Nagasaki also receives the Emperor's Cup as the overall point leader in all sports; Tokyo defends the Empress' Cup as the overall female point leader
The bowling team of the host prefecture of Nagasaki (pictured) led both the overall and the women's point standings in the bowling competition of the 69th Japanese National Sports Festival, which was held from Oct. 13-16 at Nagasaki Lucky Bowl in Nagasaki, Japan. At the conclusion of the 2014 Festival, the Emperor's Cup for the overall point leader of all sports went to Nagasaki, while Tokyo defended the Empress' Cup for the prefecture with most points in the women's division.
Two-hander Osku Palermaa (l.) of Finland defeated Ryan Ciminelli (r.), United States, 227-213 and 243-224 to win his fourth career PBA title in the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament Monday afternoon at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. Palermaa received 1 million Baht or approximately $31,240 for the victory. Ciminelli, who was looking for his third PBA title, was consoled with $31,240.
Suh Sang Cheon, Gu Yong Jin and Cho Young Seon lead the top 12 into a fourth-round clash with the top 8 qualifiers Monday morning at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok, Thailand
Korean bowlers dominated the third round of the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament Sunday evening en route to lead the top 12 into a fourth-round clash with the top 8 qualifiers on Monday morning. Suh Sang Cheon paced the 26-player field, consisting of the top 10 of Round 2 and qualifiers 9-24, with 1407 (234.50 average). Suh had games of 273, 195, 253, 236, 229 and 221 to lead his compatriots Gu Yong Jin (1387) and Cho Young Seon (1378) by 20 and 29 pins, resp.
Total 42 players advance to the finals on Sunday and Monday; two-time PBA champion Ciminelli and the next seven players in the qualifying standings earn two byes
Ryan Ciminelli (pictured), United States, put together three-game blocks of 729, 724 and 718 to win the qualifying of the season-ending World Bowling Tour (WBT) Thailand tournament with 2171 total and an average of 241.22 for nine games. The two-time PBA champion leads a field of 42 out of 102 players from 15 countries into the finals on Sunday and Monday at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. Round 2 and Round 3 will be held on Sunday, August 24, starting at 1 and 7 p.m. Indochina Time.
Naif Oqab leads field of 102 players heading into the final day of qualifying
The battle for the top seven spots is heating up as the qualifying in the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament nears its end at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok, Thailand. Qualifying leader Naif Oqab (2151), UAE is followed by four PBA members. Mike Fagan (l.), United States, used high series of 741, 710 and 696 to jump into second place with 2147. Compatriot Ryan Ciminelli (r.) was just one pin behind in third place with 2146.
Naif Oqab (l.), UAE, continued to lead a field of 97 players, 80 men and 17 women, from 15 countries in the qualifying of the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament after the conclusion of Friday's 11 a.m. squad at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. The Emirati has 2151 pinfall total and an average of 239 for nine games. Defending champion Sean Rash (r.), United States, cracked the top 7 with 2060 and an average of 228.89.
Naif Oqab (pictured), UAE, averaged 239 to lead the qualifying in the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament which is underway at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok, Thailand. The Emirati has rolled three-game series of 746, 718 and 687 to lead a field of 81 players from 12 countries with 2151 pinfall total. The WBT Thailand event is the 12th and final tournament of the 2014 World Bowling Tour and offers total prize fund of 4,215,000 Baht or approximately 132,084 U.S. Dollar.
Top-seeded Tomoyuki Sasaki (r.) of Japan and Indonesia's Sharon Limansantoso
(l.)Â emerged as men's and women's Open Masters champions in the 2014 Macau
International Open Sunday at COTAI bowling center in Macau, China. Sasaki topped No. 5 seed, Yannaphon Larp-apharat, Thailand, 193-191, to capture the 70,000 Macau pataca (MOP$) top prize. Limansantoso flew past Chinese Taipei spinner Wang Ya-Ting, 257-180, to win the women's title and MOP$40,000.
