17th March, Kuwait: Surasak Manuwong of Thailand earned his biggest win with victory in the Men's Finals of the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions while 2010 TOC winner, Sharon Limansantoso won her second TOC title in the Women's Division.

Surasak defeated Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong, 226-191 in the title match to pocket US$20,000 and Limansantoso edged last year's second runner-up, Milki Ng of Hong Kong, 199-179 to earn US$10,000.

Both started the match with an identical 7-split in their opening frame and neither could recover until midway through. Yeung stumbled into another big 6-pin split in the fifth frame while the Thai downed four consecutive strikes from frame 5.

The Hong Kong national bowler responded with four consecutive strikes of his own to reduce his gap to 15 pins. Yueng could put pressure on his opponent had he struck out but as lady luck did not favour him, he ended with another 7-10 split for a 191 score.

Surasak struck twice in the tenth frame to eventually cruise to a comfortable 226 victory to claim his first-ever TOC title.

"There was a little nerve going into the final but when I was able to strike three times, I was a bit more relaxed," said the delighted 35-year-old businessman from Bangkok. "I really got a lucky break in the eighth frame with a strike and that more or less confirmed the victory."

The champion advanced into the finals by beating Yousif Falah of Bahrain, 213-197 in the first semi-final match while Yueng had a lucky break when his opponent and 2010 TOC winner, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE failed to spare his thenth frame to had Yeung the victory, 172-161 in the over semi.

Surasak edged Kuwaiti and 2013 ABF Tour Ranked No. 1, Rakan Al Ameeri, 222-216 in the quarter-finals and Yeung sailed past a second Kuwaiti and fourth-seed, Khaled Al Dubyyan, 224-172 in Round 2 quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia won her second TOC title after she ousted challenger, Milki Ng of Hong Kong, 199-178 in the women's title match. The champion had earlier beat TOC debutant, Hui Tong of Macau, China 195-169 in the semi-finals to reach the finals.

Two-time TOC runner-up, Ng squeezed into the finals with a low-scoring semi-final win over another Macau bowler, Filomena Choi, 150-146. The Indonesian also beat Angkana Netvrseth of Thailand 199-166 in the quarter-finals while Ng beat topseed, Putty Armein of Indonesia, 214-187 in the quarter-finals.

Limansantoso picked up US$10,000 for her victory and Ng, US$5,000. The losing semi-finalists received US$3,000 each. Surasak pocketed the biggest purse of US$20,000 with US$8,000 going to Yueng. The men losing semi-finalists took home US$4,000 each.

Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah, President of Asian Bowling Federation and Kuwait Bowling was on hand to present US$20,000 to Surasak and US$10,000 to Limansantoso.

The top 16 men and top 16 women based on their tour rankings earned in 2013 out of nine legs qualified for the Tournament of Champions. They contested 10 games in Round 1 qualifying for the field to be cut to top 8 men and top 8 women for today's quarter-finals knockout rounds.

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.

16th March, Kuwait: 2011 TOC winner, Hussain Al Suwaidi of United Arab Emirates topped the Men's Round 1 finals of the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions at Cozmo Bowling Centre on Sunday to claim topseed for the quarter-finals knockout round.

Hussain amassed a total of 2128 over the 10-game Round 1 preliminaries ahead of 2009 TOC winner, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia in second and Surasak Manuwong of Thailand third.

Hussain's fellow-compatriot, Hareb Al Mansoori set a cracking pace in the opening game with 237 ahead of two Thai finalists, Surasak and Sithiphol Kunaksorn. But the Emirati handed the lead to Surasak after a lowly 187 while the Thai rolled another splendid 233 in the second game.

Surasak held the lead after the third game but was overtaken by Hussain when the Emirati reeled off two superb games of 243 and 222. Hussain's lead did not last long either after the fifth game.

2009 TOC winner, Lalisang surged into the lead following his stunning 278 in the fifth and 224 and 230 in the sixth and seventh games going 8 pins ahead of Hussain, who slipped down to second while Surasak kept a close third behind the leading duo.

The Indonesian continued his fine pace with 223 and 203 before running out of steam as Hussain ended the round stronger to snatch top spot. Lalisang settled for second with 2123, just 5 pins behind while Surasak took third position with 2066.

Two Kuwaitis, Khaled Al Dubyyan and Rakan Al Ameeri gave a good account of themselves after finishing fourth and sixth positions to make the cut for the next round with 2053 and 2033 respectively.

Yousif Falah of Bahrain and Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong also advanced in fifth and seventh positions while the eighth and final spot went to Sithiphol. Eric Tseng of Hong Kong missed the cut by 19 pins in ninth.

Topseed, Hussain is drawn to meet Sithiphol while a second Thai, Surasak will meet Rakan in the quarter-finals one-game knockout Round 2. Yeung is matched up against the second Kuwaiti, Khaled and the second-seed Lalisang will square off with Yousif.

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.

16th March, Kuwait: 2009 ABF Tour ranked No. 1, Putty Armein and 2010 TOC winner, Sharon Limansanto gave Indonesia a one-three finish in the Round 1 finals of the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions with Hui Tong of Macau, China splitting the duo in second.

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.

Putty ended the round with 2057 and a comfortable margin of 48 pins over Hui in second with 2009 and Sharon third with 1956 to lead the next five women into the next round.

TOC debutant, Veronica Dias De Souza of Macau, China got off the mark with a cracking 235 in the opening game to share the lead with 2013 ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Milki Ng of Hong Kong.

De Souza pulled away after the second and third games to a comfortable gap of 69 pins as Ng kept second position before losing the place to Putty as the Macau youngster continued to lead up to the halfway mark.

Putty took over the lead after a superb 231 in the sixth game to move ahead of a second Macau finalist, Hui Tong by 18 pins and then extended the lead to 115 pins after a sizzling 268 in the seventh game.

The Indonesian ended the round with 2057 to claim top spot for the quarter-finals knockout Round 2. Hui settled for second position with 2009 while Sharon took third spot with 1956.

Filomena Choi finished fourth with 1942 followed by defending champion, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong rounding out the top 5 with 1939. Early pace-stter, Ng took sixth position while Malaysia's Wendy Chai stormed home with 247 to snatch seventh position.

2013 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Angkana Netvrseth of Thailand clinched the eighth and final spot with a final game of 215 and a total of 1881 to deny early leader, De Souza her place in the next round by 19 pins.

Topseed Putty is drawn to meet Milki Ng in the quarter-finals Round 2 and second-seed will face the sole Malaysian, Chai. Third-seed Chan will square off with Choi in an all-spinner match while Sharon and Angkana will meet each other.

The winners of the quarter-finals round 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.

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.