Biggest career win for Singaporean

Biggest career win for Singaporean

19th December, Doha: Singapore's Remy Ong captured his biggest career victory when he narrowly edged Sweden's Peter Ljung, 416-414 to clinch the 9th Qatar International Open title on Saturday evening.   In the two-game total pinfall title match, No. 1 seed, Remy Ong had to covert the crucial 4-8 split in the tenth frame and a nine pin count to take the first match, 198-191. But the Singaporean open in his first frame of the second match as Ljung double his opening two frames.

Ong made up some ground when he knocked down a double in the fourth and fifth frames and when Ljung came across a split in the seventh frame, the match came down to the final two frames to decide the champion.

The top seed struck out from the ninth frame to end with 216 and a two-game total of 416 while Ljung also struck out for a 223 game for a total of 414 allowing Ong a narrow victory.

"The lanes changed very quickly and I had to make a lot of adjustments," said the estatic 31-year-old champion. "Since both of us are left-handed, it prove extremely difficult.

"For sure I was tensed and a bit nervous but I could see that Peter (Ljung) too was as tense. I've won the Qatar Open way back in 2005 and I thought I could win it again last year after I finished as top seed too. But it didn't turn out the way I wanted. But this tie round, it's simply amazing."

Ong had ousted No. 4 seed, Andrew Frawley of Australia, 435-405 in the first semifinal match to advance ti the finals. Last year, Ong was eliminated by England's Dominic Barrett, 439-466 despite finishing as top seed.

Ljung had a convincing victory over No. 3 seed and the sole women finalist, Britt Brondsted of Denmark, 444-397 to face the Singaporean in an-all lefty final. Ong won the top prize of 30,000 Euro while Ljung settled for 15,000 Euro.

Frawley and Brondsted took home 5,000 Euro each as the losing semifinalists. England's Nicki Ainge and Finland's Osku Palermaa won 2,000 Euro each as the EBT Ranking winner. The EBT prize was presented by EBTF President and FIQ secretary general, Addie Ophelders.

The champion had earlier breezed through Stage 3 in the lead with 1370 and another identical 1370 in Stage 4 with a comfortable margin of 135 pins ahead of his nearest rival. The southpaw amassed a total of 2740 to advance into the knockout stage as No. 1 seed.

Ljung finished second with 2605 ahead of Brondsted in third with 2594 and Frawley making the semifinals in fourth with 2521. Top qualifier, Martin Larsen missed the cut by 21 pins with 2500.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.