Falah clinches Saudi Open bowling title

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain national team bowler Yousif Falah has been crowned champion of the 25th Saudi Bowling Federation Men’s Individual Open Tournament, which came to a close on Saturday.

Falah clinched the title after winning the three-bowler final game in the tournament-deciding stepladder round. There, he posted a score of 257 pins to defeat Saudi bowlers Abdullah Abdulaziz Aldolijan (181) and Ammar Yassir Tarrad (138).

Falah had earlier earned an automatic berth in the last step, including a twice-to-beat advantage, after finishing as the top-ranked bowler in the Round of 16 semi-finals.

There, he finished with a 3,305 total and 206.56 average over a gruelling 16 games, which stretched back to the Top 36 phase. He finished well ahead of the rest of the field, which included fellow-Bahraini Ahmed Al Khaja who ranked second with a 3,192 total and 199.50 average.

The rest of the top eight, all of whom advanced to the stepladder, included Hassen Ali Qassem of Kuwait and the Saudi quartet of Tarrad, Aldolijan, Abdulrahman Alkheliwi, Adel Albariqi and Sultan Almasri from fourth through eighth, respectively.

That set the stage for the first game in the stepladder between the last four who made it through, while Qassem and Tarrad automatically advanced to the second match, Alkhaja to the third, and Falah to the fourth and final game. Aldolijan and Albariqi each scored 199 in the first step to move on to face Qassem and Tarrad.

Tarrad (233) and Aldolijan (202) then earned the right to move on to play Alkhaja, where they continued their fine form. Aldolijan was able to post a 202 game and Tarrad 190, while Alkhaja struggled for 135, to set up the final clash with Falah.

Earlier in the tournament, Falah was ranked third in Qualifying, which determined the 36 bowlers to make it through to the knockouts. He had a 1,010 total and 202.00 average over five games.

A total of 90 bowlers competed in the tournament hailing from Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait, the Philippines, Syria and India.