13th July, Daejeon, Korea: Korea took a double victory at the conclusion of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Bowling Tournament after top seeds, Kim Jun Yung and Kang Soo Jin captured the Men's and Women's Open Masters titles on Saturday.

In an all-Korean men's finals, national bowler Kim Jun Yung defeated compatriot and second-seed Kim Jae Hoon of Incheon Transit Corporation, 237-200 to win his first major PBA-WBT title.

Jae Hoon started off better of the Korean pair with three strikes-in-a-row but opened in the fourth frame as Jun Yung responded with four-in-a-row from frame two onwards to open up a gap of 26 pins.

Although the challenger recovered with a double thereafter, Jun Yung rolled another double after a spare in the sixth frame to retain a healthy lead of 29 pins. And when Jae Hoon had a split in the ninth frame, the match was all over in favour of the top seed.

"I felt comfortable in the match against Jae Hoon as he is my team-mate at Incheon Transit," said the 33-year-old national rookie, who made amends with the victory after losing the Singles event gold medal match at last week's Asian Indoor Games in which he took home the silver medal.

"And when I struck four times and rolled another double, I knew I had the match and the title," added the champion, who won 40 million Korean won (approx. US$36,000) as top prize.

Jae Hoon had earlier earned a crack at the title after eliminating third-seed, Sean Rash of USA and fellow compatriot and fourth-seed, Kim Tae Young, 227-186-169 in the first TV shootout match.

The runner-up settled for 20 million Korean won. Rash, who retained third position, earned 10 million won while Tae Young received 7 million won.

In the women's division, top seed Kang Soo Jin of Pyeong Taek City took top honours when after she edged challenger and third-seed, Kang Hyun Jin, 226-214 in another all-Korean title match.

Despite encountering a split in her opening frame against Hyun Jin, Soo Jin bounced back with five strikes-in-a-row while her opponent kept pace with three strikes-in-a-row of her own. Both contenders made no mistakes marking their frames then on.

Hyun Jin needed a strike in the ninth frame to have any chance of snatching the victory but left a stubborn pin 10 in which she spared. All Soo Jin needed was to mark her tenth frame and she answered with a strike to seal the win.

"This is my first-ever open tournament title and I'm so delighted," said the 23-year-old champion, who was the star of the 2011 Asian Youth Championships in Cairo, Egypt in which she won 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal for Korea.

Runner-up Hyun Jin ousted second-seed and ex-national, Jeon Eun Hee of Seoul Metropolitan City team, 224-203 to face the top seed. Soo Jin won 10 million Korean won for her effort while Hyun Jin and Eun Hee took home 5 million and 3 million won respectively.

A total of 100 Men's Open, 99 Women's Open and 60 Seniors competed in the week long third edition of the Deajeon International Open and the eighth stop of the PBA-World Bowling Tour which is a major PBA-WBT with prizes well over 215 million won.

Mr Kim Eun Sik, President of the Korean Professional Bowling Association and Mr Yum Hong Chul, Mayor of Daejeon Metroplitan City gave away the prizes and bouquets to the winners.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

12th July, Daejeon, Korea: Overnight leader of Squad A, Kim Jun Yung sealed top spot for the Men's Open TV finals of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament after ending Round 2 finals comfortably in the lead.

Second perfect gamer of yesterday's Round 1 finals, Kim Kyung Min got off the blocks with a cracking 268 to take over the lead as Jun Yung posted only 223. But the national bowler bounced back with 248 in the second to regain the lead.

The leader stretched his lead to 89 pins with a 259 in the 11th game while Kyung Min continued to slide down the field and PBA pro, Tommy Jones made his bid to move up to second.

Jones' 258 in the 12th game saw Jun Yung's lead reduced to 44 pins but pulled away again after the 13th game to 114 pins when the American suffered a costly 148. The leader went on to end the round with 1838 for a 16-game total of 3728 to seal top spot for the TV finals.

