Big money draws big int'l bowlers to Indonesia Open
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Second Indonesia Open Bowling Championship began here on Sunday, and Filipino Biboy Rivera has a lead in the event after becoming the only bowler to score a perfect 300 to secure the Rp 50 million (US$5,494) cash prize.
"I will have to share the prize if another player also gets a perfect score. But still, the prize is big," Rivera, a member of the Philippines team, told the Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the qualification stage on Tuesday.
Rivera, who won the 2001 SEA Games gold medal and the 2002 Asian Games silver, scored his 300 on Monday, the 21st time he has done it in his 12-year career.
Compatriot Jooney Gatchalian and Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong shared the same view with Rivera.
"The cash prize is bigger than in other countries," bowling instructor Gatchalian said, adding that he only got US$2,700 after winning an international tournament at home.
"So, it is normal to see more international bowlers come to the tournament," he said.
Wu said the prize was indeed very attractive and has lured good players to come and automatically make the competition tougher.
Only Choi Poh Lai of Malaysia, last year's runner up in Women's Open Masters, said she participated in the event to help secure the best 16 in the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) ranking so she could take part in next year's Grand Slam.
"I don't expect much from this event. I'll just try to get a berth in the grand slam," she said.
With a total prize of Rp 490 million, the event, being held at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Alley in Jakarta, has attracted 125 bowlers from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Australia, Britain and Finland.
Last year, the tournament provided a total prize of Rp 460 million.
Men's Open Master champion will get Rp 50 million while Women's Open Master winner will pocket Rp 25 million.
The 2003 Women's Open Master champion, Kirsten Penny of England, is participating in the event but last year's 2003 Men's Open Master winner Tim Mack of the U.S. skipped the championship to take part in a bowling tournament in England.
Some 100 local bowlers also participated in the tournament, but they only had a slight chance to win due to stiff competition from overseas bowlers.
Aside from Open Masters category, the tournament, which will end on Oct. 10, also features Grade A, B and Junior categories.
Grade A is when bowlers can reach a maximum score of 195 for men and 185 for women, while Grade B indicates a class when bowlers are only capable to score a maximum of 180 for men and 170 for women.
Bowlers under 22-years-old will compete in the Junior category.
The tournament will feature Grade A and Junior category finals on Wednesday, followed by the Grade B final and the first round of Open Masters final on Thursday. The second round of Open Masters final will be held on Friday.
The Men's Open final will be participated in by the 36 best bowlers in the qualification round, while some 24 bowlers will compete in the Women's Open final.
On Saturday and Sunday, top 16 in Men's and Women's Open finals respectively will participate in the ABF tour final, held in the same venue.
Tournament committee deputy chairman Mahendra Wardhana said he hoped the event could become one of the most prestigious competitions in Asia. "You've heard what the participants say about the cash prize. It is the main attraction for them to come here."
He also said that the tournament would also motivate local bowlers to improve.