27th August, Bangkok: Reigning Asian Team champion, Malaysia missed a golden opportunity to advance to the top four championship round of the World Men's Championship five-men team despite a record breaking performance.

Malaysian bowlers revelled in their favourite short oil pattern to set a one-game record of 1212 but their effort went to waste after a disasterous final game sending them out of the medal contention.

Daniel Lim (232), Zulmazran Zulkifli (227), Adrian Ang (270), Aaron Kong (257) and Alex Liew (225) broke their 1175 record set in 2006 in Busan in the opening game of the second block.

Malaysia, who started the day in 19th position with 2865, 145 pins off fourth-placed United States, were then beck in the race. They added 1125 in the second game but a below-par 928 on the 'jinx lane' ended their gallant run.

The bowlers, who took the silver in the previous championship in Busan, finished eighth overall on 6130. It was a bleak day for the bowlers and the national coach, Holloway Cheah commended them but felt the bowlers should have done better.

Meanwhile, USA won their second gold medal in a thrilling encounter with topseed, Korea in the title match. Both teams tied at 1084 which forced anchormen, Rhino Page of USA and Kim Tae-Young of Korea into the ninth and tenth frame roll off to break the tie.

Page shot a spare in the ninth and a double strike and 9 pin count to give the Americans 49 while Kim struck in the ninth and spare in the tenth ending with a strike for 39.

In the semi-finals, Korea beat fourth-seed, Finland 1136-1035 and USA swept past Norway 1039-984 to set up the championship match for the second time. Korea had beaten America in the Trios semi-finals two days earlier.

Malaysia's next task is the individual singles event where all six bowlers will contest their 6-game block. Daniel and Adrian will feature first in the morning while the others will contest theirs in the afternoon. A total of five squads will be played. Detailed scores: Team of 5 Semi & Finals and Team of 5 Combined.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

25th August, Bangkok: Malaysian bowlers competiting at the World Men's Championship will need to step up their game if they were to come home with a medal after drawing blanks in the first two events.

It will be an ocassion when the Malaysian bowlers would excel in their strongest team event which starts on Tuesday. After dismal performances in the doubles and trios, the team of Alex Liew, Daniel Lim, Aaron Kong, Zulmazran Zulkifli, Adrian Ang and debutant, Muhd Nur Aiman will be out to redeem themselves by keeping a perfect record for Malaysia in the five-men team event on the international stage this year.

Malaysian have emerged as the team winners in two tournaments this year - the Asian Championship in Hong Kong and the World Youth Championship in Orlando, USA both in July.

But the Malaysians have been far from impressive thus far in the championship in Bangkok, which began on Friday.

In the trios event over the last two days, Malaysia failed to make it to the championship round when Alex, Zulmazran and Aiman finished 10th while Adrian, Aaron and Daniel came in at 40th.

"All they have to do is to stay focused," said Cheah Ban Cheng. "If they can pull it off, Malaysian will achieve three major team victories in a year - the Asian, World Youth and the World Championship.

"They struggled to bowl their best on the long oil lane conditions (in both the doubles and trios). I hope they will find the right lines to record higher scores. I saw better performances from Alex, Aiman and Zulmazran in the trios but they need to further raise their game."

Meanwhile, the mighty Koreans overpowered both the Americans and their Asian counterpart, Japan to win their first gold medal in the Trios finals. Korea easily defeated Japan, 723-553 in the title match to win the gold medal.

The champions had earlier ousted USA 673-603 in the semi-finals to advance to the finals. Japan, who was seeded third, edged another American trio, 615-614 in the other semi for a place in the finals. Detailed scores: Trios Semi & Finals and Trios Combined.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

23rd August, Bangkok: Malaysia failed to take honours in the first event as its best pair of Daneil Lim and Aaron Kong only managed to finish 14th in the Doubles at the World Men's Championship 2008 on Saturday.

