21st October, Bangkok: World Bowling Tour ranking leader, Sean Rash of USA won his second international PBA title after defeating top seed and fellow PBA pro, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland twice in the TV finals of the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand.

Rash of Montgomery, Ill., started the first match with a double strike as Koivuniemi could not match the American's stride. Rash doubled again in the fourth and fifth frames to open up a 10 pin lead.

The Finn responded with four strikes-in-a-row to take a 23 pin lead over his challenger but he could not close out the match and the title allowing Rash to strike out to win the first match, 235-225.

In the deciding match, Rash again started off better with three strikes-in-a-row while Koivuniemi, this time round was able to match stride for stride leaving nothing between the two title contenders up to the sixth frame.

Koivuniemi was unable to keep his momentum going while the American struck four times to put the match beyond the Finn. Rash won the match and his second international PBA title, 245-228 to pocket the top prize of 1 million Thai baht (approx. US$32,260).

"When I left the 2-10 in the sixth frame, I thought I was in trouble," said the 31-year-old 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year. "But I just told myself to believe and you never know things could work out.

"Mika and I have many great battles over the last two to three years. I've beaten him a couple of times overseas but I've never beaten him in the States, so that's the next challenge for me.

"Anytime you have a chance, you'd want to take your time. In the second match, we both knew what we had to do due to the transition of the lanes and both of us made some moves to counter it.

"I definitely got some help from my team-mates especially Ryan Ciminelli, asking him on some opinions and a few things with ball motion and transition and making a huge call on a ball change."

The champion, who was seeded second, beat No. 5 seed and winner of the third match, Michael Mak of Hong Kong, 242-219 to face Koivuniemi in the finals. Mak breezed through the third match with a win over Daphne Tan of Singapore, 258-211.

The Asian Indoor Games Singles and Team gold medalist also sailed past No. 4 seed, Mike Fagan of USA and winner of the first match, Phoemphum Yakasem of Thailand, 238-182-169 to advance to the next match.

Phoemphun, who earned a spot in the TV finals as the best Thai finishers outside of the top 7 in Round 4 finals, won the first match beating No. 6 seed, Ryan Ciminelli of USA and Korean pro, Kim Young Kwan, 256-193-211 to progress.

The first runner-up settled for 500,000 Thai baht (approx. US$12,130) while Mak took home 300,000 baht. Daphne earned 200,000 with Fagan, Phoemphun, Kim and Ciminelli earning 100,000, 90,000, 85,000 and 80,000 baht respectively.

80 bowlers took part in the final leg of the 2012-2013 PBA-World Bowling Tour over the past week. Rash extended his lead in the World Bowling Tour ranking to 613 points with this victory.

Koivuniemi finished second with 574 points while Fagan sealed the third spot with 531 points. The top 3 in the rankings qualified for the World Bowling Tour Grand Finals.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

20th October, Bangkok: Two-time TV finalist and American PBA pro, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., topped Round 3 finals of the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand 2013 ahead of 2011 TV finalist, Peerawich Rungchareon of Thailand in second and two Hong Kong nationals sharing third spot.

Malaysia's Alex Liew had a cracking start knocking down a splendid 277 in his opening game to lead newly-crowned East Asian Games Masters gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong in second.

Ryan Ciminelli of USA took over the running with a superb second game of 253 following his first 247 game as Liew slipped behind in second and Peerawich shooting a big game of 277 to take up third spot.

The American PBA pro led for the next two games before handing his lead to Peerawich after stumbling to a 172 in the fifth.

Ciminelli ended the round stronger with 246 to regain top spot with 1378 while the Thai settled for second spot with 1368 and 10 pins adrift despite posting 227 in his sixth and final game.

Two Hong Kong national bowlers, Michael Mak and Wu Siu Hong shared third spot with 1334. Geraldine Ng was Singapore's best performer and the top female bowler in the round finishing fifth with 1291.

Thai youngster, Atittarat Cheng took sixth position with 1281 ahead of two other Singapore women, Cherie Tan and Round 2 leader, New Hui Fen in seventh and eighth positions with 1279 and 1277 respectively.

Two additional Thais, Sithiphol Kunaksorn and Phoemphun Yakasem finished ninth and tenth while Korean PBA and debutant, Kim Young Kwan was 11th. The 12th and last spot went UAE's Hussain Al Suwaidi with 1266.

