29th November, Hong Kong, China: Squad 2 leader and Malaysia's second pair of Muhammad Danial Abu Samah and Mohammad Hafiz Zainuddin remained unchallenged at the end of the Men's Doubles qualifying round of the HKGX 2025 IBF World Championships.

Australian pair of Julian Dinham and Luke Doyle shot the first perfect game in the 7-game Bakers' format en-route to winning the opening squad with 1651. Finns Jarno Lahti and Juhani Tonteri finished second to the Aussies with 1600. The first Swedish pair of Pontus Andersson and Jochim Karlsson Rosen settled for third, just two pins from the Swedes.

The second squad Muhammad Danial and Muhammad Hafiz setting a blistering pace to take over the only after the fifth game but went on to end Squad 2 in the lead with 1699. Romania's Mihal-Alin Dragnia and Mate Balazs-Becsi was equally impressive to finish second with 1660.

France's second pair of Maxime Dunois and Gaetan Nouveroux completed the top 3 with 1582. In the third and final squad, Tomas Kayhko and Nico Oksanen took a late charge to snatch top spot with 1635. Niclas Sorensen and Mathias Ankerdal finished second to the Finns with 1615.

Ondrej Trojek and Lukas Jelink took third spot in the squad with 1582. The Malaysians advanced to the next round in pole when the scores of the three squads were combined. Romania finished second overall and Squad 1 leader, Australia third.

The cut in 24th position went to the third German pair of Dennis Grueheid and Paul Purps with 1512. Chinese Taipei's Chen Keng Hung and Lee Yu Feng missed the cut by a single pin with 1511. The biggest surprise was none of the fancied American pairs made the cut.

Host nation had Ivan Tse Chun Hin and Jovi Ma Ka Yin going through to secure a place in the next round in 18th position with 1530. The top 24 pairs will be divided into four groups of six and they will contest the head-to-head Round 2 Matchplay tomorrow, November 30.

The winner of each group to proceed to the semi-finals medal rounds with the winner of the semi advancing to the championship match. Competition will shift to the Trios event scheduled for December 1.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.