9th September, P.Jaya: Kedah youths, Tengku Emanina Laily and Ahmad Muaz B Mohd Fishol and Pyramid Youth's Syimir Abdul Razak and Hee Kar Yen stole the limelight at the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit GP Finals 2007 as they emerged champions.

Second-seed and challenger, Tengku Emanina Laily Bt Tengku Zahri had to knock down a double strike in the 10th frame of the sudden-death decider to clinch the title. And that was exactly what she did to edge top-seed, Jacqueline Sijore of Sarawak, 188-184.

Tengku Emanina had taken the first match, 214-201 against the Jacqueline, forcing the Sarawakian to the second deciding finale. Emanina, a national youth member, earned a crack at the title after she edged Penang's Fatin Syazliana Bt Adi Nasution by a single pin in the first match of the Girl's Open stapladder finals.

The champion knocked out Fatin and third-seed, Nor Amilia Bt Mohd Noor, 204-203-181. "I was so nervous coming into the last frame knowing I needed a double strike in the 10th frame," said the relieved champion.

"After my first strike, I gained confidence that allow me to knock down the winning second strike. I'm so relieved as this is my first major title. Winning the GP Finals beating Jacquline who is more experience than me is great.

Top-seed, Ahmad Muaz B Mohd Fishol gave Kedah a double celebration as he defeated the GP Ranked No. 1, Chan Wei Siang of Johor in the sudden-death decider, 193-187 to clinch the Boy's Under-16 grand prix title.

Ahmad Muaz lost the first match to Chan, 190-225 but regained his composure to edge the Johorean in the second crucial match. Chan settled for second after ousting third-seed, Teh Lit Qing of Perak and Yusof Abd Raof of Kuala Lumpur, 234-177-173 in the first match.

Top ranked, Hee Kar Yen of Pyramid Youth undoubtedly was the toast of this year's circuit having ended a fanstatic year with victory in the Girl's Under-16 division. Already a winner of four legs, the top-seed had to work hard to earn the title.

The champion lost the first match to challenger, Nazira Nasir of Pahang, 164-196 in the first stepladder match but came back strongly to take the crucial match, 204-195 for a well-deserved win. Nazira settled for second despite knocking out second-seed, Nor Diana Husin of Kuala Lumpur and Tengku Aimi Laily of Kedah in a closely-fought first match, 243-216-224.

Pyramid Youth team had plenty to celebrate as top-seed, Syimir Abdul Razak edged challenger, Aris Ardila B Santosoh of Sarawak, 228-222 in the Boy's Open finals. Syimir, a Form 3 student of SMK Seafield USJ, too had to bring home a double strike in the last frame to overcome the Sarawakian to clinch the title.

"I can't believe I did it!" exclaimed the delighted Syimir. "To me, Aris is the strongest contender in the Boys Open division and I was able to beat him when it mattered most," added Syimir, who will be sitting for his PMR exams this year.

On hand to give away the prizes were Col. Wong Ah Jit, director of corporate affairs, ISN and Allan Lee, manager of Youth Development for Sukan Teras. This year Junior Circuit ran eight legs in Peninsular Malaysia and two legs in East Malaysia.

Finalists had earned ranking points over the legs contested throughout the year culminating in the Grand Priz finals which concluded Sunday afternoon at Pyramid Mega Lanes.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.

8th September, P.Jaya: Pyramid Youths shone in Round 1 of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit GP Finals as last leg champion, Syimir Abdul Razak and Hee Kar Yen led the Boy's Open and Girl's Under-16 division at Pyramid Mega Lanes.

Apart from a low game of 163 in the ninth game of the 12-games first round, the 16-year-old posted the remaining 11 games above the 200-mark registering 268 as his highest game in game 8. Syimir set the lanes on fire with lines of 225, 211, 258, 201, 257, 224, 257, 224, 257, 268, 163, 233, 248 and 200 for an incredible total of 2745.

Finishing second and 164 pins adrift came Sarawak's Bong Kihow, who knocked down 2581 followed by GP Ranked No. 1, Muhammad Fazrin B Khairul Faizi third with 2528. Last year's GP Finals champion, Noor Afizal Azizan of Negeri Sembilan finished fourth with 2524.

The top 8 making the cut for tomorrow's round-robin matchplay semifinals from fifth to eighth positions were national youths, Tengku Afnan B Tengku Zahri of Kedah (2511), Fahmi Bahri B Sulaiman of Johor (2509), Johnathan Chan of Pahang (2491) and Aris Ardila Santosoh of Sarawak (2482).

Perak's Teh Lit Qing upstaged favourite, Chan Wei Siang of Johor to grab the lead in the Boy's Under-16 division. The Perak youth, who only managed one victory this year, posted 2454, just 1 pin ahead of four times champion, Chan in second.

Yusof Abdul Raof of Kuala Lumpur took third spot with 2408, 3 pins ahead of Ahmad Muaz B Mohd Fishol of Kedah in fourth. Mohd Faris B Mokhtazan of Johor made the top 8 cut in eighth with 2359 thanks to a higher final game of 212. Mohd Faris had tied in eighth position with Mohd Qusyairy Amir of Kuala Lumpur in the 12 game roll-off.

In the Girl's Open division, 2005 National youth champion, Nor Amilia Bt Mohd Noor of Selangor led the field with a total of 2505 and averaging an impressive 208.75. This year's Malaysian Open Youth Girls champion, Jacqueline Sijore of Sarawak took second spot with 2486, just 19 pins adrift.

Kedah's Tengku Emanina Laily Bt Tengku Zahri did well to finish third with 2452, 20 pins ahead of Indonesia Open youth champion, Dayang Khairuniza Bt Dhiyana of Sarawak in fourth with 2432. Twice winner and national youth, Nazrinnah Bt Mohd Kamil was fifth with 2393.

Penang's Fatin Syazliana Bte Adi Nasution (6th-2348), Tenku Haifaa Bt Tunku Osman of Pahang (7th-2312) and GP Ranked No. 1, Syaidatul Afifah Bt Badrul Hamidi squeezing into the next round in eighth with 2304.

GP Ranked No. 1 in the Girl's Under-16, Hee Kar Yen gave Pyramid Youth team plenty to celebrate as she led the field with 2328. Already winner of four legs this season, the SMK Assunta Form 4 pupil will be vying for the coveted GP Finals title to round off a great year.

Tengku Aimi Laily of Kedah took second spot, 95 pins adrift the leader with 2233 while Fatin Hazwani Bt Hassan also of Kedah, finished third with 2229. Nur Diana Hussin of Kuala Lumpur made the cut for the next round in eighth with 2155.

The top 8 from each of the four divisions will move into the round-robin matchplay tomorrow. The top 4 at the end of the semifinals will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine this year's GP Finals champions.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo and Terence Yaw.