The Sarawak International Open 2025 concluded on Saturday at Megalanes Sarawak
in Kuching, Malaysia, with Muhammad Aqil Bin Faizal of MMBC, Penang taking the
Open Masters title.
The 18-year-old secured victory in the Last
Man Standing stepladder shootout, defeating 10-time PBA Tour title winner and
2022 Sarawak champion Dominic Barrett in the final, 253–248.
In the championship match, both bowlers opened with five consecutive strikes. Barrett left a single pin in the sixth frame, while Aqil struck again in the sixth and seventh to build a 19-pin lead. Both players spared the eighth and ninth frames, before Barrett finished strong with three strikes in the tenth for 248. Aqil needed a spare in his final frame and, after leaving a six-count, he converted and followed with a strike in the bonus frame to seal the win with 253.
The path to the final began with the first stepladder match, where Ahmad Muaz Bin Fisol of Malaysia, seeded fourth, was eliminated after posting 177. Barrett advanced with 267, joined by Ryo Fukumitsu of Japan with 249, while Aqil stayed close with 247. In the next match, Fukumitsu fell short on 213 against Barrett’s 225 and Aqil’s 245, setting up the decisive title match between the Brit and the Malaysian.
Aqil collected the top prize of RM20,000 (approx. 4,000 Euros). Barrett earned RM10,000 (approx. 2,000 Euros) as runner-up, while Fukumitsu and Ahmad Muaz took home RM5,000 (approx. 1,000 Euros) and RM2,500 (approx. 500 Euros) respectively.
This year’s Sarawak International Open attracted 145 contestants in the Open Division, continuing its role as one of Malaysia’s major international bowling events.
