2nd July, Macau: Thailand's Yannaphon Larpapharat ended his long drought with victory in the Men's Open Masters finals of the Macau China International Open 2011 while Lee Mi Ryun clinched the Women's Open crown on Saturday.

Top seed, Yannaphon Larpapharat needed only one match to beat his challenger and No. 2 seed, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong in the high scoring thriller, 258-228 to end his long drought with an emphatic victory.

Both the title contenders started off the match with three strikes in a row with nothing separating the two until Yannaphon rolled another three strikes from frame 5 while Wu could only alternated a strike between two spares.

After the eight frame, the Thai had opened a slight gap of 20 pins and then ended the match with a flourish by knocking down four-in-a-row for 258. Wu also struck out in his final frame but had to bow to defeat with 228.

"The lane conditions suited me very much and even though there was a lot of lane transition, I was still able to match up to it," said the delighted 28-year-old national bowler, Yannaphon.

"My last victory was back in 2009 and that was in Thailand. I've been trying to win a title outside my country but have finished second or third many times. So naturally I'm very happy."

First runner-up, Wu had earlier edged his team-mate and No. 3 seed, Michael Mak and winner of the first match, Hsieh Chih Liang of Chinese Taipei, 217-216-172 in the second stepladder finals to face Yannaphon.

The Taiwanese also edged Korea National Sports University's Hong Hae Sol and No. 4 seed, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE, 215-214-182 to win the first stepladder match and advance to the second match.

The champion, who won MOP $70,000 (approx. US$9,000) as champion, topped the second round Masters finals with 3525 over 16 games. Wu finished second with 3498 ahead of Michael Mak third with 3477.

Hussain took fourth spot with 3395 followed by Hong Hae Sol and Hsieh Chih Liang fifth and sixth with 3365 and 3351 to advance to the stepladder finals. Wu settled for MOP $30,000 and Mak took home MOP $15,000.

Meanwhile, in the women's division, newly-crowned Women's Graded champion, Lee Mi Ryung forced a second deciding match after she edged team-mate and top seed, Shin Bo Hyun 192-187 in the first match.

Although Shin fought back galantly in the decider, a costly split in the eighth frame proved the deciding factor as Lee rolled five consecutive strikes and another three in the final frame to seal the match and clinch her second title in two days with 245-211.

Lee, who was seeded fifth, defeated fourth seed, Milki Ng of Hong Kong and No. 6 seed, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia, 221-167-203 in the first stepladder match.

Lee ousted two Taiwanese, No. 2 seed, Li Shiau Ping and No. 3 seed, Huang Chiung Yao, 189-179-165 to set up the all-Korean finals.

Shin Bo Hyun had topped the second round finals with 3252 in the morning to advance into the stepladder finals as top seeed. Li and Huang finished second with 3203 and 3196 while Milki Ng, Lee Mi Ryung and Lai Kin Ngoh took fourth to sixth positions.

Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han missed the cut by 8 pins after she failed to spare her final frame to end up in seventh position with 3151. The champion won MOP $40,000 (approx. US$5,000) with Shin and Li taking home MOP $18,000 and MOP $10,000 respectively.

The top 16 men and top 16 women qualified for the ABF Tour Macau leg which will be held at the same bowling center starting tomorrow at 12.00 noon.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

2nd July, Macau: Shin Bo Hyun of Korea National Sports University defied all odds by ending the Women's Open Masters Round 2 finals at the Macau China International Open from an overnight 11th position to advance into the stepladder finals as top seed.

Round 1 leader and the newly-crowned Women's Graded Masters champion, Lee Mi Ryung got the Round 2 finals off the mark with a superb 226 to stretch her lead over Chinese Taipei's Li Shiau Ping to 57 pins.

Mi Ryung then began to struggle as Li Shiau Ping and Hong Kong's Milki Ng were locked together and fighting fiercely and trading for the lead in the next few games while another Korean, Shin Bo Hyun began to make up good grounds.

By the 14th game, Shin took over the running and went on to end the second round with 1711 to add to her first block score of 1541 for a 16-game total 3252 and to advance into the stepladder finals as top seed.

Shiau Ping settled for second with 3203 as her team-mate, Huang Chiung Yao improved from seventh in the first round to third with 3196. Milki hung on to fourth with 3171 ahead of the recovering Mi Ryung in fifth with 3165.

Malaysia's Lai Kin Ngoh edged Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han by 8 pins to squeeze into the stepladder finals in sixth position with 3159. Shuk Han had a chance to overtake the Malaysia but failed to pick up her spare in the tenth frame of her final game.

