Dubai: The UAE's national squad member Shaker Ali Hassan got the 2011 season started with a big home win after he defeated top seed and his former coach Patrick Healey Jr of the US in the title match of the Second Dubai International Open Bowling late on Saturday.
Al Hassan, who was seeded second, took the first match 213-177 to force top seed Healey into the sudden-death decider.
Healey continued to struggle while the Emirati left-hander rolled a double and striking out in his final frame for a final 211-178 victory over the American.
The champion had earned the right to challenge for the title after he ousted No 3 seed and winner of the first stepladder match, Rebecka Larsen of Sweden 217-209 in the second match.
"When I saw that Patrick was struggling in the first match, I knew I had a good chance of winning the second match and the title," said the 42-year-old Al Hassan.
"In the match against Rebecka, it was important to build up a good margin as she has an eight-pin handicap. For sure I'm happy to win here and this is a good start for this year. I bowled well throughout this round and it's a big achievement for me to reach this far and to win the title."
Larsen advanced to face Al Hassan with victory over No 4 seed fellow Swede Peter Ljung and No 5 seed Saeed Ebrahim Al Hashemi 238-228-210 in a closely-fought first match.
Al Hassan took home the top prize of Dh60,000, while Healey settled for Dh30,000.
