Shaker Al-Hassan (l.), UAE, defeated Saeed Al-Hajri (r.), Qatar, in the championship match at Adhari Bowling Center in Manama, Bahrain, 194-180, to win the inaugural GCC Ranking Championship. Al-Hassan, who captured the No. 1 seed for the 3-palyer stepladder finals with a 289 in the 16th and last game of the preliminaries, had to sit and wait for the winner of the opening match between No. 3 seeded Al-Hajri and compatriot Naif Oqab. The Qatari, who won the Bahrain Open from top seed just two days ago, sidelined Oqab, 210-187.

Mohd Al-Suad (left) from Saudi Arabia took the lead in the 1st GCC Ranking Championship Friday at Adhari Bowling Center in Manama, Bahrain. Al-Suad was one of three bowlers in the 16-player field, who averaged over 200. The Saudi felled 1659 pins and averaged 207.38 over eight games. Khalid Al-Dubyan, Kuwait was second with 1624 and Shaker Al-Hassan third with 1601. All Players will return on Saturday for the second and last 8-game block before the cut to the top three.