First perfect gamer of the final Round 1, Soh Sang Cheon finished strongly to take second spot with 3548 while a second Korean national bowler, Shin Seung Hyeon clinched third spot with 3535.

Jones managed to finsish only in fourth position with 3520 while KPBA's Jeong Tae Hwa rounded out the top 5 with 3519.

Jun Yung topped the overall combined standings, 34 pins ahead of Squad B leader, Kim Jae Hoon in second with 3692. American pro, Sean Rash took third spot with 3680 whie Kim Tae Young, who was third in the earlier squad claimed the fourth and last final spot with 3629.

Overnight Squad A leader, Seo Jeong Hwan missed the cut by 53 pins in fifth ahead of Lee Ik Kyu of Incheon Transit sixth and Soh Sang Cheon sevnth. Shin, Jones and Jeong completed the top 10.

Jae Hoon, Rash and Tae Young will meet in the first shooutout match and the winner will challenge top seed, Jun Yung in the single title match to decide the champion. The TV finals will commence at 2.00pm local time and will be air over SBS-ESPN channel.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

12th July, Daejeon, Korea: Ex-national, Kim Jae Hoon of Korea secured a spot in the Men's Open TV Shootout finals after taking over the lead of Squad B at the end of 2103 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament second round.

Jae Hoon, who was fourth in the first round and 32 pins off leader Seo Jeong Hwan, got off to a splendid start in the ninth game with 261 to move ahead of the overnight leader by 24 pins.

Two back-to-back 246s saw 2011 Thailand Open champion and another ex-national, Lee Ik Kyu surging into the front as Jae Hoon was content to trail his team-mate from Incheon Transit Corporation.

Jae Hoon regained the lead with a superb 258 in the 12th game while Lee suffered a poor game of 143 to slip away quickly. A third ex-national, Kim Tae Young and Seo shared second spot, just 2 pins behind.

The leader continued with his blistering pace to register 254, 236 and 214 in his next three games as Tae Young stayed close behind. PBA pro, Sean Rash had a string of big games to move up to second and was just 13 pins going into the 16th and final game.

Jae Hoon hung on with 227 in his last game to end the round with 1868 for a 16-game total of 3692 and the American could not overhaul him with 228 to settle for second with 3680, 12 pins adrift.

Rash, however registered the highest 8-game series in the second round with 1910. Kim Tae Young took third in the squad with 3629 and will be hoping that others in Squad A faultered for him to have a chance to make the top 4 TV finals.

Seo Jeong Hwan ended in a disappointing fourth on 3576 especially after having led in the first round late last night. Lee Ik Kyu rounded out the top 5 with 3555.

Based on average, both Tae Hoon and Rash is behind the top 2 from the other squad. Kim Jun Yung and Kim Kyung Min averaged 236 and 231 respectively while Jae Hoon and Rash averaged 230.75 and 230.0.

The cut off mark for the top 4 TV finals spots is now held by Rash with 480 over. Squad A will bowl their second round of 8 games and the top 4 in the combined standings will advance to the TV finals schedule for tomorrow at 3.00pm local time.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

12th July, Daejeon, Korea: Koreans dominated the Women's Open Masters finals of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament by occupying the top 5 spots on Friday with Kang Soo Jin ending as top seed for the TV finals

Korean national team member and last year's TV finalist, Kang Hyun Jin blitzed the lanes at Worldcup Bowling Center with with more than six women posting scores above the 250-mark.

Hyun Jin cracking start of 277 gave her a lead of 13 pins over Seou Metropolitan City's Ka Yun Mi in second with 269 followed by 2012 DHC-IBC champion and top overseas qualifier, Shayna Ng third with 256.

Kang's lead lasted only one game as Ng took over the running for the next two games with Ka trailing in second and Hyun Jin slipping down to third.

