Young-seon emerges as a surprise Masters winner

PETALING JAYA: It was never in Cho Youngseon’s plan to participate in The Masters bowling championships.

The South Korean had just tagged along with his wife and former national bowler Son Yunhee for the competition at the Sunway Mega Lanes.

But once Young-seon arrived here, he decided to bowl for fun and to his surprise, it turned out to be a fruitful outing as the 32-year-old rolled down his first win in 17 months to walk away RM40,000 richer as The Masters champion.

He defeated Malaysia’s independent bowler Ahmad Aidil Abdul Halim 203-193, 257-187 in the stepladder final.

“It definitely feels great to become The Masters winner. You know ... it’s one of the hardest tournaments to win in the world,” said a thrilled Young-seon, who was the men’s Masters gold medallist at the 2013 World Championships in Henderson, the United States.

“I came twice previously in 2012 and 2013 but I failed to even qualify for the final. This time, I made the cut and won.

“I would not have come if not of for my wife. “I struggled in my last two outings and I didn’t think I stood a chance.

“But since I made my way here, I thought might as well I join the fray,” said Young-seon, last tasted victory by winning singles gold at the World Games in July last year.

Young-seon and Yun-hee shot to fame when they became the husband-and-wife couple to bag the men and women’s Masters titles at the world meet in 2013.

Asked if he has ever dreamt of a stepladder final against his wife, Young-seon quipped: “The winner is already decided even before the first throw – my wife!”

While Young-seon was over the moon, the 22-year-old Ahmad Aidil rued over the one that gone away.

After stamping his class with a superb 2,410 pins to qualify for the stepladder finals as the top seed, he crumbled under pressure.

All he needed was a strike in the 10th frame in the first game to secure his career’s biggest victory but he could only spare for Young-seon to win 203-193.

Ahmad Aidil’s lack of big match experience certainly showed as the South Korean easily powered his way to a comprehensive 257-187 win in the second game.

“There’s no shame in defeat. I’ve lost to a world champion,” said Aidil, who pocketed a cool RM20,000.

“I’m still grateful for the runner-up finish, this is still the best-ever international outing to date,” added Aidil, who is hopeful that this decent outing could possibly earn him national team callup next year.

World champion Rafiq Ismail fell short in his bid to add a third win to his previous victories in 2011 and 2015 when he finished third.

“It’s okay, that’s bowling. I just returned from Hong Kong (world meet).

“I made the cut and a third-place finish just within three days, what more can I ask for.”