KUWAIT CITY, March 2: Serving as the prestigious ending of the 2010 tenpin bowling season, the highly anticipated Cozmo Ranking Finals where the top keglers in Kuwait based on their performance on the different tournaments held last year bowled against each other for the prize and title at stake. Diminutive Cozmo resident bowler Ayad Al Amiri reigned supreme in Group 1 where he brushed aside the twice to beat top finalist Rudy Zablan. Group 2 champion Bong Autida on the other hand extended his superb form up to the final match where he handily defeated Hanadi Mezaeil.
Through the ranking points they amassed from Cozmo sanctioned tournaments held last year, the Top 16 qualifiers in Group 1 and 2 was determined. In the semi finals, the qualifiers bowled a total of 16 games to determine the 6 finalists of each group. The first 8-game block was played in Cozmo Khaifan with the next 8-game block bowled in Cozmo Salmiya. Back to the Group 1 semi finals, veteran Kuwaiti pin breaker Yaqoub Al Shatti emerged on top after the opening 8 games in Khaifan where he collected a total score of 1,757 pin falls for an average score of 219 pin falls per game. Only 10 pins down in second was seasoned Filipino kegler Rudy Zablan with 1,747 pin falls to his credit. As the field head for Cozmo Salmiya, the rest of the group checked in as follows, Fahad Ragheeb-1,734, Ayad Al Amiri-1,718, Jr Sabado-1,707, Tony Zuleta-1,698, Mishary Fadhli-1,677, Ali Boloushi-1626, Abdulatef Omairi-1,626, Fahad Abul-1,624, Al Bautista-1,610, Romy Fermil-1,607, Mike Garcia-1,598, Lee Mills-1576, Fadel Qassem-1,560 and Ric Marimla 1,480.

Finding the Cozmo Salmiya oiling pattern to his liking, Rudy Zablan (2,303) grabbed the lead as he dished out an explosive performance in the first two games of the second 8-game block literally burning the lanes with his 277 and 279 scores. Ayad Al Amiri climbed to second place with 2,229 pin falls with Abdulatef Omairi who rolled in a 265 and 279 now in third after carding 2,182 pin falls. Another exceptional 268 score on the next game put Rudy Zablan way up on top with 2,571 pin falls 130 pins away from Ayad Al Amiri who garnered 2,441. As the top three bowlers managed to maintain their form, the contenders for the 6 finals berth after 14 games were as follows, Rudy Zablan-3,180, Ayad Al Amiri-3,148, Abdulatef Omairi-3,027, Meshary Fadli-2,937, Romy Fermil-2,936, Tony Zuleta-2,932, Al Bautista-2,926 and Fadel Qassem-2,891.
In the penultimate game, Ayad Al Amiri was able to close in on Rudy Zablan but the latter was not about ready to give up the ship as he peppered the lanes with strikes en route to a closing game score of 267. In dominating the leader board, the twice to beat Rudy Zablan finished with a 16-game series score of 3670 pin falls and joining him in the finals were Ayad Al Amiri-3,584, Abdulatef Omairi-3,480, Romy Fermil-3,388, Al Bautista-3,373 and Meshary Fadhli-335. On with the first match of step ladder, Romy Fermil (214) eliminated Meshary Fadhli (204) and Al Bautista (173) in the opening match before bowing out himself as Abdulatef Omairi handed him a 216-203 beating. Against the favored Ayad Al Amiri, Abdulatef stood his ground before being over ran by his more experienced rival 249-235. Ayad Al Amiri extended the championship match after edging top finalist Rudy Zablan 224-215 in game one and then went on to win the title via a 222-202 victory in the deciding game.
Moving on to Group 2, the 16 semi finalists made their way to the Salmiya venue carrying with them the following 8-game series scores they posted in Khaifan, Bong Autida-1,691, Obet Cabrera-1,616, Farid Gabriel-1,608, Noel Bejar-1,544, Nayef Selaili-1,536, Abdullah Faili-1,535, Sonia Mathews-1516, Janet Shaikh-1513, Liza Catapia-1,513, Hanadi Mezaeil-1,505, Emma gatus-1482, Shay Lao-1,450, Rommel Genciana-1,423, Ibrahim Dubayan-1,420, Marjorie Mercado-1,406 and Eddie Pena-1,371. At the end of games 9 and 10, Bong Autida (2,068) kept the number one post followed now by Farid Gabriel-2,016, Obet Cabrera-2,006, Janet Shaikh-1,948, Hanadi Mezaeil-1,931 and Nayef Selaili-1,898. Despite a low 177 and 179 scores in the next two games, Bong Autida (2,434) was able to hang on to the lead with Farid Gabriel closer than ever with 2,421. Briefly, Farid Gabriel took over the driver’s seat in game 13 where he outscored Bong Autida 234-199 but this proved short lived as Bong Autida came back strong in the remaining games of the semis to snatch the top finalist post after submitting a 16-game series of 3,250 pin falls. Out to contest the title were the other 5 finalists namely Farid Gabriel-3,235, Janet Shaikh-3,188, Hanadi Mezaeil-3,133, Ibrahim Dubayan-3,089 and Obet Cabrera-3,086.
In the opening match of the step ladder finals, a tenacious Hanadi Mezaeil (227) showed her male counterparts Ibrahim Dubayan (182) and Obet Cabrera (155) the way to the exit door. Another superb performance gave Hanadi Mezaeil a 244-178 win over Janet Shaikh and this was followed by her 196-167 victory over Farid Gabriel which elevated her to the championship match opposite top finalist Bong Autida. As tension and fatigue took its toll on Hanadi Mezaeil, a fresh and well composed Bong Autida ended Hanadi’s winning run with a title clinching 200-175 decision.