Hazirah shines in Vegas, could face Li Jane for Queens title
KUALA LUMPUR: Debutant Nur Hazirah Ramli is on the brink of a sensational victory at the prestigious USBC Queens as she and compatriot Sin Li Jane stormed into the top five stepladder finals of the PWBA Tour major in Las Vegas yesterday (May 19).
Hazirah appeared unfazed in her maiden PWBA Tour appearance. She booked her place in the title match after toppling several Tour heavyweights - including Colombia's Clara Guerrero, American Missy Parkin and Poland's Daria Pajak - during the two-day match play stage at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino.
Played over a three-game series with total pinfall determining the winner, Hazirah marched to the final from the "Winners Bracket" but narrowly missed out on securing the top seed billing after falling 603–699 to American Josie Barnes.
Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is now just two wins away from capturing one of the PWBA's most coveted crowns.
"The thought of reaching the final is exciting. After all the years of sweat, tears and miles travelled, it now comes down to (securing) two wins," said Hazirah.
"I'm trying my best not to let the moment overwhelm me, but instead to stay present and enjoy it."
She is assured of at least a third-place finish which is already a remarkable achievement for her Tour debut.
Li Jane, the reigning PWBA Player of the Year, secured the third seed slot by topping a fiercely contested four-way playoff in the "Elimination Bracket" with a scorching 735 series.
She outscored Bercier (685), Guerrero (679) and American Elysia Current (641) to stay in the title hunt.
In the stepladder format, Guerrero will face Canada's Valerie Bercier in the opening match, with Li Jane awaiting the winner.
A victory would set up an all-Malaysian final between Li Jane and Hazirah in the US$60,000 (RM257,000) competition.
For Li Jane, this marks her third stepladder finals appearance at the Queens, having finished fifth in 2016 and runner-up in 2019.
Li Jane will be aiming to replicate her superb 2024 season, which saw her capture four titles — including two majors, the US Women's Open and the PWBA Tour Championship — en route to being crowned Player of the Year.
A USBC Queens triumph would complete her collection of PWBA majors and further cement her legacy.
She has already shown signs of solid form this year, having finished sixth at the season-opening Topeka Open in Kansas just two weeks ago - narrowly missing out on a top-five stepladder spot.
Several other Malaysians also made it to the top 64 match play stage, marking the strongest national presence at the USBC Queens since 2017.
All competed out of their own pockets, as the PWBA Tour is not covered under the national team's annual tournament budget.
Among them were reigning World Cup winner Natasha Roslan, Gillian Lim, Nur Syazwani Sahar, Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal, and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.
Natasha's run was halted by Li Jane herself, while Gillian fell to Stephanie Casey, Syazwani was stopped by Parkin, Nora lost to Rebecca Hagerman and Siti was defeated by Bercier.
Esther Cheah and Alisha Iman Cheong did not advance past the preliminary 15-game roll-off.
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