14th October, Kuwait: Tony Wong, Ivan Tse and Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, China captured the Men's Trios gold medal of the 2023 IBF World Bowling Championships after defeating challenger Denmark 2-1 in the title match on Saturday.
The topseed edged second-seed, Dan Agerbo Ostergaard, Mik Stampe and Mathias Gronne Ankerdal of Denmark, 211-203 in the opening match of the best-of-3 championship match. But the Danes fought back galantly in the second to win comfortably with 226-182 to force a deciding third match.
Both started off with a strike but Denmark stumbled on a big split in the second frame, which they failed to make the spare. Hong Kong, China added a second strike and then went on a rampage to reel in seven consecutive strikes up to the eight frame.
The Danish trio was playing catch up and with another split in the sixth frame, the match was done and dusted. Denmark put up a glalant show by reeling five strikes-in-a-row and eventually went down 213-265.
Men's Trios champion, Ivan Tse, Wu Siu Hong and Tony Wong
Hong Kong's victory was their second time winning the Trios gold medal at a world championship. Eric Tseng, Michael Mak and Wu Siu Hong triumphed at the 2017 World Championships in Las Vegas, USA.
Wong, Tse and Wu reached the final after dispatching fourth-seed, Anrius Gasparavicuis, Osvaldas Noreika and Rimvydas Balzekas of Lithuania, 2-0 (202-157, 224-175) in the first semi-final match. Denamrk eliminated Ondrej Trojek, Zdenek Minar and Jaroslav Lorenc of Czech Republic, 2-0 (279-244, 203-199) in the other semi to face Hong Kong, China in the final.
The champion had earlier topped Group 1 of the Trios Round 2 with 18 points. There was a four-way tie for second position in the group amongst Lithuania, a second Hong Kong trio of Keith Mark, Eric Tseng and Michael Mak and two Korean trios in which Lithuania won to progress.
Denmark topped Group 2 with 18 points to advance while Czech Republic finished second to join the Danes in the semi-finals. Both Lithuania and Czech Republic went away with the bronze medals. IBF President, Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah presented the medals to the winners and Vice President of Kuwait Bowling presented the bouquets.
Compeition will enter its last day with the Team event to be contested in Bakers' format. The women will be divided into two groups of six teams and the men will be divided into four groups of six teams.
Hong Kong's second trios of Keith Mark, Michael Mak and Eric Tseng
The top 4 from each women's group will make the cut for the next round comprising of 8 teams and the top 2 from each men's group will make the cut for the next round comprising of 8 teams. The top 4 from Round 2 will advance to the semi-finals.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuwait.
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