Top-seeded Chin wins women's title match against Sharon Limansantoso; Al-Suwaidi defeats top-seeded Yeri Ramadona twice to win the men's title
Victoria Chin of Malaysia and UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi captured the Hong Kong Open Masters titles. In the women's title match, top-seeded Chin defeated No. 2 Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia, 213-209, to seal the victory worth 26,000 HKD. Al-Suwaidi, seeded third, won the first game against top-seeded Yeri Ramadona, 188-162, and then flew past the Indonesian in the decider, 232-168, to win the men's title and 55,000 HKD.
As earlier reported, the PBA and Japan Bowling Promotions have jointly announced the first PBA International Regional program, which will culminate in the Japan World Challenge in January, 2015. The Japan Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport in Japan, has informed Bowlingdigital.com that the PBA announcement conveyed the false impression that international bowlers can participate in these events.
Vincent Lim claims men's title for host country Singapore from top seed
Sin Li Jane of Malaysia and Singapore's Vincent Lim won the women's and men's titles in the 47th Singapore International Open Saturday at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. Li Jane (center) averaged over 240 for three games en route to successfully defend her title from 2013. The Malaysian national team member defeated top seeded Shayna Ng, Singapore, twice to win the title, 258-235 and 223-221.Top seeded Lim topped Ahmad Muaz, Malaysia, 207-175, to win his first career international title.
44 men and 30 women advance to Masters finals starting Friday at Orchid Bowl @ Orchid Country Club in Singapore
Filipino Enrico Lorenzo Hernandez (l.) and New Hui Fen (r.) of Singapore paced the men's and women's qualifying of the 47th Singapore International Open, which concluded Thursday night at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. 44 men and 30 women including defending champions Adrian Ang and Sin Li Jane
of Malaysia advanced to the finals starting on Friday. The top 4 men
and 3 women of the Local and Overseas Pool received one bye.
JFE Chiba River Lanes in Chiba-Shi, Chiba-Ken (May 9-11, 2014)
Former Japan national team member Daichi Teshima (pictured left) of Nagasaki and Misaki Mukotani (right) of Chiba emerged as men's and women's champion in the live TV championship matches of the NHK Cup 48th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships to earn Japan's most prestigious individual bowling titles. It was the first victory in the Japan All-Star Championships for Teshima and the second for current national team member Mukotani after winning in 2010.
Top-seeded Janahi wins men's title by one pin over Mustafa Al Mousawi; third-seeded Soltan wins three consecutive matches to earn the women's title
Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain (l.) and Egypt's Mennat Soltan (r.) won the men's and women's stepladder finals to claim the titles in the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament in Cairo, Egypt. Janahi, the men's No. 1 seed, captured his first major international title with a narrow victory over Mustafa Al Mousawi defeating the 15-year-old Kuwaiti, 226-225. On the women's side, third-seeded Mennat Soltan won three consecutive matches to claim her second Sinai Open title after 2010.
Kim Bolleby (l) of Sweden and Thailand's Angkana Netrviseth (r.) won the men's and women's Open Masters titles at the 40th MWA Thailand International Open in Bangkok Wednesday. Bolleby defeated Vincent Lim of Singapore in the deciding game, 244-222, to capture the 300,000 Baht (approx. US$9,300) top prize. Netrviseth topped compatriot Benchawan Poungthong, 205-193, to win the first women's title for Thailand in the tournament history.
Misaki Mukotani wins Women's Masters title for the third time in her career; Aichi prefecture wins fifth consecutive Men's MEXT Cup; Chiba women bring home MEXT Cup for the second time
Japan National Team members Daisuke Yoshida (l.) from Aichi prefecture and Misaki Mukotani (r.) of Chiba captured the coveted men's and women's Masters titles in the MEXT Cup All Japan Bowling Championships. The 52nd edition of the prestigious event was held from March 12-15 at Inazawa Grand Bowl in Inazawa-Shi, Aichi-Ken, the biggest bowling center in the world with 116 lanes on one floor. The Championships drew 531 bowlers, 317 men and 214 women, from 46 associations.
