20th June, Macau: 26th June, Macau: Top seed, Rickle Kam of Hong Kong captured his first-ever international title with a perfect game in the Men's Open Masters finals of the 2016 Macau China International Open while Novie Phang of Indonesia claimed the women's crown.
Kam got off with a double strike in the title match as his challenger, Daisuke Yoshida of Japan started off with a spare and a strike. While Kam continued to roll strike after strike, the Japanese matched stride for stride in the next five frames.
Whilst Kam added another strike in the eight frame, Daisuke left a solid pin 7 to trail Kam by 31 pins. Although Daisuke struck in the ninth frame, Kam struck again in the same frame to put the match beyond the Japanese.
As the crowd ushered Kam on for a perfect victory, the Hong Kong national duly obliged with three more strikes to knock down the tournament's sixth 300 to win the title, 300-249.
Newly-crowned champion, Rickle Kam with his trophy and cheque
The third-seed and runner-up had earlier dispatched second-seed, Jimmy Cheung of Hong Kong and winner of the first stepladder match, Lee Dong Eun of Korea, 227-205-186 to face the top seed.
Dong Eun took the first match defeating fourth-seed and compatriot, Lee Won Seok and sixth-seed, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit of Thailand, 203-179-199 to advance to the next match.
The champion, who picked up the top prize of MOP$70,000 (approx. US$9,000), topped the Round 2 finals with 1926. Cheung gave Hong Kong a one-two finish with 1904 and Daisuke took third spot with 1902. Won Seok, Dong Eun and Badin made the stepladder in fourth to sixth positions.
Second perfect gamer, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and fifth perfect gamer, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, who were in the top six before the final game, both missed the cut in seventh and eighth positions.
Champion, Rickle Kam with second runner-up, Jimmy Cheung
Joshua Chow, Wicky Yeung, Round 1 second-placed, Tony Wong, Michael Mak and Eric Tseng ended their campaign without making an impact but Wu and Chow made the cut for the ABF Tour Macau leg.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Milki Ng gave a good account of herself when she made the Women's Open stepladder finals in sixth position. However, defending champion and fourth-seed, Lee Young Seung of Korea breezed past compatriot and fifth-seed, Jang Ryeon Gyeong and Ng, 268-181-205 in the first match.
Second-seed and a third Korean, Jang Ha Eun ended Lee's run after she defeated third-seed, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia and Lee, 226-211-180 in the second match for a crack at the title.
Jang took the first match against top seed, Novie Phang of Indonesia, 192-170 to force the tie to a second decider. But the Indonesia bounced back to outclass the Korean, 224-166 to win the women's crown.
The champion, who pocketed MOP$40,000 (approx. US$5,000) for the victory, claimed top spot in the earlier Round 2 finals with 1807, 37 pins ahead of Janf Ha Eun in second with 1770.
Round 2 finalists, Milki Ng, Joan Cheng and Zoe Tam
Limansantoso finished third with 1764 followed by Lee, Ryeon Gyeong and Ng in fourth to sixth positions. Joan Cheng and Zoe Tam finished a disappointing 17th and 18th position and missing the cut for the ABF Tour Macau leg.
The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women finishers in the Round 2 finals qualified for the ABF Tour Macau 2016 which will be held at the same bowling center tomorrow. The tour will also be telecast LIVE from 3.00 to 6.00 pm local time.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau, China.
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