Dubai Open Bowling: Sloan wins youth title, while Hannan takes women's crown

2012 champion, Kim Bolleby of Sweden regained pole position of the Open division standings at the Fifth Dubai International Open Bowling Tournament 2014 after another stunning qualifying round on Sunday.

Bolleby, who was knocked off top spot by UAE national bowler, Naif Oqab on Saturday, chalked up an improved 3-games series of 733 to give him a new 9-game tally of 2174 to pip the Emirati by two pins.

The Swede’s 733 series will most likely win him the 12th qualifying day high series award of Dh1,000. Bolleby had already picked up the ninth day award two days ago with a roll of 725. Naif settled for second with 2172.

Asian Games Incheon 2014 Masters bronze medalist, Shaker Ali Al Hassan notched up 730 at the same squad as Bolleby to take his 9-game tally from 2063 to 2134 securing him third position and making it an all-lefty top 3 seeded qualifiers.

Ghalib Al Bu Saidi of Oman dropped out of the top bracket into fourth from his 2090 total while 2014 Hong Kong Open, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE has yet to make any progress and still occupying sixth position with 2066.

The current cut at 24th position is held by Mohammad Sultan Al Matrooshi of UAE with 1893. With one more day of qualifying left, the cut could go up as high as 1950 or more.

Meanwhile, second-seeded dubutant Christopher Sloan of Ireland captured the Youth title beating top seed, Mustafa Al Mouswai of Kuwait twice in the Youth Stepladder finals.

Sloan overcame a nervy start against Mustafa, but the Irish lad quickly recovered with three strikes-in-a-row to open up a huge gap over his opponent.

The 20-year-old Irish took the first match 185-174 to force a second deciding match. Sloan again had an open frame in the first but kept his cool without further mistakes until the eighth frame which he failed to spare again while Mustafa could not string together any strikes.

The match was more or less decided when Mustafa missed a single-pin spare in the eighth. Sloan went on to take the match, 189-155 and his first-ever international title. He picked up the top prize of Dh20,000, while Mustafa settled for Dh10,000.

Meanwhile top seed, Samantha Hannan of England won the Women’s title by defeating challenger, Uella Marcial of Philippines, 187-162 in the final stepladder match. Hannan earned Dh10,000, while Marcial settled for Dh7,000.

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