Milki, Mi Ryung and Kin Ngoh will meet in the first match of the stepladder finals and the winner will advance to the second match against the two Taiwanese, No. 2 seed, Li and No. 3 seed, Huang.

The winner of the second match will face top seed, Shin Bo Hyun in the title match. If the top seed wins the match, she will be declared the champion. If she lose the first match, then a second deciding match will determine the outcome.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

1st July, Macau: Korean National Sports University bowlers swept all top four positions of the Women's Graded Masters finals at Macau China International Open 2011 as China's Zhao Dong Fu denied the Koreans another clean sweep by capturing the men's title.

Women's Open Masters Round 1 leader, Lee Mi Ryung of Korean National Sports University continued where she left off to lead from start to finish in the Women's Graded Masters finals.

Mi Ryung criused to victory with 1684 and a comfortable margin of 144 pins over team-mate, Lee Seung Ree in second with 1540. Jeong Kyeo Wool and Kim Ji Yeon swept third and fourth positions for their university with 1489 and 1456 respectively.

The 23-year-old physical science student had lines of 244, 193, 258, 215, 177, 211 and 195 to win MOP $8,000 (approx. US$1,028). Seung Ree, Kyeo Wool and Ji Yeon took home MOP $4,000, MOP $3,000 and MOP $2,000.

Macau's Yuen Nga Lai, who also bowled in the Open Masters finals earlier, rounded the top 5 to win MOP $1,000.

Meanwhile, the Koreans almost took all the first five positions in the Men's Graded finals when China's Zhao Dong Fu edged last year's champion, Cha In Ho by 2 pins to snatch the title with 1648.

Zhao, who was trailing another Korean, Kim Sun Keun by 7 pins before the final game and Cha was a further 35 pins away, were all locked into a thrilling finale. Zhao had ended first with 215.

Cha was on a roll and needed a nine pin count in his final frame to beat the Chinese but managed only a 6 pin, which he spared and then hit 9 pins in his bonus frame to lose by 2 pins on 1646. Kim faded off with 192 in his last game to settle for third spot with 1632.

Two additional Koreans, Kim Dong Gyun and Kim Sang Pil finished fourth and fifth positions with 1602 and 1595. Zhao won MOP $20,000 (approx. US$2,550) for his effort while Cha and Kim settled for MOP $10,000 and MOP $5,000 respectively.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

1st July, Macau: Korean National Sports University's Lee Mi Ryung snatched the lead of the Women's Open Masters Round 1 finals of the Macau China International Open 2011 in her final game at the COTAI International Bowling Center.

Hong Kong national bowler, Milki Ng had led the field of 29 finalists from the word "Go" after she rolled a superb 233 in her opening game. Chinese Taipei's Wang Ting Wen shot the second highest game of 225 to trail the leader by 18 pins.

Milki continued to set the pace and at one stage had as much as 35 pins cushion over her nearest rival, Li Shiau Ping of Chinese Taipei.

As the leader dropped her pace a little, Li, Macau's Yuen Nga Lai and another Taiwanese, Wang got much closer to Milki and all were 12, 31 and 35 pins adrift going into the final game.

Milki managed only 174 while Li rolled 186 to tie at 1620 but it was the massive game of 279 from Korea's Lee Mi Ryung that allowed her to snatch the lead with 1643 forcing Milki and Li to share second spot.

Lee was in eighth position before her final game. Yuen and Wang ended in fourth and fifth positions with 1613 and 1607 respectively.

The women will resume with their second block of 8 games on Saturday morning at the end of which the top 6 will advance to the stepladder finals. The men will complete their Round 2 later in the afternoon.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

1st July, Macau: Hong Kong national bowlers put in a splendid performance after Wu Siu Hong and Rickle Kam finished one-two in the Men's Open Masters Round 1 finals of the Macau China International Open on Friday.

Korean National Sports University's Kim Ju Young set a cracking pace of 263 in his opening game to take a 30-pin lead over Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong in second as more than half the field of 40 finalists posted above the 200-mark.

The Korean could not hang on to the lead as the pace got hotter. Wu followed his first game of 233 with 214 and 258 to take over the running ahead of his national team-mate, Rickle Kam following closely behind in second, 13 pins adrift.

Wu lost the lead briefly when another Hong Kong national bowler, Michael Mak took over top spot after rolling consistent games of 213, 212, 255 and 221 to lead Wu by 8 pins at the halfway mark.

