17th March, Kuwait: Two-time TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong won her third title after ousting three-time winner, Wendy Chai of Malaysia, 211-183 in the women's finals while Michael Mak lost to eventual champion, Yousif Falah of Bahrain, 201-255 in the semi-final.
Chan breezed past compatriot, Milki Ng, 228-182 in the all-Hong Kong women's semi-final match to reach the finals while Yousif edged 2012 TOC men's winner, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand, 187-155 in the men's finals.
The champion had a great start reeling in four consecutive strikes to open up a gap of 22 pins as Chai failed to string together any strikes. Chan made no mistakes by picking up all her spares for the next three frames while the Malaysian had a split in the seventh frame.
Chai was no able to recover from that and Chan ended the match with a strike in her 12th frame to win her third TOC womens title.
Chan Shuk Han winning the women's TOC title for the third time
"I was extremely disappointed at last year's TOC when I lost 147-149 in the semi-finals," said the Hong Kong national kegler, Chan.
"This win more than made up for that disappointment. It's been a while since I've won anything and this victory is a good start for me this year." The Hong Kong national bowler had a narrow victory over Nadia Pramanik of Indonesia, 188-180 in the Round of 8 before beating team-mate. Milki Ng in the semis.
Chai clinched her spot in the finals with a 201-200 victory over defending champion, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia in the second semi-final match.
Meanwhile, Yousif Falah of Bahrain won his first TOC men's title after defeating 2012 TOC men's champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand in a low-scoring 187-155 final.
Yousif, who has two ABF Tour title to his credit, had earlier ousted third-seed, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE, 234-210 in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals. annaphon reached the finals by eadging remaining Kuwaiti, Khaled Al Dubyyan, 223-213 in the other men's semi-final match to face Yousif.
Chan earned US$10,000 as the women's champion while Chai pocketed US$5,000 as the women's first runner-up. Yousif won US$20,000 as the men's champion as Yannaphon took home US$8,000 as first runner-up.
Mak and Khaled settled for US$4,000 each for finishing as second and third runner-ups while Limansantoso and Ng took home US$3,000 each for third and fourth positions.
Chan with her trophy and third runner-up, Michael Mak
Sheikh Talal M. Al-Sabah, President of the Asian Bowling Federation and Kuwait Bowling Federation was on hand to present the trophy and cheques to the champions.
The top 16 men and top 15 women based on their tour rankings earned in 2014 out of nine legs qualified for the Tournament of Champions. They contested 10 games in Round 1 qualifying for the field to be cut to top 8 men and top 8 women for today's quarter-finals knockout rounds.
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.
16th March, Kuwait: Four Hong Kong national bowlers, Milki Ng, Joan Cheng, Chan Shuk Han and Michael Mak advanced into the knockout stage of the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions 2014 underway at Cozmo Bowl on Monday.
2012 TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han totaled 2056 in the women's Round 1 finals, just 9 pins behind defending champion, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia. Last year's first runner-up, Milki Ng finished third with 2040, a further 16 pins behind.
Debutant and 2013 Asian Youth Championships All Events bronze medalist, Joan Cheng, who had a poor start and was last in the first four games, crawled her way up to make the cut in eighth position with 1934.
Cheng edged Alisha Nabila of Indonesia by 22 pins to join her compatriots in the knockout rounds tomorrow. Three-time TOC winner, Wendy Chai of Malaysia took fourth spot with 1987 followed by Filomena Choi of Macau in fifth with 1981.
Milki Ng, Joan Cheng and Chan Shuk Han in next round
Nadia Pramanik of Indonesia finished sixth with 1950 while early pace-setter, Tanaprang Sathean of Thailand finished 12 pins ahead of Cheng in seventh position with 1946.
Meanwhile, 12th Kuwait Open third runner-up, Michael Mak was the only Hong Kong men who made the next round. Mak totaled 2199 to finished second 40 pins behind newly-crowned ABF Tour Kuwait leg champion, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia.
2010 TOC winner, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE took third position with 2197 followed by 2013 ABF Tour ranked No. 1, Rakan Al Ameeri of Kuwait in fourth position with 2170.
A second Emirati and pace-setter, Hareb Al Mansoori slipped down to fifth spot with 2164 ahead of Yousif Falah of Bahrain in sixth position with 2146 while 2012 TOC winner, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand finished seventh position with 2123.
A second Kuwaiti, Khaled Al Dubyyan posted a huge game of 268 in the last game to make the cut in eighth position with 2115 edging Yeri Ramadona of Indonesia by 22 pins. Two other Hong Kong men in the finals, Eric Tseng and Mike Chan failed to progress ending their campaign in 14th and 16th positions respectively.
Michael Mak finishing second to advance as second seed
The quarter-final rounds will commence at 10.00am local time. The winners will square off in the semi-finals and the winners of the semi-finals will face each other for the title. The men champion will pocket the top prize of US$20,000 and the women champion US$10,000.
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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