Top-seeded Larsen defeats England's Dom Barrett in the title match to claim the $25,000 top prize; Shannon O'Keefe (USA) captures the women's title; Aseel Al-Roomi (KUW) takes revenge in Youth final
Denmark's Thomas Larsen (pictured) defeated Dominic Barrett of England, 208-205, to win his second PBA International title in three months in the 11th Kuwait International Open Friday at Cozmo Bowling Center. The top qualifier sealed the victory in the first game of the championship match after Barrett suffered a split in the ninth frame which resulted in an open. Larsen, whose previous PBA title came in the 1st Abu Dhabi WBT in December 2013, received the $25,000 first prize.
Fifteen players remained in the hunt for the title and the $25,000 top prize in the 11th Kuwait International Open 2014 heading into the final day at Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. In three six-game rounds on Thursday, the field was trimmed from 31 to eight players, who will meet the top seven qualifiers in Round Five on Friday. PBA champion Stuart Williams (pictured), the first player from
England to win a PBA Tour title, led the top eight players into Friday's Round 5 with 1436 and an average of 239.33.
Defending champion leads a field of 38 players into the finals on Thursday and Friday; five-time world champion Shannon O'Keefe is the only woman who survives the first cut
Defending Kuwait Open champion Sean Rash (l.), United States, averaged 242.80 for 15 games to win the three-day qualifying in the 11th Kuwait International Open 2014. The 2012-13 PBA Player of the Year leads a field of 38 players into the finals on Thursday and Friday at Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. Five-time world champion Shannon O'Keefe (r.), United States, is the only woman who survived
the first cut in 31st place with 3212 including handicap.
Shaker Al-Hassan (pictured), UAE, topped John Szczerbinski, United States, by two pins, 231-229, to win the 12th Kingdom of Bahrain Bowling Championship Friday at Ozone Entertainment Center in Sitra, Bahrain. Al-Hassan, who earned the No. 1 seed and the advantage that his opponent had to defeat him twice to win the title, won his first World Bowling Tour title and the $25,000 top prize. He does not receive credit for a PBA International Tour title because he isn't a PBA member.
Two-hander Osku Palermaa (l.) of Finland defeated Ryan Ciminelli (r.), United States, 227-213 and 243-224 to win his fourth career PBA title in the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament Monday afternoon at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. Palermaa received 1 million Baht or approximately $31,240 for the victory. Ciminelli, who was looking for his third PBA title, was consoled with $31,240.
Korean bowlers dominated the third round of the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament Sunday evening en route to lead the top 12 into a fourth-round clash with the top 8 qualifiers on Monday morning. Suh Sang Cheon paced the 26-player field, consisting of the top 10 of Round 2 and qualifiers 9-24, with 1407 (234.50 average). Suh had games of 273, 195, 253, 236, 229 and 221 to lead his compatriots Gu Yong Jin (1387) and Cho Young Seon (1378) by 20 and 29 pins, resp.
Ryan Ciminelli (pictured), United States, put together three-game blocks of 729, 724 and 718 to win the qualifying of the season-ending World Bowling Tour (WBT) Thailand tournament with 2171 total and an average of 241.22 for nine games. The two-time PBA champion leads a field of 42 out of 102 players from 15 countries into the finals on Sunday and Monday at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. Round 2 and Round 3 will be held on Sunday, August 24, starting at 1 and 7 p.m. Indochina Time.
Naif Oqab (l.), UAE, continued to lead a field of 97 players, 80 men and 17 women, from 15 countries in the qualifying of the World Bowling Tour Thailand tournament after the conclusion of Friday's 11 a.m. squad at Blu-O Paragon bowling center in Bangkok. The Emirati has 2151 pinfall total and an average of 239 for nine games. Defending champion Sean Rash (r.), United States, cracked the top 7 with 2060 and an average of 228.89.
Top-seeded Tomoyuki Sasaki (r.) of Japan and Indonesia's Sharon Limansantoso
(l.)Â emerged as men's and women's Open Masters champions in the 2014 Macau
International Open Sunday at COTAI bowling center in Macau, China. Sasaki topped No. 5 seed, Yannaphon Larp-apharat, Thailand, 193-191, to capture the 70,000 Macau pataca (MOP$) top prize. Limansantoso flew past Chinese Taipei spinner Wang Ya-Ting, 257-180, to win the women's title and MOP$40,000.