From nowhere came Pyeong Tak's Kang Soo Jin, who surged into the lead after posting 182, 256, 196 and 257 while Hyun Jin bounced back to move ahead of the Singaporean.

Soo Jin, who won 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 2011 Asian Youth Championships in Cairo, Egypt, continued her relentless pace reeling in good games of 247, 225, 255, 205 and 213 to end the finals with 2036, 94 pins comfortably ahead.

Hyun Jin and ex-national Lee Su Jeong traded second spot before a second ex-national, Jeon Eun Hee stormed home to snatch second spot with 1942.

Hyun Jin ended with 179 to hang on to third and last TV finals spot with 1930 while Soo Jin's team-mate, Kim Hui Bin missed the cut with a disasterous 167 in her final game to finish fourth with 1912, 18 pins from the cut.

Lee finished fifth with 1893, 37 pins from the cut while Ng took sixth position with 1892, 1 in further away. Jeon Gwi Ae of Daejeon Metropolitan City team, Son Yun Hee and Lee Na Rae competed the top 10.

Second-seed Jeon will meet Hyun Jin in the first TV match and the winner will earn a crack at the title against top seed, Soo Jin. The Women's Open top prize is 10 million Korean won (approx. US$8,800).

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

11th July, Daejeon, Korea: Korean pro, Seo Jeong Hwan of Team Perfect took the second squad of the Men's Open Round 1 finals at the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament to finish second overall late Thursday evening.

Korean top national bowler and multiple Asian Games gold medalist, Choi Bok Eum got off to a cracking start with a 268 opener but had to content with sharing the lead with debutant, Kim Bolleby of Sweden.

But Seo immediately took over the running after a big game of 264 following his 254 opener to move ahead of Bolleby in second 14 pins adrift as Choi slipped down on a 201 second game.

The leader kept a steady pace of 256, 230, 246 and 219 in his next four games before stumbling momentarily with 171 in the seventh game. Yet Seo was able to hold on to the lead with Choi bouncing back to move up to second.

Seo ended with 219 to take the squad with 1858, 22 pins ahead of another Korean national bowler and 2012 Asian Championships Masters gold medalist, Lim Dong Song finishing strongly to snatch second spot with 1834.

Choi finished third with 1830, just 4 pins shy of his team-mate. Ex-national Kim Jae Hoon earned forth place with his 1824 effort while local top qualifier, Lee Ik Kyu rounded the top 5 with 1811.

2013 PBA-WBT Kuwait Open champion, Sean Rash of USA took sixth position followed by Park Hee Jeong of Korea and Suzuki Motoshi of JPBA in seventh and eighth positions. Early leader, Bolleby ended in ninth and Kim Tae Young tenth.

Seo's superb effort fell short by 32 pins to topple Squad A leader, Kim Jun Yung of Korean national team but went ahead of prefect gamer, Kim Kyung Min for second in the overall standings.

Lim, who finished second to Seo, took fourth sport setting the cut mark for the shootout TV finals. Positions from fifth to tenth were between 4 to 46 pins away and will have every chance to make the cut.

The 45 women qualifiers will contest just one round of the 9-game finals and the top 3 will advance to the TV finals. The men will resume with their second block of 8 games tomorrow.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

11th July, Daejeon, Korea: 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games two silver medalist, Kim Jun Yung of Korea National team topped the opening squad of the Men's Round 1 finals at the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament on Thursday.

Ex-national, Soh Sang Cheon rolled the tournament's sixth and the final round's first 300 in his opening game to lead two-time DHC-IBC champion, Tommy Jones of USA by 21 pins after the American pro registered a big game of 279.

Soh kept his lead following the perfect start with 230, 233 and 245 as a second PBA pro, Josh Blanchard moved into second but up to the halfway mark when Jones fought back to take the second spot away from Blanchard.

But a low game of 176 from the Korean leader allowed Jones to take over the running and opening up a gap of 27 pins while his fellow compatriot, Blanchard kept in close company in third a further 20 pins away.

