1st July, Hong Kong: 2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist, Michael Mak of Hong Kong finished on the podium as third runner-up at the ABF Tour Hong 2018 as Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang captured his tenth tour tile on Sunday.
Newly-crowned Hong Kong Open champion, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong crashed out after losing to team-mate, James Lui, 231-259 in the first round. Mak outclassed former team-mate and ex-national bowler, Wicky Yeung, 266-192 for advance to the next round.
The 24-year-old Mak, who owns five tour titles and winner of 2016 Hong Kong leg, was equally impressive with a 256-221 victory over Malaysia's Shahrukh Amin in the second round to book his place in the semi-finals.
In the match against tour debutant, Sultan Almasri, the Saudi started off better than Mak with a spare in the opening frame followed by three consecutive strikes while Mak managed only two strikes in alternating frames.
Michael Mak finishing on the podium as third runner-up
Mak delivered a seemingly perfect shot in the fifth frame only to be disappointed to see a 7-10 split which put him trailing Almasri by 20 pins. After a spare in the sixth frame, Mak brought home four strikes-in-a-row to end with 242. Although the Saudi struck twice in frames 7 and 8, a split in the ninth frame gave a slim chance for Mak to take the match provided his opponent failed to strike in his final frame. But Almasri kept his cool to strike to win by one pin on 243.
The final between Almasri and Lalisang was another closely fought match but the 37-year-old Indonesian prevailed to capture his tenth tour title, 245-230. The champion had to work hard for his place in the final after narrowly defeating 2018 PBA-WBT Busan Cup champion, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand, 276-265 in the first semi-final match.
Lalisang breezed past another debutant, Kenneth Chua of Philippines, 256-222 in the second round after an easy victory over team-mate, Billy Muhammad Islam, 266-234 in the opening round.
The first runner-up first took out another Hong Kong national Tony Wong, 235-209 in Round 1 and then Mostafa Almousawi of Kuwait, 241-210 in Round 2 to advance to the semi-finals.
Hong Kong Open first runner-up, Hassan Alshaikh of Saudi Arabia was also eliminated in the opening round when he lost to Malaysia's Shahrukh Amin, 211-257. Lalisang picked up a trophy and the top prize of US$500 with Almasri taking home US$300. Arromsaranon and Mak earned US$150 each.
In the women's division, Chang Yu Hsuan denied newly-crowned Hong Kong Open champion her double victory after she edged Yanee Saebe of Thailand, 203-195 with a strike in the final frame giving Chinese Taipei their third women's tour title.
Champions, Ryan Lalisang and Chang Yu Hsuan with their trophies
The 26-year-old champion sailed past Pan Yu Fen, 242-180 in the first all-Taiwanese semi-final match. Chang also easily dispatched Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han, 245-167 in the second round and Malaysia's Sharon Koh, 223-200 in the opening round.
Yanee snatched victory over Malaysia's Radin Nu Najwa, 235-222 after trailing for most of the other semi-final match. She defeated Indonesia's Sharon Limansantoso, 235-230 in Round 2 and Filipina, Liza Del Rosario, 265-192 in Round 1.
Chang pocketed US$500 and a trophy for her win while Yanee settled for US$300 as first runner-up. Radin and Pan took home US$150 each as second and third runners-up. Ms Vivien Lau, ABF Tour Chairman and World Bowling Secretary General was on had to present the trophies and prizes to the winners.
The ABF Tour Hong Kong 2018 leg is the third of four legs staged in East Asia this year with the official host broadcaster, Cable TV providing live TV coverage from SCAA Bowling Centre to several countries in Asia.
The fourth and final leg of this year's ABF Tour will be staged on July 8 at Southern Bowling Center after the Koahsiung International Open Bowling Championships which will held from July 2 to 7, 2018. For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.
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