12th April, Taoyuan: Yuki Murahama of Japan snatched pole position of the Open division qualifying standings at the 1st Formosa International Classic 2024 after the completion of three blocks of qualifying rounds in the early hours of Saturday.

Murahama, who was third with 2625 before the third block, chalked up a sizzling 1402 to take over top spot with 4027. Malaysians, who dominated the early rounds, Musayyar Bin Khalid of Team Dotmod added a 1376 third block to remain in second with an 18-game tally of 4025.

Muhammad Hazim Bin Alihanafiah, also of Team Dotmod and overnight leader, managed 1314 but slipped down to third with 4011. The top 3 highest overseas qualifiers will automatically advance to Round 2 finals.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese Lin Yi Feng, Chang Chih Lin and Lu Kun Yi occupied the top 3 local spots with 3842, 3820 and 3812 respectively. They will also automatically advance to Round 2 finals. Ahmad Aidil Halim of Penang, Malaysia headed mixed pool qualifiers with 3867.

Stanley Lau of Confianza, Hong Kong became the first bowler to surpassed the 1,400 mark with 1438 in his final block to leapfrong in eighth position with 3835. Li Ying Chi, who was third in the top 3 local qualifiers, dropped down to tenth.

Yu Bing Sen of Chinese Taipei, Leung Kim Tung of Hong Kong and Aloysius Kuok of Singapore made the Round 1 finals in the one-game desperado squad with 233, 229 and 225 respectively.

Qualifiers positioned 7 to 51 (45 qualifiers) will contest Round 1 Finals. In other divisions, those eligible to be classified in the Graded division, the top 29 will qualify for the Graded Finals. The top 16, classified as Seniors will contest the Senior Finals.

The top 32 bowling in the spinner style will have contest the special Spinner Finals while those classified as Youth under 22, will contest the Youth U22 Finals. All finals will be staged over the next two days.

Photos courtesy of DongDong Bowling Alley.