Malaysia, however had some promising moments when the the final and third pair of Daniel Lim and Aaron Kong led for the first half of the 6-game Squad 5. Daniel downed 224 and Aaron set the lanes at S.F. Strike Bowl ablazed with 278 to give the pair a 502 opening game.

Despite managing only 452 and 398 in the next two games, the Malaysia duo were able to lead the field, albeit with a narrower margin of 9 pins ahead of Finland and Norway hot on their heels.

Daniel and Aaron failed to step up their game with 418 and 417 in the fourth and fifth games dropping them out of contention as Norway's Tomas Leandersson and Martin Larsen surged ahead into the lead.

A superb 524 sealed the Swedes a spot in the semi-finals knockout stage and topping the squad with 2739. Mads Sandbakken and Tore Torgersen of Norway also advanced to the semi-finals with 2726 and finishing second in the squad to Sweden.

Both the teams knocked out Mexico and first squad leader, Korea out of their third and fourth places before the final squad 5. The first pair of Muhd Nur Aiman and Adrian Ang ended up in 36th position while Alex Liew and Zulamzran Zulkifli took 32nd position.

Meanwhile, topseed, Patrick Allen and Rhino Page gave USA their first gold medal of the championship after they narrowly defeated challenger, Sweden, 457-452 in the title match.

The Americans cruised into the finals with a victory over fourth-seed, Norway, 453-399 in the semi-final match while Sweden's Tomas Leandersson and Martin Larsen edged Finland, 467-463 in the other semi. Norway and Finland took a bronze medal each as losing semi-finalists.

The bowlers resume competition with the first block of 3 games on long oil condition in the Trios event, which is divided into three squads on Sunday.

The second block will be contested on Monday with the top 4 finishers advancing into the knockout stage. Detailed scores: Doubles Semi & Finals, Doubles Combined and Doubles Squad 5.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.

22nd August, Bangkok: Debutants, Muhd Nur Aiman and Adrian Ang squandered a good chance to finish in the podium after a superb showing in the first half of the Doubles second squad at the World Men's Championship Friday afternoon.

Nerve must have gotten to rookie, Muhd Nur Aiman after a poor 155 in his opening game as Adrian Ang shot 225 putting the Malaysian pair midfield as Venezuela set the pace in Squad 2. But the 19-year-old put the spectators on the edge of their seats as he reeled in 11 consecutive strikes in the second game.

Head coach, Holloway Cheah seemed certain that Aiman would shoot the championship's first perfect 300 when he made a seemingly perfect shot in his final throw but was disappointed to see a stubborn pin 7 standing.

The 299 from Aiman and a 194 from Adrian allowed the pair to inch closer to the leaders. Aiman did well to knock down another superb 278 in the third game but Adrian could only down 198 moving up to second at the halfway point.

The excitment must have unnerved the youngster as he then struggle to maintain his pace with 158 and 183 in the final two games while Adrian was unable to cover his partner with 198 and 201. The pair ended a disappointing sixth spot with a total of 2550.

American PBA bowlers, Rhino Page and Patrick Allen ran away with the lead after two squads have completed their event. The leader totaled 2857 with a 557 in the third game and 521 and 516 in the final two games.

Squad 1 leader, Kim Tae-Young and Choi Ki-Bong of Korea settled for second with 2715 while squad 2 pace-setter, Mahmood Ahmad Al-Attar and Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE took third spot with 2683..

Malaysia's two other pairs - Zulmazran Zulkifli and Alex Liew are scheduled to take to the lanes on Saturday at 9.00am in the fourth squad while the final pair of Daniel Lim and Aaron Kong in the fifth squad at 1.30pm.

The third and final squad of the day will commence their block after lane maintenance with the final two squads scheduled for Saturday. The top 4 pairs after 5 squads have completed their event will advance into the elimination knockout finals. Detailed scores: Doubles Squad 2 and Doubles Combined.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.