Kim Jun Yung meanwhile finished the strongest amongst the leading trio with 260, 278, 246 and 246 in his second half to snatch the lead with 1888, averaging an impressive 236.

Kim Kyung Min of Incheon Transit Corporation fired the second 300 in the finals to leapfrog Jones for second position with 1848, 40 pins behind. Jones and Blanchard settled for third and fourth with 1802 and 1796.

Early pace-setter, Soh slipped down to round out the top 5 with 1788. 2006 Asian Games Masters gold medalist and a very successfu Korean pro, Jo Nam Yi did well to finish sixth with 1772.

Three additional Korean national team members headed by 2009 AMF World Cup champion, Choi Yong Kyu tieing with Park Jong Woo in seventh with 1757. Shin Seong Hyeon took ninth with 1758 and Lee Myung Hoon completing the top 10 with 1754.

Top qualifier, Mika Koivniemi of Finland managed only 22nd position with 1684, 204 pins adrift the leader while defending champion, Hong Hae Sol struggled big time finish 51st out of 60 players in this squad.

The second squad of another 60 players will take to the lanes for their first round of 8 games at 7.30pm local time and the combined scores will give a good indication of the top 5 cut off mark.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

11th July, Daejeon, Korea: Fifth-seed, Han Hae Riong came from behind to win the Senior Masters title of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament defeating top seed, Park Yong Sik in the final match.

Han, 66 from Seoul had got off the mark with a double strike in the first two frames but Park responded with a double strike of his own in the second and third frames.

A split in the fifth frame saw the challenger falling behind Park by 13 pins and just when Park too encountered a 4-10 split in the seventh frame, Han tought he had level the match.

Park successfully converted the split but to no avail as Han went on a strikefest reeling in six consecutive strikes to seal the match and take the title, 247-211 with Han adding a 11 pin handicap while Park received 7 pins..

The champion had earlier ousted second-seed, Bae Han Ok, 197-188 in the second match to meet the top seed for the title. Han sailed past third-seed, Jeong Yoang Seo and fourth-seed, Jo Han Son, 218-167-187 to advance to the second match.

Han won 300,000 Korean won (approx. US$2,650) as champion while Park settled for 150,000 won. Bae, earned 120,000 won for dropping to third and Jeong and Jo took home 100,000 and 90,000 won respectively.

Mr Park Jang Hae, Vice President of Daejeon Bowling Association and co-organizing Chairman gave away the trophies to the top 3 winners.

The Men's Open Round 1 finals of 8 games will be contested later this afternoon divided into two squads, first squad at 3.00pm and second squad at 7.20pm local time.

The men will resume with their second round of another 8 games after the Women's Open Masters 9-game finals has been bowled tomorrow morning.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

9th July, Daejeon, Korea: American pro, Sean Rash took top spot in the Men's Open Masters overseas pool of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Bowling Tournament on the final day of qualifying at the Worldcup Bowling Center.

Rash, 30 of Montgomery, Il., was in sixth position after making three attempts immediately on arrival at Daejeon, improved his lowest 3-games series of 574 to 664 at the 2.00pm squad to take his 9-game tally to 2163.

The 2012 PBA Player of the Year, who won his first PBA-WBT title back in March in Kuwait, led overnight leader and fellow-pro, Mika Koivuniemi by 38 pins.

But in the following 4.00pm squad, the current World Bowling Tour ranking leader Koivuniemi went one up with an improved third series of 683 to regain top spot with 2187.

Indian national bowler, Akaash Ashok remained in third position with 2074 while debutant Syimir Abdul Razak of Malaysia and JPBA's Suzuki Motoshi rounded out the top 5 with 2048 and 2033 respectively.

Other PBA bowlers in the tournament were Tom Smallwood, who got the job done with 2008 to take up seventh position, Josh Blanchard in tenth with 1971, two-time IBC champion, Tommy Jones 16th with 1940 and Scott Newell in 20th with 1923.

