15th November, Jakarta: Asian Championship Masters gold medalist, Adrian Ang of Malaysia captured the inaugural 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship Men's Open Masters crown on Saturday evening.

Adrian Ang, who was seventh in the first block on Friday, scorched the lanes at Ancol Bowling Centre to advance into the stepladder finals as topseed after a scintilating second block.

The Asian Championship Gold medalist shot 1679 in today's eight-games block to amassed a total of 3328 to top the field ahead of Indonesia's strongest challenger, Ryan Lalisang and Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong third.

In the title match against challenger, Lalisang, the 20-year-old was forced into the sudden-death deciding second game after losing to the Indonesian, 204-213. Determined to not come back empty handed, Ang quickly doubled up in the second and third frames to take a slight lead.

Ang strung together four consecutive strikes from frame seven after his opponent opened two frames. The Malaysian sealed the victory, 213-167 capping his first international open title since winning at the Asian Championship in July.

"It wasn't a big loss in the first game and I knew that I can come back in the second game. I'm glad I was able to get the lucky break late in the game," said the delighted champion. "I always put in my best effort in all the competitions that I compete in and I'm glad it turn out OK.

Lalisang had earlier ousted third-seed, Wu Siu Hong and winner of the first stepladder match, Matthew Cole, 219-170-198 to face Ang. Cole, who was seeded fifth, beat fourth-seed, Sithiphol Kunaksorn of Thailand and Filipino, Biboy Rivera, 211-151-205 in the first match.

In the earlier second block, three-time winner in Jakarta, Alex Liew the going tougher this time round and only managed to finish ninth while Ziad Izlan, who was fourth in the first block, faded off in the second block to finish 11th position. Mohd Noer Said and Kelvin Keong fared poorer in 30th and 31st respectively.

In the women's division, Siti Safiyah Amirah, who was sixth before the final game, shot 180 while Korea's Kim Eun Jung posted 247 to edge the Malaysian out of the top 6 for the stepladder finals.

Siti totaled 3082, 27 pins behind Kim to take seventh spot. Zatil Iman took eighth spot with 3065 while the remaining Malaysian women finalist, Christyn Chew ended up last in the field of 24.

First block leader, Joung Myo-Boub finished as topseed and subsequently defeated challenger, Vanessa Fung of Hong Kong, 191-182 to claim the women's crown. The runnerup had knocked out two Koreans, Park Jin Hee and winner of the first match, Kim Eun Jung, 200-160-158 before going down to the champion.

Kim, who was seeded sixth, beat fourth-seed, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines and fifth-seed Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong, 214-191-166 in the first women's stepladder match.

Adrian Ang won Rupiah 100 million (approx. RM30,000) for his effort. Joung took home Rupiah 40 million (approx. RM12,000). Detailed scores: Men's O Stepladder and Women's O Stepladder.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

14th November, Jakarta: Muhd Amirul Afif of MSSM, Malaysia lived up to his credential as top qualifier to win the Youth Boy's Under-18 title of the 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship with Mohd Aziem Azemi taking third spot.

Muhd Amirul, who started moderately with a 197 opening game of the eight-game Masters finals, blitzed the lanes at Ancol Bowling Centre on Friday evening with 249, 231, 214, 206, 212, 186 and 203 to win the Boy's Under-18 crown on a total of 1698.

Muhd Amirul's lead, which he took over from the second game, never loked threatened as he cruise home to win by 54 pins. Singapore's Anthony Low Ying Sheng settled for second spot with 1644.

Muhd Amirul's teammate, Mohd Aziem Azemi almost gave Malaysia a 1-2 finish if not for his disasterous final game of 139, whic dropped him to third spot on a total of 1558. MSSM's other youths, Teh Lit Qing, Bong Kihow and Mohd Ozzer Othman finished out of the money in eighth, tenth and 11th respectively.

Meanwhile, in the girl's division, Nor Shahira Abdul Manaf had a chance to take the title but a poor 161 in her final game let her down. Her opponents posted high games to snatch the title from the Malaysian, who managed 1422.

Medan's Jessica Florencia shot a 236 final game to total 1502 for the victory. Priyanka from Bandung, Indonesia posted a higher final game of 256 to clinch second spot with 1424.

MSSM's other girls were Siti Aishajan Hussin finishing fourth and Maisarah Rozali fifth. Top overseas qualifier, Siti Nur Nadia ended up in a disappointing eighth place. Detailed scores: BU18 Masters Finals and GU18 Masters Finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

14th November, Jakarta: National Backup squad member, Zaid Izlan did well in the Men's Open Masters first block finals of the 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship on Friday evening as the best women could only manage a tenth place finish.

Zaid Izlan started off well with a 221 opening game but had to content with two lowly games of 177 and 172 in the second and fourth games. But thanks to a good second half of the eight-games block of 234, 216, 223 and 209 moved the youngster into fourth spot with a total of 1677.

Newly-crowned Men's Grade A champion, Matthew Cole of Bali, Indonesia clinched pole with 1716, just 2 pins ahead of Thailand's Sithihol Kunaksorn in second with 1714. Filipino, Biboy Rivera finished third with 1680.

This year's Inodnesia Open champion, Alex Liew, who has won two previous Indonesian titles at Ancol Bowling Centre, was keeping pace with the leaders in the early stages but faded off to finish ninth with 1605.

