17th April, Bangkok: Newly-crowned Men's Grade B champion, Hiroki Tachibana of Japan took over the Men's Open standings after the first block of qualifying rounds at the 50th MWA-Thailand International Open Bowling Championships while Lavina Kho Jia Jie of ABAS, Sarawak topped Squad B in the Women's Open division.

Lin Yi Feng of Chinese Taipei had the best start with 233 in his opening game to lead Hiroki Tachibana of Japan by just three pins. Two Thais, Pawat Ungtrakul and Pollakit Thanasang were third and fourth with 224 and 223. Pawat added a superb 256 in the second game to take over the lead.

A second Japanese, Ryota Iguchi rolled 237 to his 209 opener to take up second, 34 pins adrift Li managed 190 to slip down to third. Despite a 203 in the third game, the Thai remained in the lead. Tachibana bounced back with 224 to move back up to second.

The Japanese ended with 215 and 222 to top the squad with 1143. Tachibana also overtook Squad A leader, Timmy Tan of Malaysia to become the new leader in the overall standings after two squads. Iguchi gave Japan a one-two finish in this squad with 1082 but only 10th in the overall standings.

Eldred Kho Yek Zhen of Malaysia stormed home with a stunning 267 to finish third behind the two Japanese with 1078. Pawat and a third Thai, Piyawat Mekto rounded out the top five with 1066 and 1059 respectively.

Meanwhile, Lavina Kho Jia Jie of ABAS, Sarawak led from start to finish with lines of 268, 192, 212, 183 and 200 to top the Women's division in this squad with 1055. Newly-crowned Women's Grade A champion, Yanee Saebe of Thailand took second spot with 1019.

Chanakorn Wutti of Thailand finished third with 1015 while Pinmanus Khumchaipoom of Thailand and Nur Fathi Fatihah Binti Zakry of Malaysia completed the top five with 951 and 922. Kho ended third in the overall standings. Squad A leader, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia remain the leader with 1076.

Squad D will take to the lanes for their first block of five games at 5.00pm local time. Squad C will contest their first block at 9.00pm.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.