30th June, Hong Kong: 2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist, Wu Siu Hong won his sixth Hong Kong International Open title after emerging as the Men's Open Masters champion while topseed, Yanee Saebe of Thailand claimed her first crown.

The 34-year-old Hong Kong national bowler had to work doubly hard for the victory. Wu tied third position with Singapore's Jonovan Neo after the 8-game Stage 2 finals on 1821 and had to go through a one-game roll off to break the tie and to determine their seedings for the stepladder finals.

Neo defeated Wu, 242-225 to take third-seed while Wu settled for fourth-seed and needing to bowl against fifth-seed, Merwin Tan of Philippines and sixth-seed, Tony Wong of Hong Kong in the first match. Wu, however breezed past Tan and Wong, 277-224-231 to advance to the second match.

Wu was equally impressive in the second match against second-seed, Hassan Alshaikh of Saudi Arabia and a re-match with Neo. Wu took the second match, 226-209-187 and earned a crack at the title against topseed, Darren Ong of Singapore.

The challenger forced the tie into a second decider after he trashed the Singaporean, 229-146 in which Ong suffered two splits and three opened frames. In the title deciding match, Wu showed no mercy as he romped home with another easy 227-155 victory after a 11-year gap.

The champion, who last won the title back in 2006, picked up the top prize of HK$60,000 (approx. US$7,600). Ong took home HK$25,000 as first runner-up and Alshaikh HK$16,000 as second runner-up. Neo settled for HK$8,000, Wong earned HK$5,500 and Tan HK$4,500.

In the earlier Stage 2 finals, Ong topped the field with 1834 followed by Alshaikh in second with 1822. Neo and Wu tied third spot with 1821 while Tan and Wong made the top 6 stepladder finals in fifth and sixth positions with 1812 and 1774.

Indonesia's Billy Muhammad Islam missed the cut for the stepladder finals by 12 pins finishing in seventh position with 1762. Kuwait's Mostafa Almousawi, Hong Kong's Wicky Yeung and Thailand's Annop Arromsaranon completed the top 10.

In the women's division, topseed Yanee Saebe of Thailand needed only one match to beat her challenger and to claim her first Hong Kong Open crown. The 25-year-old outclassed second-seed, Bernice Lim of Singapore, 212-165 for a well-deserved victory.

Lim, who defeated third-seed, Joey Yeo and winner of the first match, Daphne Tan, 235-201-223 in the all-Singapore second match. Tan edged fifth-seed, Hee Kar Yen of Malaysia and sixth-seed, Shayna Ng, 186-164-182 in the opening match.

The Thai pocketed the women's top prize of HK$30,000 (approx. US$3,88) as champion. Lim took home HK$16,000 as first runner-up while Tan earned HK$8,000. Yeo, Ng, Yeo and Hee settled for HK$4,000, HK$2,700 and HK$2,000 for finishing fourth to sixth positions.

The champion literally led from start to finish to win the earlier Stage 2 finals with 1834. Lim trailed in second by 100 pins with 1734 and Yeo third with 1705. Tan finished fourth with 1687 followed by Hee in fifth with 1678.

29th June, Hong Kong: Last week's 2018 Macao-China Open runner-up, Wu Siu Hong finished a creditable second in the Men's Open Stage 1 Masters finals to lead five of his team-mates into the seconmd stage of the 44th Hong Kong International Open on Friday.

Wu got off to a cracking start rolling down 268 only to find himself trailing Singapore's Jonanvan Neo by 20 pins. Kuwait's Mostafa Almousawai registered a respectable game of 257 to take up thid spot.

Neo continued to lead for another game before stumbling to a lowly 189.

2018 PBA-WBT Busan Cup champion, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand posted back-to-back 235s to move into the lead as Wu continued to trail. The Thai extended his lead to 48 pins with another sizzling 278 at the halfway mark.

Meanwhile, 2011 South-East Asian Games Trios Gold medallist, Yanne Saebe won the Women's Open Stage 1 finals with 1753 after tussling for the lead with newly-crowned 2018 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Nor Lyana Natasia of Malaysia.

Natasia settled for second with 1735 followed by Chinese Taipei's Chang Yu Hsuan in third with 1725. Singapore's Cherie Tan and Malaysia's Hee Kar Yen rounded out the top 5 with 1694 and 1692 respectively.

Defending champion, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia and Bernice Lim of Singapore barely made the cut in 14th and 15th positions with 1554 and 1541 respectively.

2018 Philippine Open champion, Liza Del Rosario of Philippines missed the cut by 6 pins to finish in 16th. Hong Kong's Joan Cheng failed to make the cut finishing a disappointing 18th position.

28th June, Hong Kong: 2017 South-East Asian Games Team silver medallists, Billy Muhammad Islam of Indonesia and Joey Yeo of Singapore took over the lead of the Men's and Women's Open qualifying standings at the 44th Hong Kong International Open on Thursday.

Islam, who had qualified in fifth with 1406, improved his lower 3-game series of 657 with 773 to take over the lead with 1522, making him the only qualifier to surpass the 1500-mark. 2017 Philippine Open champion, Kenneth Chua of Philippines also improved to take over second spot with 1462.

Filipino youngster and 2018 World Youth Championships bound, Merwin Tan surprised the field with a splendid effort of 1455 to secure third spot and crucially earned a bye for Stage 2 finals as one of the top 3 overseas qualifiers.

Newly-crowned 2018 PBA-World Bowling Tour Busan Cup champion, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand had struggled to register good scores but finally found his line to occupy fourth position with 1439.

