Singapore's Catherine Kang finished in the top 10 with 1528.

The men and women will complete their second block of another 8 games at the end of which the top 6 will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine the champion.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.

22nd July, Tainan: Singapore national youth, Faizal Chew captured the Youth Masters title of the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open defeating team-mate, Jasmine Yeong Nathan in the second Stepladder finals match, 206-193.

Faizal, who lost the first match to the Singapore reigning national champion and challenger, Jasmine Yeong Nathan 180-204, came back strongly in the sudden-death deciding match to capture his first-ever international title by beating Jasmine, 206-193.

Jasmine had earlier defeated second-seed, Chen Shin Chou and Wang Ming Chun of Chinese Taipei, 263-234-234 before going down to the champion. Wang had won the first match against fifth-seed, Ng Kwun Ting of Hong Kong and sixth-seed, Chiam Yew Bing of Singapore, 245-215-200 but found Jasmine too strong in his next match.

Faizal, who was trailing pace-setter, Chi Chien Yi of Chinese Taipei, in fourth on 1646 in the first block of 8 games, stepped up his pace in the second block to complete the gruelling 16-game finals for top-seed with 3290.

The 20-year-old bowled consistently to post 1644 in the second block and an average of 206.63. Although Jasmine had a 96 pin handicap in both the blocks competing against the boys, the 18-year-old were able to average an impressive 197.19 to finsih third behind Chen.

Wang Ming Chun, Ng Kwun Ting and Chiam Yew Bing made the stepladder finishing fourth to sixth with 3176, 3169 and 3162 respectively. All three finished in the same order at the end of the stepladder finals.

The Men and Women will commence their first block of 8 games Masters finals in the afternoon and will continue their second block of 8 games on Saturday, 23rd July.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.

21st July, Tainan: Philippines Open champion, Chester King grabbed the pole position of the Men's overseas pool of the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open at Tainan Bowling Centre this evening.

King, who ended a drought by winning the 3rd Euromed-Storm International Masters in April and Philippines International Open in June, continued his current form to take over pole position of the Men's Open Masters overseas qualifying pool with a score of 919. King pushed team-mate, Tyrone Ongpauco into second spot on his socre of 895.

2003 AMF World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez completed Philippines' domination when he finished third behind Ongpauco on a score of 894. Hong Kong's Ng Kwun Ting did well to take up fourth int he table with 890.

Early leader, Chen Chien Han remained top overall and in the local pool with a score of 943 followed by Chen Chin Wen and Chen Wu Chin in second and third position with 917 and 909 respectively.

There were no changes in both the local and overseas pool of the Women's divison. Local veteran, Chu Yu Chieh continue to top the overall table and the local pool with 938. Huang Tsai Feng and Wang Yu Ling occupied second and third with 877 and 847.

Singapore women also dominated the overseas pool by occupying the top 3 places. Catherine Kang, Ong She-Na and Camilia Chua finished 1-2-3 on 865, 847 and 839 respectively. Filipina, Sheena Go stormed into fourth with 832 with Hong Kong's Janet Lam in fifth with 825.

Qualifying will end tonight (21st July) and the 16-game Masters finals will be played over two blocks of 8 games on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd July. The top 6 at the end of the two blocks will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine the champion.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.

19th July, Tainan: Filipinos Tyrone Ongpauco and C.J. Suarez grabbed the top 2 positions of the Men's Open Masters overseas pool of the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open as the championship goes into full swing in the Typhoon Haitang aftermath.

Ongpauco posted 895 in his 4-game qualifying round to take over the lead followed by team-mate and 2003 AMF World Cup champion, C.J. Suarez in second, just 1 pin adrift on 894. Hong Kong's Ng Kwun Ting totalled 890 to take up third ahead of overnight leader, Su Wai Chin dropping to fourth with 880.

Chen Chien-Han maintained overall lead and top of the local pool with 943 posted yesterday. Chen Chin Wen finished second with 917 while Chen Wu Chi took third spot with 909. Liu Kuan Hung and Asian Championship Gold medalist, Kao Hai Yuan tied fifth position with 907.

A strong 13-member Malaysian contingent had to return and skip the championship when they were stranded at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia for two days. They could not get a schedule flight to Koashiung en-route to Tainan due to cancelled flights caused by the typhoon that struck the island on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Taipei's Chu Yu-Chieh became the new leader in the local pool of the Women's division when she amassed a total of 938, dislodging overnight leader, Huang Tsai-Feng into second spot with 877. Philippines Open 1st-runnerup, Wang Yu Ling took third spot with 847.

Singapore women occupied the top 3 positions of the overseas pool with Catherine Kang continuing to lead with 865 ahead of team-mate and spinner, Ong She-Na in second with 847. Camilia Chua finished third with 839 followed by ex-international, Janet Lam of Hong Kong in fourth with 825.

Qualifying ends tomorrow (21st July) and the top 42 men and top 33 women will contest the Masters finals in two blocks of 8 games over 22nd and 23rd July.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.

18th July, Tainan: Chen Chien-Han and Huang Tsai-Feng topped the Men's and Women's Open local qualifying pool of the 7th Chinese Taipei International Open underway at Tainan Bowling Center despite Typhoon Haitang.

Chen, 41, who was a member of the 2001 East Asian Games Team Gold medalist, posted 223, 222, 232 and 266 for a total of 943 to take the lead in the Men's Open local qualifying pool. The 7th Chinese Taipei International Open was temporarily halted as bowlers sought shelther when Typhoon Haitang hit most parts of Taiwan on Sunday and Monday.

Liu Kuan-Hung shared second in the table with 2002 AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour winner, Kao Hai-Yuan with 907 ahead of Cheng Hsing-Chao and Chang Chen-Tsai in fourth and fifth positions with 906 and 893 respectively.

So far, only two teams have managed to reach Tainan with Macau's Su Wai Chin topping the overseas pool with 880 followed by Singapore's Lionel Lim in second with 863. 2003 Malaysian Open 2nd-runnerup, Lim Zhong of Singapore took third spot with 853.

In the women's division, Huang Tsai-Feng topped the leaderboard with a score of 877 with Philippines Open 2st-runnerup, Wang Yu Ling in second with 847. Pan Yu-Fen took third spot with a score of 836.

Two-time Singapore National Champion, Catherine Kang led the Women's Open overseas pool with a score of 865, which gave her second spot overall. Her team-mate and spinner, Ong She-Na took second, just 8 pins adrift on 847 followed by Camilia Chua in third spot with 839.

Meanwhile, Wu Kwan Ting from Hong Kong scored the first perfect game of the championship during his youth qualifying round. Qualifying continues through to the 21st July and the Masters finals will be held over two blocks of 8 games on the 22nd and 23rd July.

Photos courtesy of Chinese Taipei Bowling Association.