22nd June, Macau: Third-seed, Milki Ng of Hong Kong ended her campaign at the 2019 Macao-China International Open finishing as first runner-up in the Women's Open Masters finals losing to Yanee Saebe of Thailand in the title match.

2016 Thailand Open champion and topseed, Saebe needed only one match to easily defeat challenger Milki Ng of Hong Kong, 234-157 to win her second international women's title. Ng had an early split in her opening frame while Saebe also failed to make a spare in her second frame.

Whilst the Thai recovered with two strikes-in-a-row from frame three, Ng stumbled to another unlucky split in the third frame to trail her opponent. Another split from Ng in the fifth frame gave Saebe much needed confidence for the match.

She then fired four strikes-in-a-row from frame six and never looked back and comfortably winning match. Ng took a narrow victory in the semi-finals against defending champion and second-seed, Misaki Mukotani of Japan and sixth-seed Hee Kar Yen of Malaysia, 208-189-206 to face Saebe.

Meanwhile third-seed Michael Mak of Hong Kong and compatriot, Otto Leung lost to second-seed, Lee Tak Man of Macau, 212-236-261 in the semi-final match to settle for third runner-up.

Topseed and second perfect gamer, Shusaku Asato of Japan beat Lee, 214-217 and 259-236 to win the Men's Open Masters title.

Asato, who rolled the tournament's second 300 in the eighth and final game of earlier the Round 2 finals, advanced into the Stepladder finals as topseed. The Japanese narrowly lost the first match, 214-217 to challenger, Lee Tak Man of Macau forcing a sudden-death decider.

The topseed got off to a sizzling start rolling seven consecutive strikes in the deciding match while Lee responded with a double in his first two frames and rolled four consecutive strikes from frames six to narrow the advantage.

21st June, Macau: 2019 H.H. Emir Cup champion, Wu Siu Hong led Hong Kong to a 1-2-3 finish in the Men's Open Round 1 Masters finals of the 2019 Macao-China International Open ahead of Lau Kwun Ho in second and James Lui in third.

Lui got off the 8-games block with a cracking 267 in his opening game to lead Hong Kong's Leung Yuk Fung by eight pins as two-time champion Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan also registered high games to stay with the leading duo.

The pace-setter added another sizzling 268 to stretch his lead to 32 pins with Leung in second. Lui kept a strong pace with back-to-back 240s to extend his lead to 64 pins at the halfway mark. And adding 227, 234 and 207 in his next three games, it looked he would easily win the round.

His team-mates, Lau Kwun Ho and Wu Siu Hong were the only opponents to stay close to the leader and at once stage had threatened his lead. As it turned out, Lui stumbled to a poor 157 in his final game to give Wu the victory.

Wu amassed a total of 1866 to take the round followed by Lau in second with 1854. Lui settled for third spot with 1852. China's Wang Zhi Yong and Shusaku Asato of Japan completed the top five with 1841 and 1816.

Leung fizzled out to end the round in 14th position while Macau's Lei Hok Hin survived the cut in 18th position with 1737. Hong Kong's Chung Kwong Chuen and Japan's Yuki Tsutsumi both missed the cut by 19 pins sharing 19th position.

Also making the cut for Round 2 were Jimmy Cheung in seventh position, Ivan Tse in 12th and Joshua Chow in 13th positions. Ernest Kwok and Eric Tseng failed to advance ending in 24th and 26th positions.

The top 18 finishers in this round advanced to Round 2 finals joined by the top 3 local and top 3 overseas seeded qualifiers for another 8 games.

The top 6 with the highest pinfalls at the end of the round will proceed to the Stepladder Shootout finals. The Women's Open Masters Round 1 finals will commence later this afternoon while the Men's and Women's Grade A Masters finals will be held late this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau, China.

20th June, Macau: Hong Kong dominated the Youth Masters finals of the 2019 China-Macao International Open with Jacky Lo capturing the title ahead of compatriots, Lee Chun Him in second and Oscar Poon in third.

China newcomer, Huang Tian Yun set a blistering pace with an opening game of 279 to lead Hong Kong's Matthew Pang by 21 pins. Two Hong Kong youths, Jupiter Chan and Jacky Lo stayed close to the leading duo in third and fourth positions.

Despite stumbling to a poor 146 in the second game, Huang remained in the lead but not for long as Lo posted a stunning 289 in the third game to take over the running. Pang kept pace to stay in second, 49 pins adrift.

There was simply no match for Lo from his opponents as the 19-year-old Hong Kong national youth member ended the finals with 225, 185 and 232 to capture his first-ever international youth title with 1320.

Similarly in the Senior division, top qualifier of the Men's Open division, Mi Zhong Li of China was a class above the rest as he successfully defended the title he won in 2017 and 2018 with a 6-game total of 1347, averaging an impressive 224.5.

Hong Kong's Bobby Ho moved into second after the fifth game and remain second at the end of the finals with 1296. 2015 and 2016 Senior champion and perfect gamer, Vong Vang Ip of Macau settled for third position with 1261.

The trio picked up a trophy each together with MOP$5,000, MOP$3,000 and MOP$1,000 prize money for their effor. A new division was introduced this year which was the Men's Grade B category. Macau's Wong Man Ioi snatched victory from pace-setter, Zhang Se Feung of China in the sixth and final game after Zhang managed a poor 169 game. Wong picked up the champion's trophy along with MOP$5,000 prize money with a pinfall of 1199.

Zhang settled for MOP$3,000 after totalling 1191, just eight pins while Lio Wai Keong of Macau finished third with 1177 and MOP$1,000.

19th June, Macau: 2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist, Michael Mak and Ivan Tse powered into a one-two finish in the Men's Open Masters qualifying table on the 2019 Macao-China International Open underway at COTAI Bowling Centre.

Mak posted two stunning three-game series of 768 and 711 for a scintillating 1479 total to lead the overseas pool. 2017 Asian School two gold medallist, Ivan Tse registered two superb series of 732 and 723 to leapfrog into second with 1455.

Leung Yuk Fung gave Hong Kong the top 3 positions after taking up third with 1453. Two-time Macao-China Open winner, Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan was pushed out of the top bracket into fourth position on a total of 1449.

2018 ABF Tour Chinese Taipei champion, Lee Tak Man led Macau's title challenge by occupying sharing top spot in the local pool with Au Hou Chonon 1410. Lei Hok Hin joined the duo in third with 1399. Other Hong Kong qualifiers were Wu Siu Hong in seventh with 1434 and Eris Tseng in eighth with 1427.

Meanwhile, ex-Malaysian international, Hee Kar Yen led the Women's Open Masters overseas qualifying pool with a splendid 1362. The 2018 ABF Tour Macau leg second runner-up posted 695 and 667 to take up the top spot.

Hong Kong's Joey Yip finished second with 1281 while 2016 Thailand International Open champion, Yanee Saebe of Thailand joined the duo for Round 2 finals automatically in third with 1248. Joan Cheng of Hong Kong headed the mixed pool with 1165.

Milki Ng headed the rest of the overseas qualifiers in fourth with 1242 followed by Gig Leung in fifth with 1227 while Joan Cheng headed the mixed pool with 1165 ahead of Chan Shuk Han in third with 1146. Although there are 15 places available in the mixed pool, there are only 10 qualifiers so far.

The top 3 local and top 3 overseas qualifiers will earn a bye and automatically advance to Round 2 finals. Kingkamon Sarntong headed the mixed pool with 1037.