5th October, Petaling Jaya: Second-seed, Muhammad Aiman Syahin of Selangor narrowly defeated top-seed, Megat Zaqrul Haiqal of Pulau Pinang on the fifth one-ball roll-off tie-breaker to win the Men's Open Masters title of the 47th Malaysian National Tenpin Bowling Championships 2025 while Faten Najihah Binti Ahmad Faik of Pahang triumphed in the Women's Open division.

The 36th Interstate two gold medalist, Muhammad Aiman won the first match, 256-242 to force a sudden-death deciding second match. Both matched strides-for-strides by rolling six consecutive strikes each leaving nothing between the two title contenders.

Megat Zaqrul blinked first and was unable to continue his strikefest, leaving a stubborn pin-7 in the seventh frame which he made sure to convert the spare. Muhammad Aiman thought he would shoot another strike but was surprised after he left a single pin standing too.

The match finished in a thrilling end with both striking out to tie with 279 a piece. This forced a one-ball roll-off to break the tie and decide the winner. Frame after frame both had identical ball up to the fourth frame. Megat rolled nine pin and Muhammad struck to win the tie-breaker and sealed his victory.

The champion had earlier dispatched third-seed and 36th Interstate Men's Singles gold medalist, Muhd Adam Darwish of Pulau Pinang/MMBC 247-222 in the semi-finals to face the top-seed. The 19-year-old Muhammad Aiman pocketed the top prize of RM9,000 and a trophy.

Megat Zaqrul took home RM4,500 and Muhd Adam Darwish earned RM2,000 as first and second runners-up. YBhg Dato' Najeeb Abdullah, President of MTBC was on hand to witness the stepladder finals and presented the prizes and trophies assisted by Mr Robert Lu, Senior Vice President of MTBC.

In the earlier 8-game finals, Megat Zaqrul amassed a total of 1981 pinfalls to advance to the stepladder finals as top-seed. Muhammad Aiman and Muhd Adam Darwish made the cut in second and third with 1896 and 1868. Reigning Malaysian Open champion, Ethan Damien Goh missed the cut by 17 pins after finishing fourth with 1851.

Meanwhile, top-seed Faten Najihah needed only one match to beat challenger and second-seed, Nur Anis Anisya Bt Muhd Zaffli of Kedah, 201-188 in the final to capture her first major Women's Open Masters title. Nur Anis Anisya had earlier edged four-time National Champion and Podium squad member, Sin Li Jane, 203-195 to advance to the final.

The 28-year-old Faten Najihah led from start to finish in the earlier 8-game finals to advance to the stepladder finals with 1967, 86 pins ahead of Nur Anis Anisya in second with 1899. Sin Li Jane rolled four big games in the second half to clinch third spot with 1885.

Adelia Nur Binti Irwan Syazalee of Selangor missed the cut by just six pins after ending the finals with a poor 192. Faten Najihah won a moderate RM6,000 and a trophy as champion. Anis Anisya and Sin took home RM3,000 and RM1,500 respectively as first and second runners-up.

Earlier in the morning, Ezzat Ezain Bin Makhir of Kedah captured the Men's Graded Masters title with 1904, 14 pins ahead of Nyak Arif of Pulau Pinang in second with 1890 and Amirul Syafiq of Perlis in third with 1877.

Mayra Khayreena of Pulau Pinang bagged the Women's Graded Masters crown with 1682, 17 pins ahead of Adriana Ramiza Binti Ramulo of ABAS/Sarawak in second with 1675 and Nur Anis Anisya of Kedah in third with 1668.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Petaling Jaya.