Victoria Chin of Malaysia and UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi captured the Hong Kong Open Masters titles. In the women's title match, top-seeded Chin defeated No. 2 Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia, 213-209, to seal the victory worth 26,000 HKD. Al-Suwaidi, seeded third, won the first game against top-seeded Yeri Ramadona, 188-162, and then flew past the Indonesian in the decider, 232-168, to win the men's title and 55,000 HKD.
As earlier reported, the PBA and Japan Bowling Promotions have jointly announced the first PBA International Regional program, which will culminate in the Japan World Challenge in January, 2015. The Japan Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport in Japan, has informed Bowlingdigital.com that the PBA announcement conveyed the false impression that international bowlers can participate in these events.
Sin Li Jane of Malaysia and Singapore's Vincent Lim won the women's and men's titles in the 47th Singapore International Open Saturday at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. Li Jane (center) averaged over 240 for three games en route to successfully defend her title from 2013. The Malaysian national team member defeated top seeded Shayna Ng, Singapore, twice to win the title, 258-235 and 223-221.Top seeded Lim topped Ahmad Muaz, Malaysia, 207-175, to win his first career international title.
Filipino Enrico Lorenzo Hernandez (l.) and New Hui Fen (r.) of Singapore paced the men's and women's qualifying of the 47th Singapore International Open, which concluded Thursday night at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. 44 men and 30 women including defending champions Adrian Ang and Sin Li Jane
of Malaysia advanced to the finals starting on Friday. The top 4 men
and 3 women of the Local and Overseas Pool received one bye. 
Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain (l.) and Egypt's Mennat Soltan (r.) won the men's and women's stepladder finals to claim the titles in the 16th Sinai International Open Bowling Tournament in Cairo, Egypt. Janahi, the men's No. 1 seed, captured his first major international title with a narrow victory over Mustafa Al Mousawi defeating the 15-year-old Kuwaiti, 226-225. On the women's side, third-seeded Mennat Soltan won three consecutive matches to claim her second Sinai Open title after 2010. 
Kim Bolleby (l) of Sweden and Thailand's Angkana Netrviseth (r.) won the men's and women's Open Masters titles at the 40th MWA Thailand International Open in Bangkok Wednesday. Bolleby defeated Vincent Lim of Singapore in the deciding game, 244-222, to capture the 300,000 Baht (approx. US$9,300) top prize. Netrviseth topped compatriot Benchawan Poungthong, 205-193, to win the first women's title for Thailand in the tournament history.
Denmark's Thomas Larsen (pictured) defeated Dominic Barrett of England, 208-205, to win his second PBA International title in three months in the 11th Kuwait International Open Friday at Cozmo Bowling Center. The top qualifier sealed the victory in the first game of the championship match after Barrett suffered a split in the ninth frame which resulted in an open. Larsen, whose previous PBA title came in the 1st Abu Dhabi WBT in December 2013, received the $25,000 first prize.
Fifteen players remained in the hunt for the title and the $25,000 top prize in the 11th Kuwait International Open 2014 heading into the final day at Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. In three six-game rounds on Thursday, the field was trimmed from 31 to eight players, who will meet the top seven qualifiers in Round Five on Friday. PBA champion Stuart Williams (pictured), the first player from
England to win a PBA Tour title, led the top eight players into Friday's Round 5 with 1436 and an average of 239.33.
Defending Kuwait Open champion Sean Rash (l.), United States, averaged 242.80 for 15 games to win the three-day qualifying in the 11th Kuwait International Open 2014. The 2012-13 PBA Player of the Year leads a field of 38 players into the finals on Thursday and Friday at Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. Five-time world champion Shannon O'Keefe (r.), United States, is the only woman who survived
the first cut in 31st place with 3212 including handicap.
Shaker Al-Hassan (pictured), UAE, topped John Szczerbinski, United States, by two pins, 231-229, to win the 12th Kingdom of Bahrain Bowling Championship Friday at Ozone Entertainment Center in Sitra, Bahrain. Al-Hassan, who earned the No. 1 seed and the advantage that his opponent had to defeat him twice to win the title, won his first World Bowling Tour title and the $25,000 top prize. He does not receive credit for a PBA International Tour title because he isn't a PBA member.