16th May, Bangkok: Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand and England's Kirsten Penny captured the 29th Thailand Open Masters crown at Brunswick R.C.A. Bowl this afternnon.

The 18 year-old Annop, who was second in the first block yeasterday, overtook the lead from Singapore's Jack Wong with a score of 1714 to total 3624 pinfalls.

Annop defeated 2nd-seed Jack Wong from Singapore 202-182 in the final stepladder match to claim his first-ever international title. Jack (216) had to settle for second even though he had won the second match against 3rd-seed Andrew Frawley (209) of Australia and Tom Hahl (202) of Singapore.

4th-seed Tom (235) won the first stepladder match defeating 5th-seed and AVIVA ABT Grand Slam champion Purvis Granger (194) from the Philippines and Indonesia's Ray Leonard Lalisang (191).

In the women's division, reigning European champion and top-seed, Kirsten Penny from England had to survive a strong challenge from local favourite, Supaporn Chuanprasertkit for her first Asian title. Kirsten was forced into a sudden-death roll-off after going down 179-183 in the first game but she recovered to win comfortably in the second and final game 258-201.

In the first stepladder match amongst 4th-seed Evelyn Chan and Alice Tay from Singapore and Chinese Taipei's Chien Hsiu Lan, it was the veteran Alice who took the match with 238 against Evelyn's 222 and Chien's 204. And despite scoring well in the second match against 3rd-seed Catherine Kang (203) of Singapore and 2nd-seed Supaporn of Thailand, it was the local favourite Supaporn's 246 that clinched the match.

Detailed scores of the Men's 2nd Block Finals and Women's 2nd Block Finals are available.

The top 14 Asian men and women qualified for the AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour second leg which will be played on the 17 - 18 May at P.S. Bowling.

15th May, Bangkok: Supaporn Chuanprasertkit of Thailand topped the Women's division of the first block Open Masters finals of the 29th Thailand International Open at Brunswick R.C.A. Bowl this afternnon while veteran Jack Wong from Singapore lead the Men's division.

Supaporn, winner of the AVIVA ABT 2002 Thailand Leg impressed with a score of 1714 over 8 games, 51 pins ahead of Singapore's Catherine Kang who downed 1663.

Indonesia's rising women bowler, Happy Soediyono did well to finished third with 1637 followed by England's Kirsten Penny in fourth spot with 1634. The best of the Chinese Taipei representative was Huang Chiung Yao in fifth on a score of 1623 with Singapore's Evelyn Chan in sixth place with 1618.

Another Taipei bowler, Chien Hsiu Lan took 7th spot with 1598 while one pin away came World Youth Singles Gold medalist and 13 year-old, Angkana Netvitesh of Thailand. Newcomer Julie Suoss also from Thailand came 9th another one pin separating while 2001 World Ranking Masters champion, Jesmine Ho from Singapore took up the top 10th spot with 1591.

In the men's division, veteran and ex-international, Jack Wong of Singapore showed that there is still many years left in his bowling career when he topped a strong field of 40 finalists with a score of 1922.

However, the 47 year-old Singaporean is 12 pins ahead of local challenger, Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand. The 18 year-old, who scored a perfect game in the Malaysian International Open in March and won RM50,000 cash award downed 1910 to average 238.75. Third placed was occupied by Australia's Andrew Frawley with 1795 while AVIVA ABT Grand Slam champion, Purvis Granger from the Philippines took fourth spot on a score of 1776.

ABT Grand Slam finalist, Teeraphol S. did well to finish fifth with a score of 1767 followed by Cathay Bowl Junior Classic champion, Yang Nien Hua in 6th with 1762.

The finalists will continue their second block Masters finals tomorrow morning where the top 6 from each division will make the cut for the stepladder finals. Detailed scores of the Women's 1st Block Finals and Men's 1st Block Finals are available.