But Wu recovered from a lowly 188 in the fouth to fire home 249, 245, 244 and 203 to end the first round with 1834, 31 pins from Rickle Kam, who ended with 256 to snatch second spot with 1803.

"Although I had a good start, it was not as easy as it looks," said the 26-year-old Wu, whose last international title was back in 2008 when he won the Chinese Taipei and Guam Open. "I had to constantly make adjustments in every game."

"I hope I'll be able to do the same tomorrow in the second round so that I can make the top 6 stepladder finals and return to my winning ways."

Top qualifier, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand, who tied second with Michael Mak at one stage, finished third with 1799 while Michael Mak slipped down to fourth with 1724. Another Thai, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit shot 226, 236, 254 and 260 in his second half to storm into the top 5 with 1724.

The men will resume with their second block of 8 games on Saturday and the top 6 will advance to the stepladder finals. The women will contest their Round 1 later today while the Men's and Women's Graded finals will be held this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

30th June, Macau: Thai national bowler, Yannaphon Larpapharat regained the lead of the Men's Open Masters qualifying standings of the Macau China Internatinal Open 2011 with a stunning three-game series of 771 to take tally to a whopping 2151.

Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand had snatched the lead with 2095 from his fellow compatriot, Yannaphon Larpapharat which Annop held until Yannaphon took to the lanes for the 5.30pm squad.

Yannaphon downed a stunning 771 three-game series to take his tally to a whopping 2151 and regained the lead on the final day of qualifying. The Thai has seen a return of his old spark after finishing in the stepladder finals in several championships this year but has yet to register a win.

He has also finished in the top 6 in the last two years of the Macau China Open and perhaps a third-time could bring a change of luck for the 28-year-old 2009 Thailand Open champion.

Hong Kong national bowlers are enjoying a good run at this championship with nine of them having made the cut with Michael Tsang leading his team-mates in third spot with 2086. With three more squads left after lane maintenance, the current cut stood at 1908, averaging 212.

Hong Kong national, Chan Shuk Han also regained the lead in the Women's Open division after she improved to 1938 to pip overnight leader, Lee Mi-Ryung of Korean National Sports University, who settled for second with 1936.

Chinese Taipei's Huang Chiung Yao remained in third spot with 1905 followed by her team-mate, Yang Hao Ting in fourth with 1866 and last year's ABF Tour TOC winner, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia completing the top 5 with 1847.

There were no changes in the local pool with Filomena Choi topping the table with 1801 ahead of team-mates and Youth Masters first runner-up, Patricia Hui Tong and Julia Lam second and third.

The top 40 men and top 30 women will bowl two rounds of 8 games each over the next two days. The top 6 men and top 6 women will advance to the stepladder shootout finals to determine this year's champion.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

30th June, Macau: Macau national team member, Lee Tak Man won the Youth Masters title of the Macau China International Open 2011 for the second straight year after snatching victory in his final game on Thursday morning.

Lee Tak Man, who was trailing leader and team-mate, Patricia Hui Tong by 20 pins going into the eighth and final game, rolled a scintilating 247 to snatch victory with 1616. Patricia Hui Tong, who went into the lead after posting a stunning 263 in the sixth game, ended the finals with poor games of 160 and 169.

Fortunately for the 18-year-old, Patricia hung on to second position with 1558, 33 pins ahead of 12-year-old Mustafa Al Mousawi of Kuwait, who finished third with 1525.

Another Kuwaiti youth, Mohammed Khalid, who was third before the last game, managed only 171 to slip down to fourth with 1524, just 1 pin away. Zoe Dias Ma of Macau shot a big 243 final game to finish ahead of three more Kuwaiti youths, Abdulrahman Al Suwaied, Abdulla Ahmed and Mohanad Ibrahim.

Lee won MOP $3,000 (approx. US$385) for emerging as champion while Patricia and Mustafa took home MOP $1,500 (US$192) and MOP $1,000 (approx. US$128) respectively.

Meanwhile, 54-year-old Hong Kong veteran, Danny Fung was a runaway winner of the Senior Masters finals after totaling 1270 scratch. 70-year-old Singaporean, Peter Chua of Yishun finished second with 1238 plus a 12 pin handicap per game.

Local veteran, Lam Cheng Kiu, 62 finished third with 1216 plus a 12 pin handicap. Fung won MOP $3,000 for his effort while Chua and Lam settled for MOP $1,500 and MOP $1,000 respectively.

