16 players remain in Masters at World Youth Championships
August 01, 2016
LINCOLN, Neb. - Eight boys and eight girls remain in contention after Monday's opening rounds of Masters competition at the 2016 World Bowling Youth Championships.
The best-of-three single-elimination match play will continue Tuesday at 10 a.m. Eastern live on BowlTV, and the medal round will follow at approximately 11:20 EDT to conclude the 2016 World Youth Championships at Sun Valley Lanes.
The top 24 boys and top 24 girls from a field of more than 200 competitors from 37 countries advanced to the Masters portion of the tournament based on their total pinfall through 18 games of qualifying in singles, doubles and team competition. The top eight seeds received a one-round bye.
Junior Team USA's Michael Tang is one of the remaining players on the boys' side, and his road to extended play Tuesday included a 2-1 victory over reigning World Youth Championships boys' Masters champion, Jesper Svensson of Sweden.
Tang dropped the exciting opening game against Svensson, 288-242, but narrowly escaped with a victory in Game 2, 209-205, to even the match. Svensson had the opportunity to record the win with a double in the 10th frame, but he left a 7 pin on his second effort.
"Bowling against some like Jesper can get to you, with all that he's accomplished, so I knew I would need my striking shoes on," said Tang, who helped Junior Team USA to the gold medal in team earlier Monday. "I gave him all I had the first game, and he put together 10 in a row to shut me out. You have to live with that. I put up a good game and had a good look, so I made some minor adjustments from there and got it done."
In the finale, Tang left no doubt when a ball change helped him start with nine strikes in his first 10 shots, and he was able to advance, 252-218.
"At the end of the second game, I was losing my ball reaction a little bit, so I went to (Team USA head coach) Rod (Ross) and asked what we should do," Tang said. "He said if we get another chance to make a ball change, so that's what I did. I committed to it, and it worked out well."
The 20-year-old right-hander now will rely on the experience he gained while competing at San Jose State University, where he captured the 2015 Intercollegiate Singles Championships title in a similar single-elimination format. The ISC features a single-elimination bracket with three-game total pinfall determining who advances.
"I can reflect upon that and know I have to make every shot count," said Tang, the 2014-2015 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player. "It's a slightly different mindset, but I like the bracket format. It makes me focus harder, and I'm going to take my experience and roll with it."
Also advancing to Tuesday's third round were Tang's teammates, Anthony Simonsen and Wesley Low Jr. as well as Sweden's Pontus Andersson, the gold medalist in all-events.
On the girls' side, defending Masters champion Mirai Ishimoto of Japan won both of her matches to keep herself in the hunt for a second consecutive gold medal in the event.
Ishimoto defeated Nur Syazwani Sahar of Malaysia in the second round, 2-0, to advance to the next round.
Junior Team USA and local University of Nebraska standouts Gazmine Mason and Julia Bond also won and will lace up one more time at Sun Valley Lanes on Tuesday. Mason already owns two gold medals at the 2016 World Youth Championships (singles and all-events).
Masters is the final event of the 2016 World Youth Championships, which also awarded medals in singles, doubles, team and all-events.
For more information on the World Youth Championships, visit https://2016wyc.worldbowling.org.
2016 WORLD BOWLING YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sun Valley Lanes, Lincoln, Neb.
Monday's results
MASTERS
BOYS
STEP 1
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(9) Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, Malaysia, def. (24) Aseel Alroomi, Kuwait, 2-0 (195-185, 229-165)
(10) Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, def. (23) Youri Fens, Netherlands, 2-1 (200-222, 234-207, 236-201)
(11) Mitch Hupe, Canada, def. (22) Alex Chong, Singapore, 2-0 (195-172, 203-203 (10-10, 10-8))
(12) Dylin Hunter, Canada, def. (21) Alex Yu, Hong Kong, 2-1 (246-188, 192-242, 285-224)
(13) Antonino Fiorentino, Italy, def. (20) Muhd Jaris Goh, Singapore, 2-0 (223-179, 244-200)
(14) Michael Tang, United States, def. (19) Ryota Yakuwa, Japan, 2-0 (251-170, 255-246)
(18) Massimiliano Fridegotto, Venezuela, def. (15) Ray Han Cheah, Singapore, 2-1 (146-184, 181-178, 186-157)
(16) Santtu Tahvanainen, Finland, def. (17) Benjamin Martinez, Mexico, 2-1 (200-175, 163-186, 220-148)
STEP 2
