27th September, Taipei: Chinese Taipei bowlers swept both the Open Masters titles of the 8th Chinese Taipei International Open as Ku Ching-Ho retained the men's title while Chien Hsiu-Lan captured the ladies' crown which ended Wednesday evening at Union Bowling Centre.

The defending champion, who finished a poor 22nd in the first block blazed the lanes during the second half of today's second block of 8 games to post a superb 1855 to give him a 3419 16-game total and making the stepladder finals as top-seed.

Ku lost the first game to challenger and second-seed, Chen Wen-Hsiung, 167-213 forcing the champion into the sudden-death decider. But the top-seed fought back galantly to beat Chen, 222-209 to retained the Men's title.

Chen had knocked out third-seed, Cheng Chao-Sheng and winner of the first match, Chao Cha-Yi, 236-191-192 before going down to Ku in the final crunch. Chen settled for second with Chng retaining third spot.

In the ladies' division, overnight leader, Chien Hsiu-Lan of Chinese Taipei captured the crown with a victory over challenger, Huang Chiung-Yao, 211-190 in the final stepladder match. Chien went into the stepladder finals after leading all the way in the second block finals with a comfortable 189 pins margin on 3472.

Second-seed, Gina Lim of Singapore and winner of the first match, Wang Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei, crashed out after loosing to Huang, 149-222-194 in the second stepladder match. Huang settled for second with Gina Lim dropping one spot to third.

The first all-Chinese Taipei match saw Wang Ya-Ting easily defeating fifth-seed, Liang Ya-Ping and sixth-seed, Pan Yu-Fen, 215-156-172 but found the runner-up too strong. Wang remained fourth despite winning the first match.

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

26th September, Taipei: Chinese Taipei spinners dominated the Ladies' Open Masters first block finals of the 8th Chinese Taipei International Open while Malaysian took a slender lead over the Men's division Tuesday evening.

Chen Kuan-Ting of Chinese Taipei had a great start as 33 ladies took to the lanes at Union Bowling Centre for their 8-game first block finals with a 279 but lost the lead to Malaysia's 15-year-old Sin Li Jane after the second game.

Asian Championship Trios Gold medalist, Chien Hsiu-Lan then picked up her pace with 234 and 277 in the third and fourth games to lead the field 48 pins ahead of compatriot, Huang Chiung-Yao by 48 pins at the halfway mark.

Chien never looked back continuing to fire lines of 246, 225, 191 and 202 to end the block with a comfortable 86 pins and a total of 1814. Huang settled for second with 1728 while ex-national, Tang Joh Six of Malaysia stormed home for third spot with 1682.

The contest in the men's division was more intense as the lead changed hands several times in the first half of the block. Chinese Taipei's Chen Wen-Hsiung took an early lead at the start but lost to Malaysia's Adrian Ang after the second game.

Another Taiwanese, Chao Cha-Yi shot to the lead after the third game but Chen regained the lead at the fourth and fifth games. The lead changed hands again when Lin Wen-Yuan grabbed it at the sixth game with the Malaysian hot on his heels.

Ang shared the lead at the seventh game and a superb 225 in his final game was enough to top the field by just 10 pins on a total of 1697. Chao finished second with 1687 with Yang Meng-Chang snatching third spot with 1686.

Pace setters, Lin Wen-Yuan and Chen Wen-Hsiung settled for fourth and fifth spots with 1683 and 1676. With less than 20 pins separating the top 5, the tussle for top-seed in tomorrow's second block is wide open.

Meanwhile, top-seed, Chen Wu-Chi of Chinese Taipei emerged the Youth champion after he defeated challenger, Hung Kun-Yi 40-39 in the 9th and 10th frame tie-breaker when both scored 205 in the stepladder match.

Hung had earlier knocked off third-seed, Cheng Hsing-Chao and winner of the first match, Wang Ya-Ting, 213-191-192 before going down to the champion. Su Tsai-Yuan bagged the Senior Masters title after he defeated top-seed, Chen Mao-Sen in two games, 221,195 to Chen's 214,193.