Six more squads remained for the final day of qualifying today and the top 40 Men's Open and top 30 Women's Open qualifiers will bowl two blocks of 8 games finals over the next two days with the top 6 men and top 6 women advancing to the stepladder shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

29th June, Macau: 2009 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Michael Tsang put in an impressive performance to take up second spot in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the Macau China International Open 2011 at the COTAI International Bowling Centre.

Michael Tsang, who was third in the mixed pool overnight, improved two of his three 3-game series with 721 and 684 to add to his yesterday's best series of 681 for a splendid 2086 aggregate.

His impressive performance moved him up to second in the table, just 9 pins behind leader, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand, who took over the lead yesterday with a stunning 2095 total from 713, 712 and 670 series.

Another Thai, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit also improved his total from 1987 to 2074 and almost gave Thailand a one-two finish but settled for third spot. Two more Hong Kong national bowlers also made their mark in the top 5.

Wu Siu Hong came in fourth with 2067 and Michael Mak completed the top 5 with 2047. Early leader, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and Hong Hae-Sol of the Korean National Sports University team finished sixth and seventh positions.

The lead in the local pool remain unchanged except Jose Machon dislodged his national team-mate, Lee Tak Man into fourth after he improved to 1908 for third position.

The lead in the Women's Open Masters table changed hands again with Korean National Sports University's Lee Mi-Ryung taking over top spot with 1936. Chinese Taipei's Huang Chiung Yao did well to take up second with 1905.

Overnight leader, Chan Shuk Han slipped down to third despite improving her total slightly to 1901. Malaysia's Lai Kin Ngoh and early leader, Shin Bo-Hyun of Korean National Sports University completed the top 5.

Last year's ABF Tour Macau leg women champion, Patricia Hui Tong looked a good bet to challenge for the women's title this year. The 17-year-old totaled 1756 to finish behind national team-mate, Filomena Choi, who led with 1801.

Julia Lam also made a slight improvement but stayed third with 1750. Chan Weng Sum, Fiona Ku, Yuen Nga Lai and Un Im Cheng made up the top 7 local women qualifiers.

Qualifying will end tomorroe, Thursday June 30 and the Open Masters finals will be staged over two blocks of 8 games on July 1 and 2. The Youth Masters finals will be held tomorrow morning at 9.00am.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.

28th June, Macau: Thailand's Annop Arromsaranon surged into the lead of the Men's Open Masters qualifying standings of the Macau China International Open 2011 with a stunning 2095 on Tuesday.

Thai bowlers stole the limelight as the qualifying rounds heated up at the COTAI International Bowling Center when Yannaphon Larpapharat surpassed the 2000-mark with a superb 2008 9-game aggregate only to be pipped by Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong, who totaled 2067 in the morning.

But the day belong to Annop Arrosaranon when he surged into the lead with a stunning 2095 after posting 713, 712 and 670 best of three 3-game series. Wu settled for second as three other bowlers also hit the 2000-mark.

Chinese Taipei's Teng Jiu Pu rolled 688, 677 and 661 to take his tally to 2026 to take up third in the table after overnight leader, Hong Hae Sol improved his total to 2013 as Yannaphon slipped down to fifth.

Two more Thais, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit and ex-national, Surasak Manuwong did well to take up sixth and seventh positions with 1987 and 1975 respectively.

There were no changes in the local pool as Choi Io Fai remained in the lead with 2065 ahead of national team-mates, Man Si Kei and Lee Tak Man finishing second and third with 1947 and 1854.

In the Women's Open division, 2009 Hong Kong Open champion, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong took over the lead with 1897 after she rolling 644, 636 and 617. Last year's ABF Tour TOC winner, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia slipped down to second on 1847.

Overnight leader and Asian Championship gold medalist, Shin Bo-Hyun dropped to third despite inmproving her total from 1803 to 1830. Chinese Taipei's Huang Chiung Yao and Malaysia's Tang Joh Six rounded up the top 5 with 1795 and 1758 respectively.

There were also no changes in the local pool as national bowlers, Filomena Choi led team-mates, Patricia Hui Tong and Julia Lam in second and third. Choi totaled 1801 while Hui and Lam amassed 1756 and 1726.

Qualifying will continue till June 30 and the Open Masters finals will be staged over two rounds of 8 games each on July 1 and 2. The top 6 men and top 6 women at the end of the 16-games finals will advance to the stepladder shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

27th June, Macau: The Korean national bowlers made their presence felt as Hong Hae-Sol and Shin Bo-Hyun took over the lead in the Men's Open and Women's Open Masters qualifying table of the Macau China International Open 2011 with ease.

