10th April, Taoyuan: 2019 Asian Championships Team gold medalist, Ernest Kwok of Hong Kong, China topped the opening squad of Block 1 qualifying rounds of the 1st Formosa International Classic 2024 underway at DongDong Bowling Alley.

Chou Yi-Lun of Chinese Taipei got off the block with a superb 233 opening game to lead fellow-compatriot, Wang Fu-Wei by seven pins. Veteran Taiwanese, Chang Chien-Long, who started with 191 in his first game, shot a big game of 257 to leapfrog into the lead after the second game.

Stanley Lau of Team Confianza, Hong Kong posted 206 and 235 to move into second spot while Chou and Wang stumbled to low games of 166 and 159 to drop out of the running. Chang continued to set the pace with 203 to remain in the lead, albeit just 12 pins ahead of another Taiwanese, Lo Chih Yuan moving up to second.

Kwok, who rolled a 3-game series of 624, shot a sizzling 269 in the fourth game to take over the lead. Chang kept pace with another good game of 232 to trail Kwok by 11 pins. Both the leading duo rolled identical 216 in the fifth game to remain one and two going into the sixth and final game.