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

25th September, Taipei: Chinese Taipei's Kao Hai-Yuan pipped overnight leader, Eric Ang of Malaysia by 1 pin for the lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 8th Chinese Taipei International Open at Union Bowling Centre Monday evening.

The 2004 Asian Championship Masters gold medalist, who was in 10th position in the mixed pool with 864 last night, stormed into the lead with a superb 932 to top the local pool and overall lead in the Men's qualifying table.

Compatriot, Huang Cheng-Hsiung dropped one spot to second in the local pool on 923 followed by Chang Yi-Yuan in third with 911. Overnight leader, Eric Ang Soon Wei of Malaysia, who was the overall leader last night, dropped to second with 931 but led the overseas table.

World Men's Championship two gold medalist and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Remy Ong of Singapore maintained second position in the overseas pool with 921 while another Malaysian youngster, Zaid Izlan claimed third spot with 886.

There was no changes in the ladies' division with Malaysia's Siti Safiyah leading the overseas table with 849 ahead of Singapore's Rena Teng and Amanda Ng tieing in second with 823. Zatil Iman and Wan Nur Atiqqa of Malaysia rounded the top 5 in fourth and fifth spots with 822 and 821 respectively.

Wang Ya-Ting maintained top spot in the local pool as well as overall lead with 868 posted yesterday with Lin Yi-Fen tieing with Asian Championship Trios gold medalist, Tsai Hsin-Yi in second with 852.

Meanwhile, the Youth, Senior and Graded division played their first block of 8 games Masters finals this morning. Chinese Taipei youths dominated the first block taking up the top 3 positions. Cheng Hsing-Chao led with 1745 followed by Hung Kun-Yi and Wang Ya-Ting in second and third with 1705 and 1641.

Lin Kuo-Wei topped the Men's Graded division with 1652 with Wu Yu-Shan and Wang Tian-Din second and third. In the Senior division, top qualifier, Tsai Yuan of Chinese Taipei, continued to display his dominance to lead the field with 1723 with a handicap of 128 pins.

Qualifying ends this evening and the Open Masters finals will be played over two blocks of 8 games on 26th and 27th September. The top 6 from both the men and the ladies divisions will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

24th September, Taipei: Newly-crowned, ABF Tour Hong Leg champion and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Remy Ong of Singapore topped the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 8th Chinese Taipei International Open underway at Union Bowling Centre.

Ong, who stole the limelight winning the Singles and All Events Gold medals at the World Men's Championship in Busan early this month, kept his fine form to post 921 to lead the overseas pool with an average of 230.25.

Malaysia's Eric Ang Soon Wei and Zaid Izlan occupied second and third spots with impressive score of 891 and 886 respectively while Singapore national youth member, Eugene Low finished fourth with 830.

In the local front, newcomer, Huang Cheng-Hsiung grabbed the lead with an equally impressive score of 923 followed by Hsueh CHin-Hua and Ysao Wen-Ping picking up second and third spots with totals of 896 and 889.

East Asian Games doubles gold medalist, Wang Ya-Ting topped both the Ladies' Open Masters local and overall table with a 4-game total of 868. Compatriots, Lin Yi-Fen and ex-national, Chou Miao-Lin finished second and third positions with 852 and 850 respectively.

In the overseas pool, 2004 Malaysian International Open champion, Siti Safiyah Amirah grabbed pole position with a score of 849 with in-form, Rena Teng of Singapore in second with 823 ahead of teammate, Amanda Ng third with 798.

Malaysia's ex-national, Tang Joh Six and Singapore's 2004 National Champion, Jazreel Tan rounded up the top five with 784 and 712 scorelines.

Qualifying continues through 25th September with the Senior and Youth Masters kicking off in the morning and the Graded Masters in the evening. The Open Masters finals will be played over two blocks of 8 games on 26th and 27th September.

Photos courtesy of CTBA.