Muscat: The Oman Bowling Committee, in partnership with Muscat Nights, has announced the second edition of the Muscat International Open Bowling Championship, which will be held from January 8 to 19 at the Seeb Bowling Centre, with strong international participation expected from some of the world’s top-ranked bowlers.
The new edition follows the success of the inaugural tournament, which attracted 170 players from Oman, the Gulf region and other countries. The title was won by Oman's Musab al Adawi after a highly competitive campaign against the world champions.
The championship is part of the Muscat Nights programme, boosting the popularity of bowling among all age groups.
The conference was attended by Ayman al Jahdhami, Secretary of the Oman Bowling Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mousa bin Waleed al Maimani, Tournament Director, and Hussain al Ramhi, representative of Muscat Nights, along with members of the media.
Al Jahdhami said the renewed partnership with Muscat Nights builds on last year’s success, noting that the championship has become one of the most prominent sporting events within the Muscat Nights calendar. He added that the first edition featured 70 Omani and 100 international players from 11 countries, including Malaysia, England, South Korea, Iran, Indonesia, Thailand and Gulf states, along with world No 1 Tun Hakim of Malaysia and several top-10-ranked players. The event also attracted about 3,000 spectators and created 12 temporary jobs, a figure expected to grow this year.
He also highlighted that the tournament was fully managed by a national Omani organising team and supported by strong logistical arrangements, including designated accommodation at the Maani and Boulevard Hotels, as well as free transportation for all participants.
For his part, Hussain al Ramhi expressed his satisfaction with continuing the partnership, saying the strong success of the first edition encouraged Muscat Nights to develop a bigger and more competitive second edition. He added that bowling was selected because of its strong fan engagement and its ability to attract world-class players, helping promote Oman internationally through high-profile sporting events.
OMANI OFFICIALS TO MANAGE
Mousa al Maimani confirmed that the championship will be held under the regulations of the International and Asian Bowling Federations, making it an officially recognised event. The Seeb Bowling Centre meets all international venue requirements, ensuring world-class competition conditions.
He explained that the first five days will be reserved for local players, followed by international rounds leading to the top 32 qualifiers, who will compete through knockout stages and a step-ladder final to determine the champion.
Al Maimani concluded that all matches will be managed by qualified Omani officials, reflecting the continued growth of bowling in Oman and reinforcing the Sultanate’s reputation as a host of international sporting events.
Hoonpyo Lee, Oman national team coach, said: "We have prepared the national team intensively for about a month, with all training focused on this tournament. Our goal is clear: to compete strongly and aim for the championship. As the host nation, we have taken advantage of knowing the lane conditions, including oil patterns and technical details, to better prepare our players.
"Last year, we achieved a great result by producing a champion, and this gives us strong confidence going into this edition. This tournament is very important for Omani players because it allows them to compete against top international bowlers. While we are still developing, our youth training programmes and strong support from the Ministry are helping us build a strong future for Omani bowling."
RECORD PRIZE MONEY
The organising committee of the Muscat Nights Bowling Championship has increased the total prize fund to USD 78,000 (RO 30,000), to be distributed among the top 32 finishers, making it one of the largest prize pools in tournaments organised by the Oman Bowling Committee. The winner will receive RO 8,500, followed by RO 4,300 for second place, RO 3,000 for third, RO 2,000 for fourth, RO 1,500 for fifth and RO 1,200 for sixth, with cash prizes also awarded up to 32nd place.
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