3rd November, Doha: 2023 Kuwait Open champion, Pontus Andersson of Sweden took an early lead in the qualifying rounds of the H.H. Amir Cup 2025 underway at Qatar Bowling Federation bowling center on Monday.
Andersson made his first attempt in Squad 22 finishing sixth in the squad with a 3-game series of 730. He then finished third in the subsequent Squad 23 with 715. The Swede wrapped up the day in Squad 24 with a scintillating 776 for a 9-game tally of 2221 to lead the qualifying standings.
Winner of Day 3 High Series Award of 735, Ghanim Abouljassoum of Qatar, who had topped the standings with 2193, dropped one spot down to second. Day 2 High Series Award winner, Mostafa Almousawi of Kuwait took third spot with 2192.
Day 4 High Series Award winner, Soliman Alshuabi of Kuwait finished fourth with 2177 while Qatari youth, Bader Khalid Al Sada rounded out the top five with 2165. Squad 24 leader and likely Day 5 High Series Award winner, Noel Torgersen Hagland of Sweden, took sixth position with 2159.
Pontus Andersson taking an early lead in the standings with 2221
Making up the top eight were two more Qataris, Masaed Al Muraikhi and Nasser Jamal Al Sahoti in seventh and eighth positions with 2155 and 2147 respectively. The top 8 will earn a bye and automatically advance to Step 2 Finals.
Heading qualifiers positioned 9 to 32 was 2025 IBF World Cup Team gold medalist, Tun Hakim of Malaysia with 2146 while the cut in 32nd position is currently held by Kuwaiti youth, Saleh Aladsani with 2002, averaging 222.44. Qualifiers in the second bracket will contest Step 1 finals.
The top 2 highest qualifiers (positioned 33 to 34) from the first two days of competition will make the cut for Step 1 finals. The top 2 highest Qatari youths (positioned 35 to 36) will join in Step 1 finals as well. The top 2 highest Qataris (positioned 37 to 38) and the top 2 from Desperado squad (positioned 39 to 40) will make up the 36 qualifiers.
Qualifying will continue for another three days, up to November 6. The top 3 youths will advance to the stepladder finals after which Step 1 finals will be held on November 7. The top 16 with the highest pinfalls after 8 games will advance to Step 3 finals joined by the eight seeded qualifier for another 8 game. The top 5 finishers will proceed to the Stepladder knockout shootout to determine this year's champion and taking home the top prize of US$25,000 plus a trophy.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha, Qatar.
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Swede takes early qualifying lead
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