12th March, Kuwait: 2012 Asian Championships gold medalist, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and 2008 TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong won the Men's and Women's title of the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions at Cozmo Bowling Centre.

Both Frawley and Yannaphon got off the match with a double but when the Thai struck twice again in frames 3 and 4, the Aussie opened in the third to trail by 37 pins.

Although Yannaphon struck again in the fifth frame, Frawley was unable to response as both spared their next three frames. Yannaphon struck twice again in the ninth and tenth frames and closed out with 243 against Frawley's 194 to take the match and the title.

"I went into the match quite confident as I know where to bowl," said the 29-year-old Yannaphon, whose last tour title was four years ago. "I started off well with five strikes and that must have put my opponent playing catch up."

The champion reached the finals after edging UAE's Shaker Al Hassan, 216-202 in the second semi-final match while Frawley ousted Bahrain's Mohammed Janahi, 223-201 to face Yannaphon.

The Aussie beat top seed and two-time TOC winner, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, 210-203 in the quarter-finals and the Thai beat another Emirati and newly-crowned Bahrain leg champion, Hussain Al Suwaidi, 208-203 in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han denied Thailand a double when she easily beat Angkana Netrviseth, 211-180 in the Women's title match. Angkana settled down quicker than her opponent after rolling three consecutive strikes from frame 2.

Chan's split in her second frame did not dampened her spirit as she bounced back with four strikes-in-a-row from frame 4 which put pressure on the Thai as she had two open frames thereafter.

The match was over when Angkana had another split in the ninth frame and Chan doubled in the ninth and tenth frames to win, 211-180 and the women's crown.

"I was determined not to throw away this chance when I had an opened frame," said the 39-year-old Hong Kong national team member, Chan. "I've come this far and I was not going to let this chance slip away so easily.

"I'm so happy to have won this for the second time and I've to thank my coach who made some changes to my game which allowed me to make smoother deliveries."

The champion breezed through to the finals after an easy victory over Milki Ng in the all-Hong Kong second semi-final match, 207-159 while Angkana edged top seed, Putty Armein of Indonesia, 182-148 in the first semi.

Chan posted the highest game in the women's division with victory over second seed and 2009 TOC winner, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia, 213-209 in the quarter-finals. Angkana edged 2008 TOC winner, Tang Joh Six of Malaysia, 208-205 in the quarter-finals.

Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah, President of Asian Bowling Federation and Kuwait Bowling was on hand to present US$20,000 to Yannaphon and US$10,000 to Chan. Frawley took home US$8,000 and Angkana US$US$5,000.

The losing semi-finalists, Shaker and Mohammed Janahi earned US$4,000 each while Ng and Putty earned US$3,000 each. The Men losing quarter-finalists received US$2,500 each and the Women US$2,000 each.

For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

11th March, Kuwait: Two-time TOC winner, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong staked his claim on winning the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions title after topping the Men's Round 1 qualifying round at Cozmo Bowling Centre.

2012 Asian Championships All Events gold medalist, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand got off the mark with a sizzling 253 to lead 2012 Egypt leg champion, Yousif Falah by 18 pins in second and Wu Siu Hong in third.

A stunning high game of 269 by Yousif's compatriot, Mohammed Janahi moved the Bahraini into the lead as Yannaphon was content with second, 10 pins adrift.

Mohammed Janahi followed it up with 255, 221, 212 and 207 to remain in the lead until Yannaphon caught up with Janahi to grab the lead after the seventh game.

Wu kept pace with the Thai as Janahi slipped down to third. Despite rolling 223, 212 and 233 in his last three games, Yannaphon handed the lead to Wu when the latter posted 257, 290 and 182 to end the round with 2332 and clinch pole.

Yannaphon settled for second with 2282 while his team-mate, Badin Lerdpiriyasakultit stormed home to take third with 2245.

Janahi felled to fourth with 2225 as 2007 TOC men champion, Andrew Frawley of Australia finished in fifth with two high games of 280 in the eighth and 266 in the ninth.

2012 Macau leg champion, Rickle Kam of Hong Kong, who almost landed a perfect game in sixth with 297, took sixth position with 2142 while the two remaining spots in the top 8 went to Emiratis, Shaker Al Hassan and Hussain Al Suwaidi.

2012 Hong Kong leg champion, Kang Bo Long missed the cut by 32 pins in ninth position with 2080 and Kuwait's sole finalist, Jassem Darwish rounded out the top 10.

Frawley will meet top seed, Wu in the knockout Round 2 quarter-finals while Hussain will meet second seed, Yannaphon. Kam was drawn to face fourth seed Mohammed Janahi and Shaker will face third seed Badin.

The winners of the quarter-finals round will meet in the semi-finals and final tomorrow. The top prize for the men's champion is US$20,000 and the runner-up will take home US$8,000. Losing semi-finalists will earn US$4,000 each.

The losing quarter-finalists will earn US$3,000 each while the eighth finalists who failed to progress take home US$2,500 each.

For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.

11th March, Kuwait: Putty Armein and 2011 TOC champion women champion, Sharon Limansantoso ruled Round 1 of the ABF Tour - Tournament of Champions 2012 after the duo completed the 10-games qualifying in one-two.

Hong Kong's third national team finalist, Zoe Tam set the early pace with 203 to lead Putty Armein by 3 pins. Her national team-mate, Milki Ng shot shared the lead with a third Hong Kong team-mate, Chan after the second game.

Armein fired 224, 258 and 205 to leapfrog into the lead, 6 pins ahead of Ng, who maintained second position at the halfway mark.

There was simply no stopping the Indonesian as she rolled 244, 213, 226, 237 and 230 to end the round in pol position with 2215. Limansantoso posted a sizzling 266 in the final game to snatch second spot with 2186.

Ng settled for third with 2080 followed by Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand fourth with 2054. Chan slipped down to fifth with 2038 while tour leader, Julia Lam of Macau took sixth position with 2033.

2008 TOC champion, Tang Joh Six scrapped through in seventh with 1987 with Thai's second women, Chantanee Sarnswang making the cut in eighth with 1985.

Alisha Nabila of Indonesia missed the cut with 1937 to finish ninth while Hong Kong's Vicky Yeung completed the top 10 with 1920.

Julia Lam has been drawn to meet top seed, Armein in Round 2 knockout stage and Chan is drawn to meet second seed, Limansantoso. Chantanee will face third seed, Ng and Tang will face Angkana. The winners will meet in the semi-finals and final tomorrow.

The champion will pocket US$10,000 with the runner-up taking home US$5,000. Losing semi-finalists will earn US$3,000 each and the losing quarter-finalists, US$2,000 each. Those eleminated in Round 1 took home US$1,5000 each. The men will contest their Round 1 over 10-games later today.

For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.