Second runner-up for Singaporean

7th October, Jakarta: Third-seed, Geraldine Ng of Singapore ended her campaign at the 10th Indonesia International Open as second runner-up to the Women’s champion, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia while Isaac Russell Paul of Malaysia clinched the Men’s title.  Ng, who barely made the Round 2 finals after finishing 13th in yesterday’s Round 1, made the cut for the stepladder finals as third-seed.

The Singaporean who had led today’s finals before the last game, slipped down to third, 3 pins from second-seed, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia and another 3 pins from top seed, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia.

In the second stepladder match against the Malaysian and winner of the first match, Novie Phang, Ng rolled a splendid 223 to beat the Indonesian but found Shalin too strong to handle when she fired 234 winning the match and advancing into the title match.

Shalin won the first match against Limansantoso, 243-202 but narrowly lost to the Indonesian, 213-232 in the decider to settle for first runner-up. Limansantoso, who won the 2008 title, pocketted 50 million Indonesian rupiah (approx. US$5,210) as champion.

Shalin picked up 25 million rupiah (approx. US$2,608) as first runner-up and Ng took home 12.5 million rupiah (approx. US$1,300) as second runner-up.

Phang, who beat two Malaysians, fifth-seed Sharon Koh and sixth-seed, Wendy Chai, 215-180-174 in the first match, settled for 10 million rupiah. Koh and Chai earned 8 million and 6 million rupiah respectively.

Defending champion, New Hui Fen of Singapore missed the stepladder cut by 2 pins after she finished seventh in Round 2 while Ilma Nur Jannah and Round 1 second-placed, Bernice Lim finished 10th and 15th positions.

In the Men’s Open division, second-seed Isaac Russell Paul of Malaysia got the better of top seed and EBT leader, Dominic Barrett of England over both the matches to clinch his first major international title.

Isaac took the first match, 202-170 after both had struggled in the beginning of the match and the Malaysian had to strike out to edge Barrett, 241-232 in the decider for the victory.

The champion earned a crack at the title by defeating defending champion and third-seed, Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and winner of the first match and 2010 champion, Hsieh Chin Liang of Chinese Taipei, 202-181-190 in the second match.

The Taiwanese spinner, who squeezed into the stepladder finals in sixth position, beat fifth-seed and Round 1 leader, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand and 2009 champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia, 210-164-204 to advance.

Isaac won a whopping 150 million Indonesian rupiah (approx. US$15,600) as champion. Barrett, who topped the Round 2 finals earlier, settled for 100 million rupiah (approx. US$10,400) while Yannaphon took home 60 million rupiah (US$6,200).

Hsieh earned 40 million, Surasak 25 million and Zulmazran 20 million for finishing fourth to sixth positions respectively. Remy Ong of Singapore missed the stepladder finals by a single pin while three-time Indonesia Open champion, Alex Liew of Malaysia was eighth a further 7 pins away.

Detailed scores: Women’s Open Stepladder | Men’s Open Stepladder | Women’s Open Round 2 Finals | Men’s Open Round 2 Finals | Photo Album.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.