9th December, Doha: Jesper Agerbo of Denmark and defending champion, Kelly Kulick of United States concluded the World Singles Championships 2016 with victory in the finals to claim the gold medal and US$8,000 and US$6,000 bonus respectively.

Agerbo, seven-time European champion, had an early split in his opening frame but bounced back with eight consecutive strikes from frame four to put the match beyond his opponent, Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia, 256-205. The Malaysian failed to get the carry he need and only had a double in the six and seven frames.

The Dane, who won three gold medals at the 2016 European Championships, sailed past fourth-seed, Joonas Jahi of Finland, 234-168 in the first of two semi-final matches to advance to the championship round. The Malaysian edged third-seed, Michael Mak of Hong Kong, 235-224 in the other all-Asian semi to face Agerbo.

Rafiq settled for the silver medal and a bonus of US$5,000 while Mak and Jahi received a bronze medal and a bonus of US$3,000 each.

In the earlier Step 3 finals, Agerbo topped the field with 38.0 points and averaged 232.13 to advance to the semi-finals as top seed. Rafiq finished second with 33.0 points with an average of 223.50.

Mak and Jahi tied with 32.0 points but the Hong Kong national was seeded third with a higher average of 227.13 to Jahi's 222.75. Marcelo Suartz of Brazil missed the cut by 5.0 points after finishing fifth with an average of 221.50. Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand, Christopher Via of United States and perfect gamer, Anze Grabrijan of Slovenia finished sixth to eighth positions respectively.

In the women's final, Kelly Kulick of USA, who became the first women to win the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions, successfully defending the title she won at the inaugural championships in Cyprus in 2012 after beating fourth-seed and the Smithfield PWBA Tour champion, New Hui Fen of Singapore, 214-195.

The gold medallist, who also picked up US$6,000 as bonus, had earlier ousted another Singaporean and 2016 China Open champion, Shayna Ng, 216-172 to advance to the final. New narrowly defeated top seed, Shannon Pluhowsky of United States, 238-237 to face Kulick.

New was awarded the silver medal and received US$4,000 as bonus. Pluhowsky and Ng both received the bronze medal and a bonus of US$3,000 each. Pluhowsky rolled a big game in the eighth and final game of the earlier Step 3 finals with 268 to clinch top seed for the semi-finals with 37.0 points.

Kulick, who had a poor start earning only 1 point for each of her first two matches, crawled her way back up to finish second with 36.0 points and averaging 218.75. Ng edged her team-mate New by half a point on 30.5 points to claim third spot with an average of 211.63 while New secured fourth spot with 30.0 points and averaging 213.88. The top four was decided well before the last match as the closest contender, Ghislaine Van der Tol of Netherlands was 8 points off the pace.

The Dutch finished fifth with 27.0 points and 2016 World Cup champion, Jenny Wegner of Sweden took sixth position with 25.0 points. Laura Beuthner of Germany and Sandra Congora of Mexico was seventh and eighth with 21.0 and 17.5 points.

81 men and 53 women from 50 countries participated in the 2nd edition of the World Singles Championships 2016 hosted by Qatar Bowling Federation. Many competitors will remain in Doha for the PBA-WBT 16th Qatar Bowling Open which will be held from 10 to 16 December at the same bowling centre.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

8th December, Doha: The women's field was cut to the last eight, three each from American and European zone and two from the Asian zone, to advance to the next step of the World Singles Championships 2016 afterthey finished the top two from each of the four groups in Step 2 finals.

Defending champion, Kelly Kulick of United States amassed a total of 45.0 points, the highest in both divisions, to top Group A with an average of 230.50. The 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions winner is joined by Sandra Congora of Mexico in second with 36.0 points. Britt Brøndsted of Denmanrk missed the cut in third with 31.0 points.

Germany's Laura Beuthner led Group B with 39.5 points with an average of 219.25 while Singapore's Shayna Ng clinched second spot in the final game to advance with 34.0 points. Diana Zavjalova of Latvia finished third in the group with 31.0 points and failed to advance.

2016 QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Jenny Wegner of Sweden dictated Group C with an average of 232.38 and 42.0 points. World Championships multiple gold medalists, Shannon Pluhowsky of United States earned second spot with 37.5 points, averaging 225.13. Piritta Marja of Finland was way off the pace in third with 29.0 points.