There were no changes atop the local pool with ex-national and 2011 Thailand Open champion, Lee Ik Kyu of Incheon Transit team remaining in the lead with 2223 ahead of Kim Young Pyo and Park Kyung Shin of KPBA in second and third with 2199 and 2168 respectively.

As of press time, the cut at 59th position in the mixed pool went to KPBA Lee Jong Tae, who tied with another KOrean pro, Park Sang Yong on 1970.

Meanwhile, Singapore women made their presence felt as Shayna Ng and Jazreel Tan occupied the top two spots in the Women's Open Masters overseas pool. Ng took the lead yesterday with 2029 while Tan improved to finish second with 1933.

4th AIMAG Team silver medalist, Zatil Iman of Malaysia took up fourth position with 1875 followed by Chien Hsiu Lan of Chinese Taipei in fourth with 1846 and Dayang Khairuniza of Malaysia completing the top 5 with 1842.

Three Taiwanese, Huang Chiung Yao, Pan Yu Fen and Wang Ya Ting took up the next three positions ahead of a third Malaysian, Hee Kar Yen in ninth and Tsai Hsin Yi making up the top 10 overseas qualifiers.

Seoul Metropolitan City's Ka Yun Mi, who shared the lead of the local pool with team-mate, Kim Ga Ram improved by 11 pins to firm up her pole position with 2116 ahead of Kim.

4th AIMAG silver and two bronze medalist, Son Yun Hee of Korea national team finished third with 2094. 2012 Singapore Open champion, Jung Da Wun headed the mixed pool with 2011 and the current cut 18th positions are shared by Kim Su In and Lee Su Jeong on 1985.

Qualifying will end late this evening and official practice sessions will be held tomorrow from 11.00am for the benifit of local players who have qualified last week and not having a chance to bowl this past three days of qualifying reserved for the overseas competitors.

An official opening ceremony followed by a welcome reception will be held at Hotel Riviera. Senior Masters finals will be contested on July 11 followed by the first round of 8-games finals for the men.

Finals for women and a second round of 8 games for the men will be contested on July 12. The top 3 women and top 4 men will advance to the TV Shootout finals scheduled for July 13.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

8th July, Daejeon, Korea: PBA pro and current World Bowling Tour ranked No. 1, Mika Koivuniemi of USA rolled the fourth perfect game of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament en-route to taking pole position.

Koivuniemi, who arrived late last night to make two attempts, posted 722 and 602. Taking to the lanes at Worldcup Bowling Center this morning, the 46-year-old from Hartland, MI., rolled the tournament's fourth perfect game for a 782 series taking his 9-game tally to 2106.

The Finn subsequently managed to improve his lowest series of 602 to just 620 in his following squad to take his new total to 2124 for pole position in the overseas qualifying pool.

Akaash Ashok Kumar of India, who was at the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Games last week, won himself a Hammer bowling ball by scoring the highest series in the first squad this morning with 742.

His new total of 2067 earned him second in the table. Chinese Taipei's Huang Teng Wei did well to take up third spot with 1998. Current cut in 20th position is held by Huang's team-mate, Chen Kuan Lun with 1645.

There were changes atop the local pool with ex-international, Lee Ik Kyu of Korea retaining top spot with 2223 followed by Kim Young Pyo and Park Kyung Shin of KPBA second and third with 2199 and 2168 respectively.

Jeong Tae Hwa of KPBA and former member of the PBA Tour headed the mixed pool with 2031 while the cut at the bottom of this pool went to Lee Chi Song of Korea with 1955.

Meanwhile, 2012 World Youth Team bronze medalist, Kim Ga Ram of Guk Seong City registered the highest 3-game series of the tournament with her stunning 803 at the 3.00pm squad.

