23rd October, Jakarta: Ahmad Muaz of Malaysia captured the Men's Open Masters title and Siti Safiyah Amirah led a clean sweep of the Women's Open Masters titles at the 14th Indonesia International Open on Sunday.

In the first match between top seed, DJ Archer of USA and challenger Muaz, the American suffered two early opened frames as the Malaysian struck twice to take a 22 pin lead. Muaz struck again in the fourth and fifth frames while Archer struggled to get going.

Muaz rolled three more strikes from frame sixth and Archer responded with three of his own. Although the American added two addidtional strikes, the Malaysian struck out to take the match, 258-216 forcing a second decider.

Archer started again with an opened frame in the first as Muaz continued his strike-fest. When Archer doubled in the second and third frames and doubled again in the sixth and seveth frames, Muaz continued his strike-fest to the delight of a packed crowd at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre.

The house went silence after he downed eleven strikes and stepping up on the approach to roll his final throw, but left two pins standing to take a convincing 298-203 victory over the American.

The champion eliminated two left-handers, second-seed, Kim Bolleby of Thailand and third-seed, Lee Tak Man, 257-238-153 to challenge for the title. The sixth-seed also breezed past fourth-seed, Tommy Jones of USA and fifth-seed, Marcus Kiew of Singapore, 237-161-203 in the first match.

The 22-year-old Muaz pocketed the top prize of 150 million Indonesian rupiah (approx. US$11,500) as champion while Archer took home 100 million rupiah (approx. US$7,600) as first runner-up. Bolleby earned 60 million rupiah, Lee 40 million, Kiew 25 million and Jones 17.5 million.

In the earlier Stage 2 finals, Archer snatched pole position with 1933 in the eighth and final game from pace-setter, Bolleby, who settled for second with 1902. Lee, Jones, Kiew finished third to fifth while Muaz clinched the last stepladder final spot with 1783.

Meanwhile Malaysia swept the top three positions of the Women's Open division after top seed, Siti Safiyah Amirah had to work hard to beat compatriot and challenger, Shalin Zulkifli 253-182 in the all-Malaysia second match to win the title.

The 26-year-old Siti Safiyah lost the first match, 197-226 to Zulkifli but bounced back in the second to take victory. Zulkifli had earlier ousted team-mate and second-seed, Sin Li Jane and third-seed, Shannon Pluhowsky of USA, 216-201-186 in the semi-final to face the top seed.

Zulkifli, who was seeded fifth, also eliminated fourth-seed, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan of Singapore and a fifth Malaysian, Esther Cheah, 204-180-194 in the opening stepladder match.

Siti Safiyah won 70 million rupiah (approx. US$5,300) as champion while Zulkifli settled for 35 million rupiah and Sin pocketed 17.5 million. Pluhowsky, Cheah and Yeong-Nathan picked up 10, 8 and 7 million respectively.

The champion earned top seed after winning the earlier Stage 2 finals with 1854 followed by Sin in second with 1838 and Pluhowsky third with 1812. Yeong-Nathan, Zulkifli and Cheah booked their stepladder finals places in fourth to sixth positions.

The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women from the final masters standings qualified for the final leg of the 2016 ABF Tour Indonesia, which will be held tomorrow at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre at 1.00pm local time.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.

22nd October, Jakarta: Malaysian women and American PBA pros dominated the Women's and Men's Open Stage 1 Masters finals of the 14th Indonesia International Open at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre on Saturday.

Siti Safiyah Amirah set the opening pace with 258 to lead Bea Hernandez of the Philippines by 14 pins with Aldila Indryati of Indonesia a close third and Tay Hui Wen of Singapore in fourth. Siti Safiyah continued to lead for the next two games rolling 237 and 223 stretching her lead to 69 pins.

Her compatriot, Shalin Zulkifli gradually moved up to second while Japan's Hikaru Takekawa and a third Malaysian, Si Li Jane followed closely behind. Siti Safiyah remained in the lead despite managing only 177 at the halfway mark.

Then Sin shot into the lead after adding a strong game of 235 to her third game of 258. A fourth Malaysian, Radin Nur Najwa took up second, 22 pins adrift with Shalin and Siti Safiyah staying close to the leading duo.

Radin led briefly after the sixth game before Shalin ended the stage with 200 and 224 to clinch pole position with 1746. Radin finished second with 1745, just one pin adrift.