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(1) Pontus Andersson, Sweden, def. Fridegotto, 2-1 (182-189, 244-179, 198-172)
(2) Wesley Low Jr., United States, def. Tahvanainen, 2-0 (210-201, 222-187)
Tang def. (3) Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 2-1 (242-288, 209-205, 252-218)
(4) Takuya Miyazawa, Japan, def. Fiorentino, 2-1 (213-214, 235-186, 216-192)
(5) Anthony Simonsen, United States, def. Hunter, 2-0 (225-178, 245-211)
(6) Niko Oksansen, Finland, def. Hupe, 2-1 (245-254, 237-227, 207-196)
Ismail def. (7) Hector Simo, Dominican Republic, 2-1 (192-188, 168-216, 269-174)
Tun Hasnul Azam def. (8) Andre Michow, Germany, 2-0 (235-191, 216-192)
GIRLS
STEP 1
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(24) Veronica Cepeda, Colombia, def. (9) Stephanie Schwartz, United States, 2-0 (220-198, 180-168)
(23) Hong Sunhwa, Korea, def. (10) Jordan Richard, United States, 2-1 (228-175, 150-178, 247-181)
(11) Mirai Ishimoto, Japan, def. (22) Maribel Orozco, Mexico, 2-0 (213-190, 218-201)
(21) Paola Limon, Mexico, def. (12) Seika Fujiwara, Japan, 2-1 (195-190, 179-224, 206-199)
(13) Charlene Lim, Singapore, def. Tracy See (20), Singapore, 2-1 (162-187, 235-179, 245-176)
(19) Amabel Chua, Singapore, def. (14) Keira Reay, England, 2-0 (143-122, 214-181)
(18) Lee Yeongseung, Korea, def. (15) Saskia Malz, Germany, 2-0 (194-181, 237-177)
(16) Kim Jinju, Korea, def. (17) Raquel Orozco, Mexico, 2-0 (213-146, 246-191)
STEP 2
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(1) Gazmine Mason, United States, def. Cepeda, 2-1 (182-210, 226-184, 182-173)
Hong def. (2) Pak Yuna, Korea, 2-1 (220-216, 211-222, 171-168)
(3) Victoria Chin, Malaysia, def. Limon, 2-0 (211-199, 182-153)
Chua def. (4) Filippa Persson, Sweden, 2-1 (187-222, 233-227, 219-202)
Lee def. (5) Anna Andersson, Sweden, 2-0 (227-185, 275-213)
(6) Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, def. Kim, 2-1 (225-194, 189-223, 204-199)
(7) Julia Bond, United States, def. Lim, 2-0 (196-182, 200-189)
Ishimoto def. (8) Nur Syazwani Sahar, 2-0 (212-170, 194-175)
The best-of-three single-elimination match play will continue Tuesday at 10 a.m. Eastern live on BowlTV, and the medal round will follow at approximately 11:20 EDT to conclude the 2016 World Youth Championships at Sun Valley Lanes.
The top 24 boys and top 24 girls from a field of more than 200 competitors from 37 countries advanced to the Masters portion of the tournament based on their total pinfall through 18 games of qualifying in singles, doubles and team competition. The top eight seeds received a one-round bye.
Junior Team USA's Michael Tang is one of the remaining players on the boys' side, and his road to extended play Tuesday included a 2-1 victory over reigning World Youth Championships boys' Masters champion, Jesper Svensson of Sweden.
Tang dropped the exciting opening game against Svensson, 288-242, but narrowly escaped with a victory in Game 2, 209-205, to even the match. Svensson had the opportunity to record the win with a double in the 10th frame, but he left a 7 pin on his second effort.
"Bowling against some like Jesper can get to you, with all that he's accomplished, so I knew I would need my striking shoes on," said Tang, who helped Junior Team USA to the gold medal in team earlier Monday. "I gave him all I had the first game, and he put together 10 in a row to shut me out. You have to live with that. I put up a good game and had a good look, so I made some minor adjustments from there and got it done."
In the finale, Tang left no doubt when a ball change helped him start with nine strikes in his first 10 shots, and he was able to advance, 252-218.
"At the end of the second game, I was losing my ball reaction a little bit, so I went to (Team USA head coach) Rod (Ross) and asked what we should do," Tang said. "He said if we get another chance to make a ball change, so that's what I did. I committed to it, and it worked out well."
The 20-year-old right-hander now will rely on the experience he gained while competing at San Jose State University, where he captured the 2015 Intercollegiate Singles Championships title in a similar single-elimination format. The ISC features a single-elimination bracket with three-game total pinfall determining who advances.
"I can reflect upon that and know I have to make every shot count," said Tang, the 2014-2015 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player. "It's a slightly different mindset, but I like the bracket format. It makes me focus harder, and I'm going to take my experience and roll with it."
Also advancing to Tuesday's third round were Tang's teammates, Anthony Simonsen and Wesley Low Jr. as well as Sweden's Pontus Andersson, the gold medalist in all-events.