Ghislaine Van der Tol of Netherlands battled it out with 2016 PWBA Rookie of the Year, New Hui Fen in the final Group D. The Dutch eventually topped the group with 40.0 points despite averaging only 211.63 while New secured second spot with 38 points and an average of 221.00.

The top eight women will resume with another eight games in one group in a similar format as today's Step 2 finals. The top four with highest points will proceed to the medals head-to-head matches with the semi-finals.

The top seed will face the fourth-seed and the second-seed will meet the third-seed in a one-game playoff. The losers will each receive a bronze medal and US$3,000. The winner will advance to the championship match for the gold and silver medals. The champion will receive US$6,000 and the runner-up US$4,000.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

8th December, Doha: Three men each from Asia and Europe and two from America made the cut for Step 3 finals of the World Singles Championships after they finished top two from each of the four groups in the Step 2 finals contested on Thursday.

Top qualifier, Christopher Via of United States topped Group A with 41.5 points in the 8-game match-play style in which the highest scorer in each game receiving 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth. The player with the lowest score receiving 0 point.

Jesper Agerbo of Denmark, who was the last qualifier in 32nd position, finished second with 41.0 points. The American averaged 237.00 while the Dane averaged 231.25 to advance to the next step. Manuel Otalora of Colombia was the highest points scorer in the four groups to miss the cut in fourth with 32.5 points.

Anze Grabrijan of Slovenia, who registered the first 300 of the championships in the fourth game, easily topped Group B with 43.0 points with an average of 234.0, ten points more than Brazil's Marcelo Suartz who finished second with 33.0 points on a 212.13 average. Day 2 top qualifier, Peter Hellstrom of Sweden missed by four points to finish third with 29.0 points

Michael Mak of Hong Kong came out tops in Group C with 42.5 points and an average of 225.50 to lead Joonas Jahi of Finland by 6.5 points. Jahi averaged 216.13 to secure second spot with 36.0 points. Oliver Moriq of Germany failed to advance finishing third in the group with 32.0 points.

Malaysian youngster, Rafiq Ismail was the highest points finisher with 43.5 points, averaging 237.25. Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand finished second behind Rafiq with 37.0 points with an average of 225.75. Host Qatar's hopeful, Jassim Al Muraikhi finished fourth with 29.0 points in the group and failed to advance.

The top eight men will resume with another eight games in one group in a similar format as today's Step 2 finals. The top four with highest points will proceed to the medals head-to-head matches with the semi-finals.

The top seed will face the fourth-seed and the second-seed will meet the third-seed in a one-game playoff. The losers will each receive a bronze medal and US$3,000. The winner will advance to the championship match for the gold and silver medals. The champion will receive US$8,000 and the runner-up US$5,000.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

7th December, Doha: First two blocks leader, Birgit Poppler of Germany ended the third block to win the Women's qualifying rounds of the World Singles Championships 2016 ahead of two Colombians, Clara Juliana Guerrero and Rocio Respreto in second and third.

Armed with a 74 pins lead after two blocks, Poppler had a great start in her third block with 244 in her opening game to extend her lead over Singapore's New Hui Fen to 108 pins. Malaysia's Sin Li Jane slipped to fourth behind QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Jenny Wegner of Sweden in third.

Despite a 209 in the tenth game, the German bounced back with another 244 to stretch her lead to 118 pins. Although the Singaporean kept up a good pace, New still found herself playing catch-up. Wegner remained in third as Li Jane fought back to tie fourth spot with Guerrero.

Poppler ended the block with 182 for an 879 series and a total of 2711 to take pole position. Guerrero shot a big game of 258 to snatch second position with 2658. The Colombian also registered a 966 series to win the daily high-series award of US$200.

Block 2 high-series award winner, Rocio Respreto of Colombia stormed home to clinch third spot with 2597 as New and Li Jane completed the top five with 2595 and 2582 respectively. Wegner ended on a poor 135 to tie with Laura Beuthner of Germany with 2542 but the Swede won the tie-breaker to be ranked sixth and Beuthner ranked seventh for the Step 2 finals.

Defending champion, Kelly Kulick of United States and Karen Marcano of Venezuela tied 18th position with 2446 but Kulick beat Marcano in the tie-breaker to take 17th position and the Venezuelan 18th.

Nadezda Korablinova held on to 32nd position to make the cut with 2254 (average 187.83) despite ending with only 144 while Laura Marcham of England missed the cut by 12 pins to finish in 33rd position.

