15th March, Kuwait: 2013 Dubai Open champion, Mahmood Al Attar of United Arab Emirates clinched his maiden tour title defeating Khaled Al Dubyyan of Kuwait, 217-184 in the final match of the ABF Tour Kuwait 2014 at Cozmo Bowling Center.
Mahmmod had earlier ousted Sithiphol Kunaksorn of Thailand, 253-236 in the first semi-final to advance to the finals while first runner-up, Khaled edged another Emirati, Hussain Al Suwaidi, 233-213 in the other semi to face Mahmood in the finals.
The 23-year-old UAE national bowler started the match with a split in the opening frame but recovered by striking four times. Khaled also encountered a split in the second frame to trail his opponent by 18 pins at the halfway mark.
Mahmood was stuck with another big 6-pin split in the sixth frame his opponent, Khaled was unable to take advantage of it by rolling his second split in the seventh frame. Mahmood went on to clinch his first-ever tour title with a 217-184 victory.
Maiden tour title winner, Mahmood Al Attar
The champion knocked out his team-mate and 2012 Kuwait leg champion, Hareb Al Mansoori, 210-190 in the opening round before edging Basel Al Anzi of Kuwait, 218-204 in the second round to make the semi-finals. Mahmood's victory also gave UAE its first consecutive tour titles after Shaker Al Hassan won this year's ABF Tour opening leg in Bahrain last week.
Khaled sailed past fellow-countrymen, Jassim Darwish, 248-154 in Round 1 and sole Qatari finalist, Yousef Al Jaber in a high-scoring Round 2 clash, 268-248 to book his place in the semi-finals.
Kuwait Open youth first runner-up and this year's Asian School Singles gold medalist, scored the highest game of the tournament when he defeated sole Bahraini finalist, Yousif Falah, 278-196 in Round 1 but lost to Sithiphol, 194-238 in Round 2.
Shiekh Talal Al-Sabah, President of Asian Bowling Federation and Kuwait Bowling Federation was on hand to present the trophy to the champion. The next leg in the 2014 tour calendar is the Thailand leg on April 17 after the 40th MWA Thailand International Open.
This year's ABF Tour consist of nine stops. Bahrain and Kuwait were the first two of five legs in the Middle East.
ABF President, Sheikh Talal presenting the trophy to Mahmood
The next leg in the 2014 tour calendar is the Thailand leg on April 17 after the 40th MWA Thailand International Open, the first of four legs in East and South East Asia which have women division while those in the Middle East only feature the men.
Bowlers will earn ranking points from each of the legs they contest and the top 16 men and top 16 women at the end of the final leg, will qualify for the Tournament of Champions.
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 Kuwait.
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