On the girls' side, defending Masters champion Mirai Ishimoto of Japan won both of her matches to keep herself in the hunt for a second consecutive gold medal in the event.
Ishimoto defeated Nur Syazwani Sahar of Malaysia in the second round, 2-0, to advance to the next round.
Junior Team USA and local University of Nebraska standouts Gazmine Mason and Julia Bond also won and will lace up one more time at Sun Valley Lanes on Tuesday. Mason already owns two gold medals at the 2016 World Youth Championships (singles and all-events).
Masters is the final event of the 2016 World Youth Championships, which also awarded medals in singles, doubles, team and all-events.
For more information on the World Youth Championships, visit https://2016wyc.worldbowling.org.
2016 WORLD BOWLING YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sun Valley Lanes, Lincoln, Neb.
Monday's results
MASTERS
BOYS
STEP 1
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(9) Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, Malaysia, def. (24) Aseel Alroomi, Kuwait, 2-0 (195-185, 229-165)
(10) Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, def. (23) Youri Fens, Netherlands, 2-1 (200-222, 234-207, 236-201)
(11) Mitch Hupe, Canada, def. (22) Alex Chong, Singapore, 2-0 (195-172, 203-203 (10-10, 10-8))
(12) Dylin Hunter, Canada, def. (21) Alex Yu, Hong Kong, 2-1 (246-188, 192-242, 285-224)
(13) Antonino Fiorentino, Italy, def. (20) Muhd Jaris Goh, Singapore, 2-0 (223-179, 244-200)
(14) Michael Tang, United States, def. (19) Ryota Yakuwa, Japan, 2-0 (251-170, 255-246)
(18) Massimiliano Fridegotto, Venezuela, def. (15) Ray Han Cheah, Singapore, 2-1 (146-184, 181-178, 186-157)
(16) Santtu Tahvanainen, Finland, def. (17) Benjamin Martinez, Mexico, 2-1 (200-175, 163-186, 220-148)
STEP 2
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(1) Pontus Andersson, Sweden, def. Fridegotto, 2-1 (182-189, 244-179, 198-172)
(2) Wesley Low Jr., United States, def. Tahvanainen, 2-0 (210-201, 222-187)
Tang def. (3) Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 2-1 (242-288, 209-205, 252-218)
(4) Takuya Miyazawa, Japan, def. Fiorentino, 2-1 (213-214, 235-186, 216-192)
(5) Anthony Simonsen, United States, def. Hunter, 2-0 (225-178, 245-211)
(6) Niko Oksansen, Finland, def. Hupe, 2-1 (245-254, 237-227, 207-196)
Ismail def. (7) Hector Simo, Dominican Republic, 2-1 (192-188, 168-216, 269-174)
Tun Hasnul Azam def. (8) Andre Michow, Germany, 2-0 (235-191, 216-192)
GIRLS
STEP 1
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(24) Veronica Cepeda, Colombia, def. (9) Stephanie Schwartz, United States, 2-0 (220-198, 180-168)
(23) Hong Sunhwa, Korea, def. (10) Jordan Richard, United States, 2-1 (228-175, 150-178, 247-181)
(11) Mirai Ishimoto, Japan, def. (22) Maribel Orozco, Mexico, 2-0 (213-190, 218-201)
(21) Paola Limon, Mexico, def. (12) Seika Fujiwara, Japan, 2-1 (195-190, 179-224, 206-199)
(13) Charlene Lim, Singapore, def. Tracy See (20), Singapore, 2-1 (162-187, 235-179, 245-176)
(19) Amabel Chua, Singapore, def. (14) Keira Reay, England, 2-0 (143-122, 214-181)
(18) Lee Yeongseung, Korea, def. (15) Saskia Malz, Germany, 2-0 (194-181, 237-177)
(16) Kim Jinju, Korea, def. (17) Raquel Orozco, Mexico, 2-0 (213-146, 246-191)
STEP 2
(Winner advances, loser is eliminated from Masters competition)
(1) Gazmine Mason, United States, def. Cepeda, 2-1 (182-210, 226-184, 182-173)
Hong def. (2) Pak Yuna, Korea, 2-1 (220-216, 211-222, 171-168)
(3) Victoria Chin, Malaysia, def. Limon, 2-0 (211-199, 182-153)
Chua def. (4) Filippa Persson, Sweden, 2-1 (187-222, 233-227, 219-202)
Lee def. (5) Anna Andersson, Sweden, 2-0 (227-185, 275-213)
(6) Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, def. Kim, 2-1 (225-194, 189-223, 204-199)
(7) Julia Bond, United States, def. Lim, 2-0 (196-182, 200-189)
Ishimoto def. (8) Nur Syazwani Sahar, 2-0 (212-170, 194-175)