Early pace-setter, Alex Liew missed the cut by 8 pins on a total of 1258 after two poor efforts in the fifth and sixth games.

Bernice Lim of Singapore, who was second in Round 2 failed to advance finishing 19th while Dominic Barrett of England also failed to progress ending in a lowly 23rd position.

The top 12 will be joined by the 8 seeded qualifiers from the top bracket to contest Round 4 finals over 6 games tomorrow morning. The top 7 plus the top Thai finisher, will advance to the TV Shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

20th October, Bangkok: Singapore women outshone the men in the Round 2 finals of the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand 2013 after New Hui Fen and Bernice Lim finished first and second at DHL Blu-O Paragon on Sunday.

Top qualifier in the third bracket, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE got off the mark with a superb 237 to lead Tevakorn Angngen of Thailand by 5 pins with 2011 PBA-WBT Thailand second runner-up Peerawich Rungcharoen and Singapore's Bernice Lim in close company.

A poor second game from the Emirati allowed Lim to take over the running after she followed up her first game of 222 with 224 as another Thai youngster, Atchariya Cheng moved up into second.

Hussain recovered with a 257 in the third game to regain the lead while Lim slipped down to second, just 4 pins adrift. Newly-crowned East Asian Games Masters gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong followed in third.

Lim shot into the lead again after the fourth game with her compatriot, New Hui Fen moving up into second. But Hui Fen ended the round the stronger to grab pole position with 1341. Lim gave Singapore a onw-two finish with 1328.

Peerawich clinched third spot with 1319 ahead of Wu in fourth with 1267. Hussain and Phomephum Yakasem of Thailand tied fifth spot 1262. Atchariya took seventh position with 1249.

Malaysia's Kang Bo Long, Thailand's Atittarat Cheng and a second Malaysian, Noor Afizal Azizan made up the top 10 to advance into the next round in eighth to tenth positions.

The top 10 will be joined by the 16 qualifiers from the second bracket for another 6 games in Round 3 finals later this evening. The top 12 finishers plus the 8 seeded qualifiers from the top bracket will contest Round 4 finals tomorrow morning.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

19th October, Bangkok: Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games gold medalist, Daphne Tan stunned the field by claiming pole position on the final day of qualifying rounds at the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand 2013 on Saturday.

Daphne, who took up 11th position yesterday with a sensational 3-games of 784 series, improved yet again with another stunning 751 to land herself in top spot of the qualifying standings with 2225.

The Singaporean rolled 279, 257 and 224 for the 784 and 289, 192 and 246 for the 751, all plus 8 pin handicap she received competing against the men. PBA pro, Mike Fagan of USA, who led briefly, settled for second with 2199.

Fagan registered the highest 3-games series of 782 with 266, 277 and 239. Ex-Thai national youth, Phumin Klanbida improved yet again to tie with 2013 World Championships gold medalist, Osku Palermaa of Finland in third with 2174.

Early leader and top Thai national bowler, Yannaphon Larpapharat looked in danger of being knocked out of the top bracket after falling down to seventh position with 2145. Compatriot, Sithiphol Kunaksorn filled up eighth position reserved for the best Thai.

2013 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand will have to contest Round 3 finals after slipping down to ninth position.

East Asian Games Team silver medalist, Michael Tsang of Hong Kong headed the second bracket qualifiers (10 to 24) with 2138 while the cut in 24th position went to Craig Nevatt of New Zealand with 2034.

Thai youth Atittarat Chang headed the third bracket (25 to 38) with 2034 as the cut for the last qualifying spot is occupied by Indonesian, Hengki with 1989 or average of 221.

The two positions, 39 to 40 reserved for Thais went to Surasak Manuwong and Atchariya Cheng. Positions 41 and 42 will be the top 2 scorers of the one-game desperado squad to be held after the last squad late tonight.

18 qualifiers from the third bracket (including two Thais and two from desperado squad) will bowl Round 3 finals over 6 games tomorrow. The top 10 finishers plus the 16 qualifiers from the second bracket will bowl another 6 games in Round 3.

The top 10 plus the 8 seeded qualifiers from the top bracket will bowl the final 6 games in Round 4. The top 7 plus the top Thai finisher will advance to the TV Shootout finals on October 21.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

18th October, Bangkok: PBA Tournament of Champion winner, Sean Rash of United States took over the lead of the qualifying leaderboard of the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand 2013 on Friday at Blu-O Paragon.

