Ryan escapes to WRM 2008 semis

Musthofid ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 05/05/2008 11:24 AM  |  Headlines

CRASING HOME: Putty Armein readies to bowl during the quarterfinals of the 8th World Rangking Masters (WRM) bowling championships at the Senayan Sportainment Bowling Center In Jakarta on Sunday. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

An opponent's rare mistake in the last frame gifted Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia a place in the semifinals of the World Ranking Masters (WRM) 2008 bowling championship in Jakarta on Sunday.

Ryan was in pensive mood, resigned to losing when Mubarak Al-Muraikhi of Qatar inexplicably split the pins in the last frame of the third game when a spare would have sent the Qatari through.

Ryan won the third game by only four pins, 171 against 167 in the quarterfinal encounter. The two players had split the first two games, with Al-Muraikhi taking the first 215-201 and Ryan the second 223-175.

"I knew I was losing and was ready to congratulate him. He had played better than me and deserved to win," said Ryan, whose semifinal run has been a repeat of his WRM debut in Kuwait two years back.

Al-Muraikhi looked disappointed. "I feel bad," he said.

When asked if he lost concentration, he said: "Maybe, but I was not distracted by the cheering audience against (me). I don't care about the audience."

It was a cruel reversal for the player who had hit the highest score at 289 during the preliminary games.

Sunday's competition began with the third round matches in which the 24 men's and 24 women's bowlers from 20 countries played the last eight games in their respective divisions.

The top eight players advanced to the quarterfinals. Ryan finished in third and was paired against Al-Muraikhi, who ended up in sixth place.

Finn duo Sami Konsteri and Jari Ratia were also through to the semifinals. Konsteri, who topped the standings, beat Hussain Al-Suwaidi of United Arab Emirates 238-162, 205-203 while Ratia brushed aside Lucas Legnani of Argentina.

The other semifinal place went to Malaysian Zulmazran Zulkifli, who was forced to play three games in his 225-181, 208-234, 208-195 win over Jesper Agerbo of Denmark.

The female division's semifinals will not feature Indonesian players after Tannya Roumimper and Putty Armein lost.

Tanya, who put on a strong performance on opening day but faltered later, ended up in third position to get an unlucky pairing against 2005 runner-up Wendy Chai of Malaysia.

She made for tough opposition in the first game, which was played on her favorite short oiled lane, before she narrowly lost 203-201. In the second game -- on the long oiled lane -- she plummeted, going down 211-136.

"She was unlucky that she lost in the first game. In the second game, she felt tense from having to win to equal the score," Tannya's coach and father Robby said.

Tannya, whose quarterfinal qualification was an improved run from her first participation in Florida last year, wept after the loss.

Putty won the first game but failed to hold on later, going out 168-179, 203-155, 177-138 to Karen Marcano of Venezuela.

Diana Zavjalova of Latvia and Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia had to play off the first game which Shalin won. However, the Latvian took the next two games 220-199, 189-183 to reach the semifinals.

Krista Pollanen of Finland emerged a 215-168, 244-215 winner over Alicia R. Marcano of Venezuela to grab the last place.

WRM 2008 semifinals

Semifinal pairings at the 8th World Ranking Masters bowling championship in Jakarta on Monday:
Men's division
Sami Konsteri (Fin) vs. Jari Ratia (Fin)
Ryan Lalisang (Ina) vs. Zulmazran Zulkifli (Mas)
Women's division
Karen Marcano (Ven) vs. Diana Zavjalova (Lat)
Wendy Chai (Mas) vs. Krista Pollanen (Fin)

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