KUALA LUMPUR: Bowlers Syazirol Shamsuddin and Sin Li Jane emerged as the men's and women's Open champions at the National Championships on Thursday.
Syazirol secured his first victory by defeating Timmy Tan, the 2016 champion, with a score of 237-225 in a thrilling sudden-death playoff during the stepladder final at the Sunway Mega Lanes.
Although Syazirol had lost the first game 211-193, his top-seed status granted him the privilege of initiating a sudden-death playoff under the one-plus-one format.
Syazirol had previously led the field in the eight-game roll-off with a remarkable total of 1,798, finishing five pins ahead of the second-placed Ahmad Muaz Fishol. Timmy secured the last spot for the title showdown with 1,714 pinfalls.
In the one-game semi-final, Timmy bested Muaz 216-208.
In the women's division, Li Jane became a national champion once again after a nine-year hiatus, defeating Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.
Li Jane clinched her fourth crown in a manner similar to Syazirol, requiring a sudden-death playoff to secure victory with scores of 165-211 and 196-180.
Li Jane had previously claimed the title in 2010 and 2012.
Siti, aiming for her third title, overcame Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal with a score of 255-225 in the semi-final.
Li Jane asserted her dominance by securing the top seed status with a remarkable total of 1,791, significantly ahead of her closest competitors, Siti (1,678) and Nora (1,661).
As champions, Syazirol was awarded RM8,000 as the top prize, while Li Jane received RM5,000.