Siti Safiyah and Sin completed Malaysia's domination by tieing third position with 1732. Singapore's best performer was Tay Hui Wen finishing fifth with 1702, preventing Malaysia occupying the top five spots, ahead of Nur Syazwani Sahar taking up sixth position with 1698.

Krizziah Tabora of Philippines was the cut at 15th position with 1609, edging defending champion, Nadia Pramanik of Indonesia by 17 pins. Six Malaysians, three Singaporeans, three Filipinas, two Japanese and sole Indonesian, Aldila advanced into Stage 2 final.

American PBA pros, led by 2005 PBA Player of the Year, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C. almost dominated the men's division of the Stage 1 finals. 2015 SEA Games Doubles gold medallist, Keith Saw of Singapore set the early pace with a cracking 290 to lead team-mate, Ahmad Safwan by 10 pins.

Jones was only third despite an opening game of 279. 2016 National Interstate Championships Singles gold medallist, Oscar of Indonesia shot into the lead after a big game of 279 from a 236 opening game as Ahmad maintained second.

DJ Archer of Friendswood, Texas led for one game after the third as Jones quickly move into the lead with 279 and 260 in the fourth and fifth games. Marcus Kiew of Singapore moved up into second as Oscar faded away.

Jones ranaway with 252, 265 and 256 in his last three games to end the finals with 2000. Kiew finished second with 1859, 141 pins behind to prevent the Americans a clean sweep of the top three spots.

Archer settled for third position with 1846 while two-hander, Shawn Maldonado of Houston, Texas finished fourth with 1814. Oscar was Indonesia's best performer rounding out the top five with 1814. Early leader, Keith Saw finished sixth with 1793. The cut at 18th position to advance to the next stage was 2012 Indonesia Open, Isaac Russell of Malaysia with 1677.

J2016 Asian Championships two-silver medallist, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand missed the cut by three pins in 19th position. Three Americans, five Singaporeans, three Indonesians, three Malaysians, two Japanese, one Macau men and one Hong Kong men advanced.

The top 15 women will be joined by the top three local and top three overseas seeded qualifiers and the top 18 men will be joined by the top three local and the top three overseas seeded qualifiers for another eight games from scratch in Stage 2 finals. The top six women and top six men finishers will advance to the stepladder shootout finals to determine the champions.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.

21st October, Jakarta: 2008 AMF World Cup champion, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan of Singapore and 2015 SEA Games Team gold medallist, Ahmad Muaz of Malaysia took over pole positions in the Women's and Men's qualifying standings of the 14th Indonesia International Open.

Yeong-Nathan, who missed the top three bracket by one pin yesterday on 1365 pinfalls, improved her lower 653 series with a stunning 756 to take over top spot with 1468 pushing down PBA pro and overnight leader, Shannon Pluhowsky of USA into second position on 1447.

Her team-mate, Joy Yap posted 1439 for third spot, sandwiching the American and knocking out early leader, Krizziah Tabora of Philippines into fourth with 1420. Malaysia's seasoned campaigner, Shalin Zulkifli, who was in the top bracket, made up the top five with 1366.

Two-time ABF Tour winner, Putty Armein also took over the lead in the local pool with 1412 from overnight leader and National Interstate Championships two-gold medallist, Tannya Roumimper, who settled for second with 1379.

2016 Macau-China Open champion, Novie Phang made up the top three who, like the top three in the overseas pool, will skip Stage 1 final and seeded for Stage 2 final on Octoner 23.

Siti Safiyah Amirah of Malaysia headed the mixed pool with 1319 while the cut at 19th position went to 2016 Hong Kong Open champion, Esther Cheah of Malaysia with 1277 (average 212.83).

The rush to make the finals in the Men's Open division was eagerly contested which saw numerous changes atop the leaderboard. Ahmad Muaz went into the lead briefly with 1544, becoming the second qualifier to surpass the 1500-mark.

But his lead was short-lived as overnight leader, Kim Bolleby of Thailand again blitzed the lanes with another scorching 784 series to regain lead and becoming the first qualifier to surpass the 1600-mark with 1608. Bolleby also registered the highest three games series of 824 yesterday.

2012 AMF World Cup champion and 2015 SEA Games Team gold medallist, Syafiq Ridhwan of Malaysia regained third spot after improving his six-game tally from 1431 to 1500, a third qualifier to srupass the 1500-mark.

Macau's Lee Tak Man, who had overtaken American PBA pro, Tommy Jones for second spot yesterday with 1482, took up third spot briefly with an improved 1491 total only to drop back down to fourth.