Hong Hae-Sol, who won the Trios silver and team gold medal at last year's Guangzhou Asian Games, rolled a stunning 676 to add to his two other 3-game series of 571 and 560 to move into the lead of the Men's Open Masters overseas pool with 1807.

India's Akaash Ashok Kumar made good progress with 1779 to take up second behind the Korean southpaw while UAE's Hashim Al Hashemi finished third with 1735.

National veteran and leader in the local pool, Choi Io Fai, made a 20-pin improvement to take his 9-game tally to 2065. Choi continued to lead team-mates, Man Si Kei, Lee Tak Man and Jose Machon as the top 4 seeded qualifiers.

Zoe Dias Ma posted the second highest 9-game total of 1928 and finished fifth behind Machon. Newly-crowned Singapore Open champion, Shaker Al Hassan registered the highest 3-game series with 728 in his first and only attempt. The 41-year-old Emirati looked set to make an impact to the leaderboard when he makes more attempts before the finals on June 1.

In the Women's Open division, Asian Championship Team gold medalist, Shin Bo-Hyun also made her presence felt when she stormed into the lead of the overseas pool with 1803. Shin downed 607, 605 and 591 in her three best attempts.

2009 Thailand Open champion, Tang Joh Six slipped to second with 1758 while last year's ABF Tour TOC winner, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia finished third with 1739.

National bowler, Filomena Choi remained in the lead of the local pool with a total of 1801 followed by Patricia Hui Tong in second with 1756 and Julia Lam third with 1726. Chan Weng Sum and Fiona Ku rounded up the top 5 in the local pool with 1876 and 1844 respectively.

Fourty Men's Open Masters qualifiers and thirty Women's Open Masters qualifiers will contest two rounds of 8 games each on Friday June 1 and Saturday June 2. The top 6 men and top 6 women will advance to the stepladder shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

26th June, Macau: National bowlers set the early qualifying pace of the Macau China International Open 2011 underway at Cotai International Bowling Center with Choi Io Fai and Filomena Choi topping the Men's and Women's Open Masters standings.

Choi Io Fai, a veteran in the national team, posted 706, 674 and 665 in his three best 3-game series for a 9-game aggregate of 2045 to lead the Men's Open Masters qualifying table. His team-mates, Man Si Kei, Lee Tak Man and Jose Machon occupied the remaining three seeded spots reserved for national bowlers.

Man amassed 1947 for second, Lee downed 1854 for third and Machon totaled 1831 for fourth position. Zoe Dias Ma topped the local pool with 1928 after posting 667, 644 and 617 in his three best series.

Thomas Lau of Hong Kong led the overseas pool with 1728 from 641, 549 and 538 followed by Danny Kwok in second with 1711 and Raymond Lee third with 1662. The national teams of India and Korea are making their attempts and have so far done only two series.

Meanwhile, another veteran national team member, Filomena Choi topped the seeded national women table with 1801 after she rolled 605, 603 and 593. Last year's ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Patricia Hui Tong finished second with 1756.

Chan Weng Sum led the local pool with a superb 1876 after rolling consistent scores of 644, 630 and 602. Fiona Ku came in second with 1844 ahead of Un Im Cheng in a distant third with 1665.

The early leader in the overseas pool was 2009 Thailand Open champion, Tang Joh Six of Malaysia with a total of 1749. Asian Championship Team gold medalist, Shin Bo-Hyun took second spot with 1212 but has only registered two attempts.

Another 600-series would put her in the lead when the Korean makes her third attempt. 2010 ABF Tour TOC winner, Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia finished third with 1104, also with two attempts only.

Qualifying continues through to Thursday, June 30 (June 29 for the Youth and Senior divisions). The top 10 from the local, top 11 from the overseas and top 19 from the mixed pool will qualify for the Men's Open Masters Round 1 finals on July 1 and Round 2 on July 2.

The top 7 from the local pool, top 9 from the overseas pool and top 14 from the mixed pool will contest the Women's Open Masters Round 1 finals on July 1 and Round 2 on July 2. The top 6 at the end of the two rounds (16 games) will advance to the stepladder shoutout finals.

The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women will also qualify for the ABF Tour Macau leg which will be staged at the same bowling centre on July 3.

Photos by Terence Yaw.