Top-seeded Shaker Al-Hassan (left) flew past local favorite Joonee Gatchalian (right), 299-205, to win the 6th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines, and the one million Philippine Pesos (approx. $23,500) first prize.

The stepladder final was an all-lefthander affair.

Gatchalian, the No. 4 seed, rolled two big scores in the opening matches to defeat No. 3 Raymond Ledesma, United States, 249-180, and No. 2 Gu Yong Jin, Korea, 269-225, for the right to bowl Al-Hassan for the title.

Gatchalian was consoled with 500,000 Pesos. Gu received 250,000 Pesos for third and Ledesma garnered 125,000 for fourth place.

Shaker Al-Hassan (right) felled 1782 pins in the match play round of 8 at the 6th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge and added 55 pins bonus for his 5-2-1 won-lost-tie record to earn the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals with 1837 pinfall total.

Trailing the Arab by just one pin to take the No. 2 seed was Gu Yong Jin, Korea, who had the highest pinfall of all players with 1786 but his three defeats have cost him the top seed.

Round two leader Raymond Ledesma, United States, chalked up 1747 and a 5-3 match play record to land in third place with 1797. Ledesma will meet local favorite Joonee Gatchalian (right) in the opening match. Gatchalian had 1792 including 50 bonus.

The winner of the 6th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines will walk away with one million Philippine Pesos (approx. $23,500).

Raymond Ledesma, United States, leads the top 8 players (pictured) into round robin match play in the sixth Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines. Starting from scratch, Ledesma averaged 234.75 in Final Round Two and felled 1878 pins including three 258 games.

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Places 2-4 belonged to Koreans Kim Jun Young, Gu Yong Jin and Oh Tae Hung with 1851, 1848 and 1833, resp. Alex Liew, Malaysia, was fifth with 1832, with Wu Siu Hong, Hong Kong, in sixth, 1786.

Joonee Gatchalian is the sole Filipino in round robin with 1784. Shaker Al-Hassan took the 8th and final qualifying spot with 1777 and an average of 222.13. Round One leader Lee Tae Ju missed the cut by 14 pins to finish 11th with 1763.

The eight players bowl seven games round robin match play plus position round to cut to the top 4, who will determine the champion in a stepladder final. The winner will walk away with one million Philippine Pesos (approx. $23,500).

Lee Tae Ju and Kim Jun Young, both Korea, had 8-game series of 1919 and 1823 to lead the 6th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge as the field was cut to the top 24 (pictured) at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines.

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Lee (right) started Final Round One with a 279 game and added seven games between 248 and 218 to outaverage his nearest competitor by 12 pins with a 239.88 average.

Second-place finisher Kim had a high game of 277 and a low game of 169. Third place belonged to Wu Siu Hong, Hong Kong, with 1813 including the highest game of the round with 299 in game #4.

Rounding out the top 5 are Aaron Kong, Malaysia and Kim Young Pil, Korea, with 1809 and 1806.

Joonee Gatchalian is the top Filipino in sixth place with 1804. Philippine legend and host center owner Paeng Nepomuceno sits in 15th place with 1734.

Korean Professional Bowlers Association's An Hyun Lim (left) took the 24th and final spot with 1654 including 8 pins handicap each game (198.75 average) and is the sole woman in the Round of 24.

Among those failing to make the cut were Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia (26th); Daniel Lim, Malaysia (28th); Ryan Lalisang, Indonesia (30th); Anne Lorraine Gales, Denmark (32nd); Tim Mack, United States (34th); Jason Yeong-Nathan, Singapore (38th); Paulo Valdez, Philippines (41st); and Putty Armein, Indonesia (43rd).

The remaining 24 players will bowl another 8-game block to cut to the top 8 for round robin match play (seven games plus position round). The top 4 players will advance to the stepladder finals to bowl for the title and the one million Philippine Pesos top prize (approx. $23,500) in a stepladder final.

Photos Yap Kok Wee.

Singapore’s Gregory Gan and Edgar Barroga, Philippines tied for the 48th and final qualifying post in the 6th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge. Both players chalked up 1331 pins as a combined total for their two highest 3-game qualifying series.

Opposite to most tournaments in our sport, the tie was not broken but both players advanced to the finals. Therefore 49 instead of 48 players - actually 33 (now 34) plus the top 3 daily qualifiers of the five qualifying days (15) - will determine the champion at Paeng Nepomuceno's Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines.

Nepomuceno (pictured) is in the race for his 119th international title as he had series of 760 and 756 to advance as one of the daily leaders with 1516, an average of 252.67.

The series was also the highest of the tournament until the final qualifying day. On Sunday, Hong Kong’s Wu Siu Hong (right) earned the bragging rights after he rolled a 790 series and followed it up with 743 for 1533 six-game total and a 255.50 average.

Among the 49 players, who survived the cut were four women, who received eight pins handicap each game. Women professional bowler An Hyun Lim of Korea had the second-highest block on Sunday with 1516 (740, 776) and was the sole women, who advanced as one of the 15 daily leaders.

Joining the Korean in the finals are Anne Lorraine Gales, Denmark (19th, 1428), Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia (35th, 1365) and Putty Armein, Indonesia (left; 36th, 1362).

The 49 finalists will bowl eight games to cut to the top 24. The top 8 after another 8-game block will advance to round robin match play (seven games plus position round), who will determine the top 4 players who will bowl for the title and the one million Philippine Pesos top prize in a stepladder final.

15 daily leaders (places 1-15) plus the top 34 qualifiers (places 16-49) advanced to the finals.