The 20-year-old started off with 269 and 235 before almost rolling the fifth 300 when she knocked down 299 in her final game. Her 803 series allowed her to leapfrog out of 30th position to share the lead with Ka Yun Mi on 2105 in the women's division.

Kim Ho Jeong of KPBA dropped to third with 2059 while the current cut in 15th position went to Korean national team member, Baek Seung Ja on 1999.

2012 AMF World Cup and 2013 IBC champion, Shayna Ng took over the lead of the overseas pool with 1960 after a superb best series of 708. 4th Asian Indoor Games Team gold medalist, Huang Chiung Yao finished a distant second with 1808.

4th Asian Indoor Games Team silver medalist, Zatil Iman and Dayang Khairuniza of Malaysia took third and fourth positions with 1798 and 1790 while Huang's team-mate, Tsai Hsin Yi rounded out the top 5 with 1780.

Current cut for the women's division stood at 1958 and is held by Kim Yeong Suk of Korea. Qualifying will end tomorrow and the top 120 men and top 45 women will contest the finals on July 10 and 11.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.

8th July, Daejeon, Korea: Ex-national Lee Ik Kyu and Seoul Metropolitan CIty team member, Ka Yun Mi set a higher Men's and Women's Open qualifying benchmark of the 2013 It's Daejeon International Bowling Tournament underway at Worldcup Bowling Center.

Lee, who won the 2011 Thailand International Open title when he was with the Korean national team, registered three 3-games series of 793, 716 and 714 for a 2223 total, just one pin higher than last year's top local qualifier.

Kim Young Pyo of Korea took second spot in the local pool with 2199 while Park Kyung Shin of KPBA finished third with 2168 ahead of Lee Wan Hee and Choi Suk Byung rounding out the top 5 with 2167 nd 2165 respectively.

The cut for the local pool at 40th position has already surpassed the mark set last year at 1975. Kim Yun Mun totaled 2026 or 228 over.

While the Korean national team members, Team Malaysia and a Thai arrived after their Asian Indoor Games, the early overseas competitors were India's Akaash Ashok who totaled 1955.

Suzuki Motoshi of JPBA finished second with 1923 followed by Dhruv Sarda of India with 1866. Jin Hyo Sung of Korea topped the mixed pool with 2026, 78 pins higher than last year's score.

The current cut at 59th position is held by Kim Gwang Su of KPBA with 1915 or 115 pins over. Last year's cut stood at 1837. The 60th position is reserved for defending champion, Hong Hae Sol of Korea.

Meanwhile, Ka Yun Mi topped the Women's Open local pool with 2089 from series of 773, 699 and 624. Kim Ho Jeong finished second with 2059 ahead of Cha In Hwa in third with 2048.

There were only 10 slots in last year's local pool but have been extended to 15 which is held by Kang Hye Eun with 1975. The cut for the local pool in tenth was 1942 so it is also higher this year.

Only one overseas women has made at least three attempts and Kim Arisa of JPBA sits atop the leaderboard with 1745. The top qualifier last year was at 1950 while the cut was at 1750 in tenth position.

Current at 19th position for the Women's Open division stood at 1945 held by Lee Su Ji of Korea, 67 pins higher than last year. The 20th position is reserved for defending champion, Esther Cheah of Malaysia.

The top 40 local men, top 20 overseas and top 60 from the mixed pool including defending champion will bowl 16 games over two days and the best 4 will advance to the TV Shootout finals.

The top 15 local women, top 10 overseas and top 20 from the mixed pool including defending champion will bowl 9 games and the best 3 will advance to the TV Shootout fInals.

Qualifying will end on July 9 with the official opening and practice session on July 10. The ROund 1 and 2 finals are set for 11 and 12 and the TV shootout finals on July 13.

The 2013 It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament is the eighth stop in this year's PBA-WBT World Bowling Tour and with prize money well over 215 million Korean won (approx. US$190,000), it has been classified as a Major PBA-WBT tournament.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Daejeon.