Adrian Ang finished much stronger thanks to a final game of 270 to take up seventh position with 1649. The performances of Kelvin Keong and Mohd Noer Said were not up to standard as they duo could only finish 25th and 29th respectively.

The women fared poorer than the men. Siti Safiyah Amirah was Malaysia's best performer but could only finish tenth with 1518 followed by Zatil Iman in 11th place on 1496. Christyn Chew was last in a field of 24.

Korea's Joung Myo-Boub took pole with a total of 1660 followed by two Hong Kong women, current Asian Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han and Vanessa Fung. Chan shot 1603 while Vanessa totaled 1588.

The men and women will resume with Saturday's second block of 8 games during which the top 6 will advance to the stepladder finals. The top 16 Asians men and women will also make the cut for the final leg of the ABF Tour which will be held on Sunday. Detailed scores: Men's O 1stBlk and Women's O 1stBlk.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

13th November, Jakarta: Mohamad Amirul Afif, representing MSSM, finished a creditable second in the Youth Boys Under-23 Masters finals of the 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship on Thursday evening.

In his first international outing, Mohd Amirul of Malaysia amassed a total of 1977 to finish as first runnerup in the 10-game finals, 52 pins behind Indonesian youngster, Jerry R, who scored 2029. Jakarta's Dennis R took third spot with 1950.

Mohd Ozzer Othman, who was leading after the sixth game, did well to take fifth spot with 1919 followed by Mohd Aziem Azemi in eighth with 1890. Two other MSSM youths, Bong Kihow and Teh Lit Qing finished 11th and 15th respectively.

Meanwhile, Indonesia swept the youth titles when World Youth Championship All Events silver medalist, Tannya Roumimper from Bandung clinched the Youth Girl's crown with 1915. Gina Lim of Singapore and Filipina, Krizziah Tabora took second and third spots.

Detailed scores: BU23 Masters Finals and GU23 Masters Finals.

Photo by Terence Yaw.

13th November, Jakarta: All eight Malaysians competing in the on-going 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship have made the Men's and Women's Open Masters finals on the final day of qualifying at Ancol Bowling Centre.

Leading the men's challenge headed by Asian Championship Masters gold medalist, Adrian Ang, who posted 885 to occupy sixth in the overseas pool followed by newly-crowned Indonesia Open champion, Alex Liew in seventh with 881.

Elite squad member, Mohd Noer Said is eighth with 859 ahead of Elite Backup squad member, Zaid Izlan 11th with 855 in the same pool. The final men and backup squad member, Kelvin Keong is second in the mixed pool with 843.

New leader in the overseas pool is Asian Championship two gold medalist, Chester King, who shot 972 pushing down newly-crowned Chinese Taipei Open champion, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong into second spot.

In the women's division, backup squad member, Christyn Chew finally made the cut after being first in the reserves pool last night. Chew posted 833 to move up into sixth in the overseas pool.

Zatil Iman is eighth in the same table with 819 and the final member, Elite squad member, Siti Safiyah Amirah with 815 and occupying first in the mixed pool. Korea's Park Jin Hee maintained her pole position in the overseas pool with 911.

Qualifying will end late this evening and the Masters finals will commence tomorrow (Friday) with the first of two blocks of 8 games. Detailed scores: Men's O Qualifying and Women's O Qualifying.

Photo by Terence Yaw.

12th November, Jakarta: Six Malaysians have so far made the Masters finals of the on-going 1st Ancol Open Bowling Championship on Wednesday at Ancol Bowling Centre.

Asian Championship Masters gold medalist, Adrian Ang was Malaysia's best performer after scoring 885 with lines of 204, 219, 225 and 237 to take up fourth in the overseas pool. Newly-crowned Indonesia Open, Alex Liew finished fifth with 881.

Mohd Noer Said knocked down 859 to take up seventh in the table while Zaid Izlan finished tenth with 855. National backup squad member, Kelvin Keong managed 821 and is currently lying fourth in the mixed pool

Newly-crowned Chinese Taipei Open champion, Wu Siu Hong shot 904 to take pole position followed by Saeed Obaid of UAE and Filipino, Biboy Rivera second and third on 80 and 887 respectively.

In the women's division, Siti Safiyah Amirah was the best Malaysian women scoring 815 to take up sixth in the overseas pool. Zatil Iman occupied eighth position with an effort of 805.

1999 World Championship Trios and Team gold medalist, Park Jin Hee shot the highest four-game series of the tournament to take the lead in the overseas pool. The 33-year-old from Suwon, Korea had lines of 224, 228, 235, and 224.

Meanwhile, Muhd Amirul Afif representing MSSM, topped both the Youth Boys Under-23 and Under-18 categories. The Kuala Lumpur youngster shot 917 in the Under-18 and 848 in the Under-23.

Malaysian youths dominated the qualifying table with Sarawakian Bong Kihow and KL's Mohd Aziem Azemi finishing second and third in the Under-23 table. Bong and Perak's Teh Lit Qing also finished second and third in the Under-18 division.

Qualifying will end tomorrow (Thursday) and the Masters finals will be contested over two blocks of 8 games on Friday and Saturday. The top 6 at the end of the two blocks will advance to the stepladder finals.

The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women will also make the cut for the final leg of this year's ABF Tour which will be held on Sunday, November 16 and a final chance to make the top 16 for the Tournament of Champions scheduled for January next year at Ancol Bowling Centre. Detailed scores: Men's O Qualifying and Women's O Qualifying.

Photo by Terence Yaw.