Heartbreak for Singaporean

Heartbreak for Singaporean

5th June, Singapore: It was a heartbreak finish for Singaporean, New Hui Fen after losing the semi-final match of the Women’s Open Masters of the concluding 43rd Singapore International Open to settle for third.  Hui Fen, who secured a spot in the stepladder finals as No. 2 seed, lost to Li Hsiao-Ping of Chinese Taipei in the first match while Remy Ong, who was second yesterday, missed the cut to end in sixth position.

After securing a spot in the stepladder finals by finishing second in the second block to leader, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia, New Hui Fen brought home a clean game with 197 but was not good enough to topple fourth-seed, Li Hsiao-Ping of Chinese Taipei.

Li took the match defeating Hui Fen and third-seed, Esther Cheah of Malaysia, 213-191-167 to advance into the finals to face top seed, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia. But Li could not repeat the form she showed earlier losing to Li Jane, 177-213.

The 18-year-old Li Jane became the youngster-ever to win the Women’s crown and pocket the top prize of S$5,000 with Li settling for S$2,500. Hui Fen took S$1,200 for her effort while Esther won S$800.Remy Ong, who was second in the first block, missed the cut for the stepladder finals finishing sixth in the second block. Ong, who was second in the earlier stages, slipped down to fourth towards the end but an unlucky 193 in the final game costed him the chance to advance.

Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chao-Yu, who topped the second block and advance as top seed, defeated challenger and third-seed, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia, 217-197 to clinch the Men’s title and the top prize of S$25,000.

Lalisang, who was 30th in the first block, posted the highest 8-game series of 1842 in the second block to advance into the stepladder finals in third. The Indonesian defeated No. 2 seed, Adrian Ang of Malaysia and No. 4 seed, Phoemphun Yakasem of Thailand, 210-190-174 to face the Taiwanese.

But Cheng was simply in superb form to deny Lalisang the victory. He took home S$10,000 as first runnerup while Adrian won S$5,000 and Phoemphun S$3,000. Overnight leader, Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia also missed the cut in seventh.

Surasak Manuwong of Thailand finished fifth with 3360, just 18 pins from his team-mate. Defending champion, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE managed only 11th position.

Photos by Terence Yaw for SBF.