26th April, Cairo: Top-seed, Mubarak Al-Muraikhi of Qatar brought home an easy victory over challenger, Badin L of Thailand, 247-172 to win the Men's Open Masters title of the 9th Sinai International Open.

The first block leader ended the 16-game round-robin matchplay top 16 finals as top-seed after totalling 3877 pinfalls. Having won all the 8 matches in the first block and chalked up 1957, the leader posted 1880 but this time managed only to win 4 matches.

Apart from loosing the lead at the start of the second block, Mubarak regained the lead with a superb 268 in the 10th game and never looked back to cruise to a comfortable 103 pins margin. The champion was equally impressive when he defeated second-seed, Badin L of Thailand in the stepladder decider.

The runner-up had earlier outclassed third-seed, Mahdy Asad of Bahrain, 257-163 but could not repeat his form when matched against Mubarak. Mahdy beat fourth-seed, Mohamed El Rgeby of Kuwait, 207-177 in the first stepladder match.

Perhaps the most unlucky bowler in the competition was Korea's Kim Eun Jung. The 2006 Vietnam Open champion, who lost to Venessa Fung of Hong Kong in the stepladder finals in Kuwait Open just two weeks ago, had led from start to finish when the 16 ladies started the finals.

Spain's Sandra Torrents had trailed the Korean most of the way, beat third-seed, Lama Al-Sharkawy of Egypt to set up the deciding match against Kim. The Spanish went on to beat the top-seed, 215-191 in the finals to snatch the victory away from the Korean.

In the first All-Egyptian match between, Al-Shakawy took out Aliaa Ismail in a lowly score of 172-168 before loosing to the eventual champion, Sandra Torrents, 185-191 in the second match. Mubarak Al-Muraikhi took home US$7,000 for his well-deserved victory while Sandra was richer by US$3,000.

Photos courtesy of Tarek Helmy, Egyptian Bowling Federation.

25th April, Cairo: Qatar's Mubarak Al-Muraikhi took pole position in the Top 16 finals of the 9th Sinai International Open which ended at International Bowling Centre on Wednesday evening.

At the start of the 16-game round-robin matchplay finals, Mohamed El Rgeby of Kuwait set a cracking pace with 267 only to hand the lead to overnight leader, Bandar Al-Shafi after game 2. At the halfway mark, defending champion, Mahmoud Mazloum of Egypt snatched the lead but only by a slender lead of 1 pin from Mubarak Al-Muraikhi of Qatar.

Fadil Al Mosawy posted 241 and 238 to see the Kuwaiti grabbing the lead after game 6 but only by 9 pins. A 258 and 211 from Mubarak allowed the Qatari to end the finals with 41 pins to spare. The leader won all the eight matches and amassed a total 1957 plus bonus.

Fadil settled for second spot with 1911 winning 6 out of the 8 matches while early Bahrain's, Mahdy Asaad did well to finish ahead of many of the season bowlers in third spot with 1886. Thailand's Badin L and local favourite, Mahmoud Mazloum ended in fourth and fifth spots with 1863 and 1849.

Mahmoud Al-Attar, who shared the lead with Bandar Al-Shafi in the Top 36 finals ended a dismal 15th while Bandar finished in the top half of the field in eighth.

Photos courtesy of Tarek Helmy, Egyptian Bowling Federation.

24th April, Cairo: Qatar's Bandar Al-Shafi and UAE's Mahmoud Al-Attar shared the lead of the Top 36 finals of the 9th Sinai International Open which ended on Tuesday afternoon at International Bowling Center.

Bandar and Mahmoud posted identical total of 2758 to share the lead and ahead of Bahrain's Mohamed Ali El Shawosh, who did well to take up third spot with 2688. Bandar had earlier led the first block of 6 games played in the morning by a slender margin of 7 pins.

As the 36 finalists took to the lanes, a high game of 268 by Mahmoud saw the UAE bowler grabing the lead by 22 pins. At game 8, the lead changed hands when Bandar score 259 while Mahmoud only posted 219.

There was nothing between the two as they reached game 9 and tieing at 2086 pinfalls. It was a neck to neck battle with Mahmoud just leading by 1 pin at game 10. When Mahmoud knocked down 244 in the 11th game, it would appear that the UAE bowler would end the final in the lead.

But a strong 233 from Bandar gave the Qatari a total of 2758 to end the block to share the lead with Mahmoud and Mohamed Ali in third. Jamal El Sohoty of Qatar and Fadil El Mosawy completed the top 5 with 2686 and 2684 respectively.

Meanwhile, it was an easy task for Korea's Kim Eun Jung when she cruised to a comfortable 306 pins ahead of her nearest opponent posting 2730 over the 12-game finals. Spain's Sandra Torrents finished second with 2424 while Amal Bakr of Egypt took third spot with 2337.

The top 15 together with the top Egyptian made the cut for the Top 16 round-robin matchplay finals tomorrow (25th April).

Photos courtesy of Tarek Helmy, Egyptian Bowling Federation.

22nd April, Cairo: Mahmoud Al-Attar of UAE and Kim Eun Jung of Korea, topped the Men's and Women's Open Masters qualifying table of the 9th Sinai International Open underway at International Bowling Centre.

Al-Attar amassed a two 4-game highest series total of 2012 to take the lead in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table. The lead posted 1023 in his first series and 989 in the second. Kuwait's Khalid Al-Dubyyan trailed the leader by just 4 pins on a total of 2008 with 1050 and 958 series.

Saudi Arabia's Fadi Al Towereb finished 38 pins adrift on a total score of 1970 followed by defending champion, Mahmoud Mazloum of Egypt in fourth position with 1969. Fellow compatriot, Belai Abdo completed the top 5 with 1950.

A total of 118 bowlers are competing in the championship and the top 32 will qualify for the finals to be held on 25th and 26th April. The current cut off mark was held by Mostafa Abo El-Souad of Egypt with 1830.

Kim Eun Jung of Korea, who is the only foreign women in the championship, look set for a strong showing when she took pole in the women's division with 1857. The Kuwait International pen first runner-up posted two series of 933 and 924 to claim top spot.

Egypt's Hala Shaarawy finished second, 202 pins adrift the Korean with 1655 followed by Sandra Torrents in third spot with 1641. Aliaa Ismail and Suzan El-Ezaby, both from Egypt made up the top 5 with 1577 and 1499.

The top 12 plus 4 local women will make the cut for the Masters finals on 25th and 26th April.

Photos courtesy of Tarek Helmy, Egyptian Bowling Federation.