18th August, Kaohsiung: 19th Kaohsiung International Open third runner-up, Ernest Kwok of Hong Kong was denied his first tour title after losing to Xu Zhe-Jia of Chinese Taipei in the final match of the ABF Tour Chinese Taipei 2019.
The 2017 World Championships Masters silver medallist got off to a better start in the title match against challenger, Ernest Kwok of Hong Kong after rolling four consecutive strikes from frame two as Kwok managed only two strikes in the second and fourth frames.
The Hong Kong national opened in the fifth frame to give the Xu a 35-pin lead. Xu downed another four strikes-in-a-row to cruise to a comfortable 277-218 victory for his first-ever tour title. The 22-year-old champion reached the final after edging compatriot, Chen Kuan-Yeh, 244-241 in the all-Taiwanese semi-final.
Kwok dispatched last last year's champion, Lee Tak Man of Macau, 244-185 in the other semi-final match to face Xu in the final. Xu also eliminated another Hong Kong national and 19th Koahsiung International Open first runner-up, James Lui, 256-233 in the second round.
First runner-up, Ernaet Kwok recieving his prize from Dr Danny Santos
The champion took out another compatriot, Jake Cheng, 276-245 in his opening round. Kwok breezed past Hsieh Chin-Liang of Chinese Taipei, 267-170 in Round 1 and another Taiwanese, Wu Hao-Ming, 263-223 in Round 1.
Mike Chan and Oscar Poon made an early exit after losing their matches in the opening round. Jimmy Cheung edged compatriot, Joshua Chow in an all-lefty Round 1 match, 242-231 but lost to eventual champion, Xu 180-256 in Round 2.
In the women's division, Su Shu-Wen bagged her second tour title in straight years with a narrow victory over Korean tour debutant, Choi Ae Rim of Wondo Haengseang City, 235-230 in the women's final. Su started off with a double in her first two frames to take an early 11-pin lead.
The Korean responded with a double in the fourth and fifth frames to draw level midway through the match. But the Taiwanese rolled another double strike in the sixth and seventh frames to lead by 13 pins.
Despite failing to pick up a spare in the ninth frame, Su marked her final frame to win the match and take the title. The champion ousted Chou Chia-Chen, 267-231 in the all-Taiwanese semi-final while Choi defeated Chi Yun-Fan, 232-215 in the other semi-final match.
Su beat another Korean, Kim Yu Hyeong, 225-203 in her opening round and compatriot, Chu Yu-Chieh, 215-208 in the second round to reach the semi.
Final leg champions, Xu Zhe-Jia and Su Shu-Wen
Choi eliminated Chien Hsiu-Lan of Chinese Taipei, 251-222 in Round 1 and Wong Son Ian of Macau, 240-181 in Round 2 to advance to the semi-final. Both the champions were awarded US$500 and the ABF Tour trophy each by Tournament Director, Dr Danny Santos.
The first runners-up were awarded US$300 each while the second and third runners-up all took home US$150 each. The ABF Tour Chinese Taipei is the third and final leg of this year's tour. 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 Kaohsiung.
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