Dominating performance by Singapore women
10th May, Kuala Lumpur: Singapore women dominated the Women’s Open Masters finals of the 37th Malaysian International Open finishing 1-2-3 with Cherie Tan retaining the women’s crown for Singapore while Daphne Tan and Joey Yeo took second and third spots.
Cherie had to work hard for her victory en-route to claiming the coveted title. Cherie, who was seeded second, won the first match, 224-217 to force a sudden-death decider. She went on to win her first international title this year with a 237-194 victory in the second match.
The champion had earlier breezed past two team-mates, third-seed, Joey Yeo and winner of the first match, New Hui Fen, 244-236-187 in the semi-finals to advance to the championship match.
Hui Fen, who was seeded sixth, ensured an all-Singapore semi-finals after she beat reigning Malaysian National champion and fifth-seed, Sin Li Jane and a fifth Singaporean and sixth-seed, Jazreel Tan, 235-226-172 in the quarter-finals.
Cherie won M$15,000 (approx. S$5,800) as champion with Daphne settling for M$10,000 and Joey M$7,500. Hui Fen earned M$5,000, Li Jane M$4,000 and Jazreel taking home M$3,500.
In the earlier Round 2 finals, Daphne topped the sheet with 1908 pinfalls over 8 games, 52 pins ahead of Cherie in second with 1856 and Joey 1840. Hui Fen edged the sole Malaysian, Li Jane by 14 pins to claim fourth spot while Jazreel earned the sixth and final stepladder spot with 1734.
Geraldine Ng finished 13th position with 1581 ahead of defending champion, Shayna Ng in 14th position with 1568.
In yesterday’s Round 1 finals, Jazreel finished top with 1814 over 8 games followed by Li Jane in second with 1756 and Siti Aishatun Hussin in third with 1729. Hui Fen and Joey Yeo made the cut for Round 2 in sixth and seventh while Daphne squeezed in in tenth position.
Kristin Quah, Bernice Lim and Jasmine Yeong-Nathan failed to progress finishing 15th, 16th and 27th positions respectively.
Meanwhile 2011 Malaysian Open champion, Muhd Nur Aiman returned to the champion’s podium with a victory over topseed, Rafiq Ismail in the all-Malaysian title match. Aiman took the first match, 182-156 before winning the Men’s Open crown for the second time with 209-192 in the decider.
The champion and third-seed sailed past second-seed, Dominic Barrett of England and winner of the first quarter-finals winner, Alex Liew, 257-210-215 in the semi-finals to face Rafiq.
Liew, who was seeded sixth, easily beat fourth-seed and defending champion, Syimir Abdul Razak and fifth-seed, Dhruv Sarda of India, 267-212-177 to advance to the semi.
Aiman pocketed the top prize of M$40,000 (approx. S$15,400) as champion leaving Rafiq settling for M$20,000. Barrett took home M$15,000 as second runner-up while Liew, Syimir and Dhruv earned M$10,000, M$9,000 and M$8,000 respectively.
Javier Tan was Singapore’s best finisher but missed the stepladder finals cut by 22 pins after he ended up eighth in Round 2 finals. Alex Chong took 13th position with 1676, perfect gamer, Joel Tan finished 15th, Suresh Elangovan 17th and Ng Chiew Pang 24th.
Keith Saw, Howard Saw, Darren Ong and Justin Lim qualified for Round 1 finals but did not progress into the second round.
Detailed scores: Stepladder Finals | Women’s Open Round 2 | Men’s Open Round 2 | Women’s Open Round 1 | Men’s Open Round 1 | Photo Album.
Photos courtesy of Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress.