20th September, Kuala Lumpur: Bets could have been really heavily in favour of TeamUSA's Tim Mack walking out of the Pyramid Megalanes this afternoon with another gold medal hung around his neck. His confidence that he could beat anyone over a two-game finale was super strong. "I'm fed up with silver medals, I want gold," he said yesterday, after emerging as the leader of the Masters after the 16 round robin games.

But Michael Little of Australia had not read the script. In the opening game, against United Arab Emirates and 1988 AMF Bowling World Cup champion Mohamed Al Qubaisi, Little emerged the victor in a squeaker, 179-175. Like the women before them, both players had great difficulty in adapting to a different lane condition and strikes were at a premium.

Australia versus the United States was an unlikely finale and it was no surprise that Tim Mack got off to a good start and built up an early lead.

But things went awry for Mack when Little snuck in four strikes and the balance shifted towards the antipodes. Little kept up the pressure to take the first game, 205-172.

Going into the Championship game with a 33 pin deficit, Mack needed to get the attack going. He started with an open frame whilst Little hit five strikes. The American came back with four strikes but could not make up the deficit. It was all over with another open frame, champion Little, 225-203 and 430-375 overall.

Little was 'Mr. Cool' throughout: "I really try not to show much emotion and stay as calm as possible," the 24-year-old Newcastle salesman told the waiting mass of reporters after the final. "I think that having to bowl the extra game against Al Qubaisi helped me.

One shock came in the eighth frame of the last game when his first ball rolled into the gutter. "I wasn't too worried about that," he said. "You just can't worry about those things."

Now it's back home to resume work to refill the coffers. His next assignment will be Australia's National Championships in Townsville, North Queensland in October.

For further information, please contact Media Director, Keith Hale at KEITHHALE679@aol.com , media@mtbc.org.my or via the World Championships Media Room Phone +60 37492 0902.