KUALA LUMPUR: Timmy Tan proved just why he is one of Asia's best bowlers at the moment after finishing third in the H.H. Emir Cup in Qatar on Saturday.
The 29-year-old, a double gold medallist at the Asian Championships in January, came close to becoming the second Malaysian to win the mixed-field tournament after Shalin Zulkifli in 2005, but he faltered in the Final Step 4 (semi-final).
Timmy's gallant run was halted by eventual champion Kim Bolleby of Sweden 264-222 in a one-game decider.
Timmy had earlier qualified for the top-five title playoff as the second seed after coming second best in the 16-player roll-off.
Timmy chalked up a total of 1,692 over eight games to finish behind Naiq Oqab of the United Arab Emirates (1,696), assuring him of at least a third place.
Hong Kong's Ivan Tse (1,690), Bolleby (1,689), and 2019 winner Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong (1,684) were the other qualifiers.
Bolleby then topped the three-way battle in Final Step 4 (quarter-final) to earn his right to meet Timmy, in which he emerged triumphant.
Bolleby eventually beat Oqab 257-226 to reclaim the title he won in 2012 and took home the US$25,000 (RM117,000) top prize. Timmy pocketed US$12,000 (RM56,000).
"I'm very happy with my performance. I have been able to finish top-five in all recent tournaments - second at the National Championships and fourth at the KL Open too," said Timmy.
"It's a goal of mine to go to every tournament with a top-10 result. For the Emir Cup, I lost to the formidable Bolleby, but overall, I'm very pleased to have battled through tough lane conditions to secure a podium."
The other Malaysians to have finished on the podium in the Emir Cup were Alex Liew (third in 2005) and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (third in 2017).
Timmy is shaping up well for the Storm Cup (Dec 14-21) and Andong Cup (Dec 21-26), both which are part of the Korea Tour legs.