Hong Kong's Tony Wong rounded out the top five with 1478. Lefty Derek Chan of Singapore headed the mixed pool with 1448 while another lefty, Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia occupied the cut at 23rd position with 1406 (average 234.33).

Last year's cut was 1408 while the previous year's cut was 1405. The cut for this year could well reach 1420 or more. At press time, there are three more squads left for a chance to make the finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.

20th October, Jakarta: 2016 Thailand Open champion, KIm Bolleby of Thailand took over the lead of the Men's Open Masters qualifying standings at the 14th Indonesia International Open while Amercian PBA pro, Shannon Pluhowsky led the women's division.

Bolleby, who was occupying the cut at 23rd poition with 1348, scorched the lanes at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre to register a stunning 824 series for a new six-game aggregate of 1521 for the lead. The Thai rolled 278, 279 and 267 to become the first qualifier to surpass the 800-mark and the 1500-mark total.

American PBA pro, Tommy Jones, who led briefly after the 1.30pm squad, slipped to second with 736 and 727 on a total of 1463. Ahmad Muaz was Malaysia's top qualifier occupying third spot with 1457. Overnight leader, Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan was relegated to fourth on 1456.

The top three overseas qualifiers earn a bye and will automatically qualify for Stage 2 final. In the local pool, National Interstate Trios gold medallist, Diwan Rezaldy also took over the lead with 1440 pushing down compatriot, Yeri Ramadona into second with 1397.

Rezaldy's team-mate winning the National Interstate Trios gold medal, Ryan Lalisang remained in third position with 1355. The top three local qualifiers will also skip Stage 1 final. 2016 Asian Championships Singles gold medallist, Timmy Tan of Malaysia headed the mixed pool with 1409 while the cut in 23rd position went to another Malaysian, Aris Ardila with 1359 (average 226.5).

The six local seeded qualifiers, three local qualifiers positioned 4 to 6, nine overseas qualifiers positioned 4 to 12, eleven mixed pool qualifiers positioned 13 to 23 plus the defending champion will contest Stage 1 final on October 22.

In the women's division, debutant Shannon Pluhowsky of USA topped the overseas pool with a splendid 1423 from overnight leader, Krizziah Tabora of Philippines, slipping down to second with 1420. Malaysia's seasoned national kegler, Shalin Zulkifli occupied third spot with 1366.

Singapore's top qualifier, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan missed the top bracket by one pin to take up fourth position with 1365 while Liza Clutario of Philippines rounded out the top five with 1338.

2016 Malaysian Open champion and 2016 Asian Championships Doubles gold medallist, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia headed the mixed pool with 1299 while the cut in 19th position in the mixed pool went to Julia Lam of Macau with 1197.

National Interstate two gold medallist and 2009 Indonesia Open champion, Tannya Roumimper took over the lead of the local pool with 1379.

Overnight leader, Novie Phang slipped down to second with 1346 and Putty Armein occupied third spot with 1336. The top three local and top three overseas qualifiers will earn a bye and automatically qualify for Stage 2 final. Four local seeded qualifiers, two local qualifiers positioned 4 and 5, seven overseas qualifiers positioned 4 to 10, nine mixed pool qualifiers positioned 11 to 19 plus the defending champion will contest Stage 1 final on October 22.

Qualifying rounds will end tomorrow and 30 Men's Open and 24 Women's Open qualifiers will bowl eight games in Stage 1 final. The top 18 men and top 15 women will be joined by their respective division six seeded qualifiers for another eight games in Stage 2 on October 23. The top 6 men and top 6 women will advance to the stepladder final.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.

20th October, Jakarta: Singapore's Jenae Wee and Amabel Chua finished one-two in the Youth Girls Masters final of the 14th Indonesia International Open while Malaysia's Christopher Tiong triumphed in the Boy's division at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre.

2016 World Youth Championships Masters silver medallist, Chua led her team-mate from Singapore Sports School by just two pins going into the tenth and final game. It was indeed a tight finish when Wee snatched the crown with 174 whilst Chua managed only 171.

The 16-year-old Wee, who has been bowling for eight years and in her fourth year at Singapore Sports School, captured her first-ever international youth title with a total of 2021 and the top prize of 10 million rupiah (approx. US$760).

Chua, who had also been bowling for eight years and in her fourth year at Singapore Sports School, finished as first runner-up with 2020 to settle for 7 million rupiah.