Meanwhile 2017 South-East Asian Games Team silver medallist, Joey Yeo of Singapore took over the lead with 1441. Indonesia's Aldila Indryati also improved to move into second spot with 1428 while Malaysia's Radin Nur Najwa secured third spot with 1381.

Newly-crowned 50th Singapore Open champion, Jazreel Tan, who had taken over the lead briefly with 1374, was knocked off the top bracket into fourth position. Her team-mate and 2018 Thailand Open champion, Shayna Ng rounded out the top 5 with 1373.

There were no changes atop the local pool with Chan Shuk Han, Joey Yip and Milki Ng occupying the top 3 spots with 1197, 1164 and 1146 respectively. Daphne Tan of Singapore headed the mixed pool with 1316 while the cut in ninth position was shared by Chinese Taipei's Tsai Hsin-Yi and Macau's Veronica Dias De Souza on 1252.

27th June, Hong Kong: 2017 Hong Kong Open Youth champion, Ivan Tse moved into second position of the Men's Open Masters local qualifying pool at the 44th Hong Kong International Open as Milki Ng secured third spot in the Women's Open local pool.

Tse, who also topped the Youth Open qualifying standings, notched up a stunning 770 3-games series to add to his other 3-games series of 663 for a total of 1433 for second position. Overnight leader and 2018 Macao-China Open fourth runner-up, James Lui remained in the lead with 1451.

Ex-Hong Kong national bowler and scorer of the tournament's perfect game, Wicky Yeung slipped down to third with 1409. 2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist and 2018 Macao-China Open first runner-up, Wu Siu Hong missed the top bracket to take up fourth with 1377.

Meanwhile, 2017 World Championships Singles bronze medallist and overnight leader,Chan Shuk Han remained in the lead with a moderate 1197 followed by Joey Yip in second with 1154. Milki Ng, who is also the top local seeded qualifier, earn a bye after finishing third with 1146.

Thailand's Yanee Saebe took over the lead of the overseas pool with a superb 1341 ahead of two Malaysians. Radin Nur Najwa and 2018 Macao-China second runner-up, Nerosha Keligit in third with 1339.

2018 Macao-China third runner-up, Hee Kar Yen of Malaysia missed the top bracket by 5 pins to take up fourth as Kantaporn Singhabubpha of Thailand completed the top 5 overseas qualifiers with 1334 and 1319.

The top 3 overseas pool qualifiers and the top 3 local pool qualifiers would earn a bye and automatically advance to the Stage 2 finals.

26th June, Hong Kong: Hong Kong's James Lui and 2017 World Championships Singles bronze medallist, Chan Shuk Han set the early pace of the Men's and Women's Open qualifying rounds of the 44th Hong Kong International Open underway at SCAA Bowling Centre.

Lui, who finished fourth runner-up at last Saturday's 2018 Macao-China Open, posted a stunning 753 to add to his lower 698 3-game series to take over the lead in the local pool with a 6-game tally of 1451. Ex-Hong Kong national, Wicky Yeung, who rolled the tournament's first 300 two days ago, led the local pool with 1409 only to be overtaken by Lui.

2017 Philippine Open first runner-up, Mike Chan finished in a distant third on a 6-game tally of 1316. Similar to the overseas pool, the top 3 local qualifiers would automatically advance to Stage 2 finals.

Meanwhile, 2017 World Championships Singles bronze medallist, Chan Shuk Han topped the local pool of the Women's Open division with a moderate 1197. Joey Yip trailed in second with 1164 followed by Agnes Chang in third with 1132.

The overseas pool were dominated by Singapore women with Bernice Lim leading the field with 1314 followed by newly-crowned 2018 Singapore Open champion, Jazreel Tan in second with 1293. Jeoy Yeo secured third spot with 1291.

Daphne Tan missed the top bracket by 18 pins to take up fourth position with 1273 while 2018 Thailand Open champion, Shayna Ng completed the top 5 with 1259.

Like the Men's Open division, the top 3 highest qualifiers in the local pool and the top 3 highest qualifiers in the overseas pool would earn a bye and automatically advance to Stage 2 finals.

25th June, Hong Kong: The 44th Hong Kong International Open Bowling Championships, which kicked off three days ago, had its soft opening ceremony at SCAA Bowling Centre attended by honorable and distinguished guests, officials and players.

This 44th edition of the immensely popular and prestigious championships has attracted more than 350 bowlers from all over Asia including the middle east and south pacific countries. The championship held at South China Athlete Association 60-lane centre will also be the venue for this year's World Men Championships to be held from November 24 to December 5.

Gracing the opening ceremony were Mr Karl C. Kwok, MH, Vice President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, Mr Yeung Tak Keung, JP, Commissioner for Sports of the Home Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government, Mr Jeff L.C. Kong, President of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress.

Mr Jeff Kong kicked off with his welcome speech during which he extended his sincere appreciation to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, The Home Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government, sponsors, contributors ands supporters.

In Mr Karl Kwok's speech, he congratulated the success achieved by the Hong Kong national team in 2017 by winning theior first-ever gold medal at the World Championships. He hope that the successes will carry forward to this year's Asian Games and the World Men Championships to be hosted here in Hong Kong.

The honorable guests were then invited to perform the traditional dotting of the lion's eyes to bring good wishes to the organisation of the championships. Thereafter, those present were entertained to a superb lion dance performances.

The countries that have sent their national teams are China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and UAE. There are also many other bowling teams and clubs from Guam, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.