Rash, who was 11th position after three squads, notched up an improved series of 746 for a 9-game aggregate of 2156 to move into top spot. The American PBA pro had 711 and 699 in his two other series.

Rash, who has sixth PBA titles to his credit, picked up his first international PBA title after winning the PBA-World Bowling Tour Kuwait Open in March this year. The American will be one of the strong contenders for this year's tournament.

Ex-national youth, Phumin Klanbida, who led briefly dislodging overnight leader and compatriot, Yannaphon Larpapharat, settled for second spot with 2150 while Yannaphon slipped further down to third with 2145.

A third Thai, Sithiphol Kunaksorn finished fourth with 2130 followed by PBA pro, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland improving from 25th position to fifth with 2112. Kim Bolleby of Sweden followed in sixth with 2093.

Three-time Collegiate Bowler of the Year, Jazreel Tan of Singapore is the top female competitor in seventh position with 2085. The top 7 earned two byes into Round 4 finals joined by the top local qualifier, Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand in eighth with 2062.

Badin Lerpiriyasakulkit of Thailand took ninth position to head qualifiers positioned 10 to 24 fro Round 3 finals. Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia, who was in the top bracket briefly, rounded out the top 10 with 2085.

The cut in 24th position with two more days of qualifying left is held by UAE's Hussain Al Suwaidi on 1986 while 2012 Indonesia Open champion, Isaac Russell of Malaysia headed the third bracket with 1976.

Qualifiers positioned 25 to 38 will have to contest the Round 2 finals. Saharat Piyasakinchai of Thailand held the 38th position with 1890. The two slots reserved for Thais were Panuruj Vilailak and Tanaprang Sathean with 1881 and 1833.

A desperado squad will be held to include two additional qualifiers for Round 2 finals making it a total of 18 qualifiers. Qualifying will continue to run through to October 19 and the Round 2 to Round 4 finals will be held from Sunday October 20 to Monday 21.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

17th October, Bangkok: 2012 Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships All Events Gold medalist, Yannaphon Larpapharat stamped his mark in the qualifying rounds of the PBA-World Bowling Tour #14 Thailand 2013 underway at Blu-O Paragon by taking the early lead.

Yannaphon registered three superb series of 719, 714 and 712 for a 9-game aggregate of 2145 to lead the qualifying standings.

Since winning the All Events gold medal at last year's Asian Championships in Hong Kong, the Thai has yet to pick up a title and will be determined to do well on home soil. His compatriot, Sithiphol Kunaksorn gave Thailand a one-two finish by taking up second spot with 2130.

Ex-national youth and last year's The Thailand Masters champion, Phumin Klanbida finished third with 2104 ahead of 2012 Dubai Open champion, Kim Bolleby of Sweden in fourth position with 2093.

PBA pro, Ryan Ciminelli of USA took fifth position with 2080 ahead of the best female, Jazreel Tan of Singapore in sixth with 2057. Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit of Thailand tounded out the top 7 with 2051.

2011 PBA-WBT Thailand second runner-up, Peerawich Rungcharoen of Thailand earned the top local qualifier spot with 2037 joining the top 7 qualifiers for Round 4 finals while Tevakorn Angngen of Thailand finished ninth with 2018 for Round 3 finals.

Qualifiers from positions 10 to 24 would advance into Round 2 finals which is currently headed by 4th Asian Indoor Games Masters gold medalist, Daphne Tan of Singapore. Sivakorn Kritslunon is the cut in 24th with 1931.

Qualifiers from positions 25 to 38 together with the two spots, 39 and 40 reserved for Thais and the two spots, 41 and 42 from the desperado squad will qualify for Round 2 finals.

Round 2 finalists will bowl 6 games on October 20 and the top 10 finishers will be joined by 16 qualifiers positions 9 to 24 for another 6 games in Round 3 finals. The top 12 finishers plus the top 8 seeded qualifiers will 6 more games in Round 4 finals on October 21.

The top 7 finishers together with the top local will advance to the Stepladder TV Shootout finals. The champion stand to win the top prize of 1 million Thai Baht (approx. US$32,360) with the first runner-up earning 500,000 Baht and 300,000 Baht for the second runner-up.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.