2012 Youth Girls champion and three-time consecutive runner-up, Alisha Nabila of Indonesia, again ended her campaign as second runner-up with 1889. Malaysia's Nur Amirah Auni and Qistina Zainal Fitri rounded out the top five with 1854 and 1853 respectively.

Meanwhile, 2014 Asian Championships Masters silver medallist, Mostafa Almousawi was leading the boy's Masters final by 13 pins, ahead of last year's champion, Billy Muhammad Islam of Indonesia before the tenth and final game.

Tiong, who was in third position a further 2 pins away, ended the final strongest with 221 to snatch the title with 2120. Despite posting 203 in the last game, the Kuwaiti settled for first runner-up with 2117.

Islam also ended well with 208 but was only good enough to secure second runner-up spot with 2109. Paolo Hernandez of Indonesia took fourth spot with 2002 while Merwin Matheiu Tan of Philippines completed the top five with 1981.

The Malaysian won 16 million rupiah (approx. US$1,200) as champion with Almousawi settling for 10 million rupiah. Islam took home 6 million rupiah as second runner-up.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.

19th October, Jakarta: 2016 Asian Championships Team gold medallist, Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan and Krizziah Tabora of Philippines set the qualifying pace to lead the Men's and Women's Open Masters standings at the 14th Indonesia International Open.

Sasaki registered two three-games series of 737 and 719 to lead the men's division with 1456. Ex-international and 2012 Indonesia Open champion, Isaac Russell Paul prevented a Japanese one-two finish after the Malaysian took second with 1448.

Sasaki's compatriot and 2016 Asian Championships Team gold medallist, Yuhi Shinbata finished third with 1444. The top three overseas qualifiers will earn a bye and automatically advance to Stage 2 final.

2012 AMF World Cup champion, Syafiq Ridhwan missed the top bracket by 12 pins to take up fourth in the overseas pool with 1431 while ex-international, Kang Bo Long rounded out the top five with 1414.

Kenneth Chua of Philippines registered the first 300 to finished eighth in the standings with 1389 and Prasert Anansatha of Malaysia rolled the second 300, one spot below the Filipino with 1376.

In the local pool, two-time ABF Tour winner, Yeri Ramadona topped the standings with 1397 ahead of 2016 Indonesia National Interstate Championships Trios gold medallist, Diwan Rezaldy in second with 1384.

Rezaldy's team-mate in the National Interstate Championships, Ryan Lalisang completed the top three local qualifiers with 1355 earning an automatic qualification into Stage 2 final. Fachri Ibnu Askar, Billy M Islam and National Interstate Championships Masters gold medallist, Hardy Rachmadian completed the local qualifying pool.

Six local seeded qualifiers, three local qualifiers positioned 7 to 9, nine overseas qualifiers positioned 4 to 12, plus the 11 qualifiers positioned 13 to 23 in the mixed pool together with the defending champion (total 30) will contest Stage 1 final over eight games.

The top 18 finishers in Stage 1 will be joined by the six seeded qualifiers (three local and three overseas) for another eight games in Stage 2 final. The top six finishers will advance to the stepladder finals.

Meanwhile in the Women's Open division, Philippines women occupied the top two positions of the overseas pool with Krizziah Tabora leading with 1351 and Liza Clutario in second with 1338. Debutant, Hikaru Takekawa of Japan took third spot with 1291.

2016 Macau-China Open champion, Novie Phang topped the local pool with 1346 ahead of 2016 Indonesia National Interstate Championships two gold medallist and 2009 Indonesia Open champion, Tannya Roumimper in second with 1342.

Putty Armein occupied third spot to join her compatriots for an automatic qualification into Stage 2 final with 1336. Four local seeded qualifiers, two local qualifiers positioned 5 and 6, nine overseas qualifiers positioned 4 to 10, plus ten qualifiers from the mixed pool together with the defending champion (total 24) will contest Stage 1 final over eight games.

The top 15 finishers in Stage 1 will be joined by the six seeded qualifiers (three local and three overseas) for another eigh games in Stage 2 final. The top six finishers will advance to the stepladder finals.

Open bowlers must complete a three-games Singles, and any two best three-games qualifying series to qualify for the Stage 1 Masters final which will be staged on October 22. Stage 2 will be contested on October 23. The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women in the final Masters standings will also qualify for the final leg of the 2016 ABF Tour on October 24. Qualifying rounds will end on October 21.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.