SUBANG JAYA: Hazim Alihanafiah and Gillian Lim were crowned the men's and women's national champions respectively at Sunway Mega Lanes today.
Hazim, 23, made eight consecutive strikes en route to a 267-241 win against overwhelming favourite Rafiq in a highly entertaining final.
Hazim, who competes professionally, earned RM9,000 for his efforts, while Rafiq, who won four gold medals at the recent Asian Championships, received RM4,000.
"This victory is rather unexpected as I was going up against Rafiq, the country's best bowler," said Hazim, who was a national youth team member in 2016 and 2017.
"But having beaten all the national bowlers for this title, it shows that I have what it takes to be part of the national team again. Hopefully, this achievement will carry some weight in the selection for next year's squad.
"I want to dedicate this win to my parents. They couldn't be here to watch me play because they have family matters to attend to in Perak."
For Rafiq, the defeat meant he was denied a fourth title, which could have seen him equal Y.H. Foong's all-time best record.
Rafiq was a three-time winner in 2015, 2018, and 2022.
"Credit to Hazim, he was the better competitor," Rafiq conceded.
"I will continue to bid for my next win and chase more history."
Gillian defeated fellow national teammate Nur Syazwani Sahar 164-158 for the women's crown.
The victory made Gillian the first player to win both the national Open (Malaysian Open in May) and Closed in the same year since Zandra Aziela in 2011.
"I wasn't aware of the national Open and Closed double until I was told, but being able to accomplish this feat definitely adds further joy," said Gillian, who pocketed RM6,000.
"It's been a pretty good year, but hopefully it doesn't stop here."
National youth member Shaqeem Izwan Teh and former international Sharon Koh finished third in the respective men's and women's events.
Shaqeem lost 238-185 to Rafiq in the semi-final, while Sharon's gallant run was ended by Syazwani with a 223-182 loss.
For Sharon, it was so near, yet so far as she was hoping to break clear of the current record-tying fifth title which she shares with Shalin Zulkifli.