Malaysia's Esther Cheah defends women's title at 39th Hong Kong International Open

    06/13/13

    Hong Kong, China

    Macau's Zoe Dais Ma win's men's division to capture his first career international title

    2013HKGOpenEstherCheahZoeDaisMa.jpgEsther Cheah (l.) of Malaysia and Macau's Zoe Dais Ma (r.) took different routes to win the women's and men's Hong Kong Open Masters titles Tuesday at South China Athletic Association Bowling Center in Hong Kong, China.

    2012 Hong Kong Open champion Cheah, a two-time WTBA World Champion (2005 Singles, 2007 Team), started the six-player stepladder finals in fifth place and went on to win three consecutive matches to successfully defend her title.

    2013HKGOpenEstherCheah.jpgIMG 2013HKGOpenKimberlyOoi.jpgIn the title match Cheah needed to defeat top-seeded Kimberly Ooi (right) of Singapore twice to retain the title. The Malaysian easily won the first game, 204-156, and wrapped up the title with a 220-193 victory in the deciding game.

    Cheah, who rolled four consecutive games over 200 while her opponents had games between 148 and 193, pocketed the 26,000 Hong Kong Dollars top prize (US $3,350) while Ooi received HK $14,000 for second place.

    On the men's side, Jassim Darwish of Kuwait, seeded fifth, won the first two shoot-out matches against the No. 4 and No. 6 seeded players and the No. 3 and 4 seeds, respectively, to bowl top-seeded Zoe Dais Ma of Macau for the title.

    2013HKGOpenZoeDaisMa.jpg2013HKGOpenJassimDarwish.jpgThe Kuwaiti (left) carried the momentum into the first game defeating the 2011 Asian Schools All Events gold medalist, 201-193, to force a deciding game. Zoe (right) rebounded with a big game to claim his first career international tournament with a 226-198 win in game two.

    In addition to the title Zoe pocketed the HK $55,000 first-place check (US $7,000). Darwish took home HK $22,000 for second place.
    The top 16 Asian men and top 16 Asian women qualified for the fifth leg of the 2013 Asian Bowling Federation Tour Hong Kong 2013 which was contested at the same bowling center.

    Photos courtesy of Asian Bowling Federation

    39th Hong Kong International Open - Men's Stepladder Finals


    2013HKGOpenMenStepladderFinalists.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Zoe Dais Ma, Macau, 419 (2 games), HKG $55,000
    2. Jassim Darwish, Kuwait, 817 (4 games), HKG $22,000
    3. Hussain Al-Suwaidi, UAE, 227 (1 game), HKG $14,000
    4. Shaker Al-Hassan, UAE, 218 (1 game), HKG $7,000
    5. Lee Tak Man, Macau, 173 (1 game), HKG $5,000
    6. Andrew Frawley, Australia, 157 (1 game), HKG $4,000

    Playoff Results:
    First Match: No. 5 Darwish (186) def. No. 4 Lee (173) and No. 6 Frawley (157)
    Second Match: Darwish (232) def. No. 2 Al-Suwaidi (227) and No. 3 Al-Hassan (218)
    Championship: Darwish def. No. Zoe, 201-193
    and in the deciding game Zoe def. Darwish, 226-198.
    Note: The No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.

     


    39th Hong Kong International Open - Women's Stepladder Finals


    2013HKGOpenWomenStepladderFinalists.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 835 (4 games), HKG $26,000
    2. Kimberly Ooi, Singapore, 349 (2 games), HKG $14,000
    3. Chan Shuk Han, Hong Kong, 181 (1 game), HKG $7,000
    4. Ilma Nur Jannah, Singapore, 178 (1 game), HKG 3,500
    5. Joey Yeo Ruoqi, Singapore, 185 (1 game), HKG 2,500
    6. Tracy See, Singapore, 148 (1 game), HKG 1,800

    Playoff Results:
    First Match: No. 5 Cheah (210) def. No. 4 Ruoqi (185) and No. 6 See (148)
    Second Match: CheaH (210) def. No. 2 Chan (181) and No. 3 Jannah (178)
    Championship: Cheah def. No. 1 Ooi, 204-156
    and in the deciding game Cheah def. Ooi, 220-193.
    Note: The No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.

     


    39th Hong Kong International Open - Men's Division after Final Round 2


    The top 6 advance to the stepladder finals.

     


    39th Hong Kong International Open - Women's Division after Final Round 2


    The top 6 advance to the stepladder finals.

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