12th September, Kuching: Melvin Gilbert Gimang Anak Tingau of Hero Bowling, Sarawak bagged the Classified Masters title of the Sarawak International Open Bowling Championships 2025 ahead of Matthew Ong Tzi Ming of Sunway Megalanes in second and Nguyen Phuc Gia Dang of Vietnam third.

Ong got off to a cracking start with 268 in his opening game to lead Abang Aqasha Bin Abang Esmiera of Sarawak by three pins. Nur Muhd Shahirwan Bin Mohd Amin of Singapore and Muhammad Aqil Bin Faizal of Malaysia followed in third and fourth with 255 and 249 respectively.

Nguyen, who shot 238 in his opener, added a sizzling 279 to take over the running, just one pin ahead of Melvin Gilbert Gimang in second and Ong, who shot a respectable 242 in third. Thailand's Rattanapat Chatchaisiri knocked down 290 to add to his back-to-back 216 in his first two games to become the new leader.

The Thai held on to his lead with 226 with Gimang in second and Ong occupying third. Lavina Kho Jia Jie of ABAS, Sarawak shot a sizzling 279 to become the new leader as Melvin Gilbert Gimang moved into second spot and Ong still remaining in third.

Ong picked up his pace with a big game of 268 to take over the lead, followed by Kho in second and Gimang 61 pins adrift in third. Kho regained the lead after the seventh game and 20 pins ahead of Ong. Gimang remained in third, 33 pins adrift.

Kho held on to the lead after the eighth game as Gimang moved into second. Gimang defeated Kho in the ninth and position-round game to snatch victory and the title with 2194. The Vietnamese beat Ong but ended in third with 2148 while Ong finished second with 2175.

Kho suffered a big set back with 143 in her final game to drop out of the podium in eighth. Reyes Lau Hui Qing of Singapore and ex-international Isaac Russell of Sabah completed the top five with 2135 and 2130 respectively. Gimang earned RM20,000 as champion. Ong and Nguyen took home RM10,000 and RM4,000.

The Open Division finals will be held tomorrow at 9:00am local time. The top 4 finishers will proceed to the "Last Man Standing" stepladder shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuching, Sarawak.