The top 32 will be divided into four groups of eight players according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style. The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point.

The top 2 in each group will advance to Step 3 finals and the 8 players will be group together and compete in the similar format as Step 2 finals.

The top seed of the group will be matched up against the four-seed and the second-seed against the third-seed over a one-game match-play. The losers of the semi-final will be awarded a bronze medal each while the winners will face each other in the final for the championship match. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion and awarded the gold medal and the loser, the silver medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

7th December, Doha: Leader of the opening squad on Day 1, Christopher Via of United States ended the third block of qualifying rounds at the World Singles Championships 2016 in pole position ahead of Sweden's Peter Hellstrom by three pins.

Overnight leader, Hellstrom set a blistering pace at the start of the third and final block with 248 to widen his gap over team-mate Martin Paulsson to 74 pins. Via rolled a big game of 266 but was content to stay behind compatriot, John Janawicz in fourth.

The Swedish pair remained one-two after the tenth game with 82 pins separating the duo as both the Amercians closed in further. Helstrom struggled at this stage as Via picked up his pace to narrow the gap to 41 pins. Janawicz also kept in close contact as Paulsson gradually fizzled off.

Via ended the final game with 227 to clinch top spot with 977 series and a 12-game total of 2719. Hellstrom managed only 183 to settle for second position with 2716. Janawicz came home third with a 906 series and a total of 2697.

Best Asian was Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand, who took fourth position with 2642 while Joonas Jahi of Finland, Paulsson and Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia tied for fifth spot with 2636.

Rafiq won the tie-breaker amongst the trio to take fifth, Jahi finished sixth and Paulsson eighth. Raoul Miranda of Philippines won the tie-breaker against Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand to finish eighth and the Thai ninth after tying eighth. John Wells of England won the tie-breaker against Muhd Jaris Goh of Singapore to be ranked 20th and 21st.

And lastly, Marek Talpa of Czech Republic won the tie-breaker against Mostafa Almousawi of Kuwait to be ranked 26th and 27th. Mostafa, who registered a series of 997 in the earlier squad, won the third block Daily High-series award of US$300.

Jesper Agerbo of Denmark was the cut in 32nd position with a total of 2470 (average 205.83). Day 1 High-series award winner, Tomas Vrabec of Slovakia missed the cut by four pins in 33rd position and Marcio Viera of Brazil also missed the cut by seven pins in 34th.

The top 32 will be divided into four groups of eight players according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style. The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point.

The top 2 in each group will advance to Step 3 finals and the 8 players will be group together and compete in the similar format as Step 2 finals. The top seed of the group will be matched up against the four-seed and the second-seed against the third-seed over a one-game match-play.

The losers of the semi-final will be awarded a bronze medal each while the winners will face each other in the final for the championship match. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion and awarded the gold medal and the loser, the silver medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

6th December, Doha: Block 1 daily high-series award winner and leader, Birgit Poppler of Germany remained unchallenged extending her lead in the Women's qualifying round of the World Singles Championships 2016 after the second block.

Poppler got off the second block with a superb 235 in the fifth game as Esther Cheah of Malaysia fired the highest game of 244 but made no headway as she was down the field. Clara Juliana Guerrero took over second spot with 221 as Laura Beuthner of Germany slipped to third.

The German continued her relentless pace reeling in back-to-back 216s to stretch her lead to 49 pins. 2016 PWBA Rookie of the Year, New Hui Fen of Singapore homed moved up to take up second spot with two splendid games of 234 and 244.

Poppler ended the second block with 227 for a 894 series and an 8-game total of 1832 to remain in pole position. Hui Fen took second spot with an 893 series and a total of 1758, 74 pins adrift. Sin Li Jane of Malaysia posted the highest game of 277 in the final game to leapfrog into third spot with 1750.

Rocio Respreto of Colombia also ended on a big game of 266 to clinch the Women's daily high-series award of US$200 with 955 and finished fourth overall with 1746. Newly-crowned QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Jenny Wegner of Sweden rounded out the top five with 1718.

Guerrero, who was third in the first block, managed only 791 series to slip down to ninth position. The cut for the top 32 position went to Sandra Conqora of Mexico with 1508 (averaging 188.5). The women will end their qualifying round with the third block tomorrow in the evening.

The top 32 women in the standings at the end of the third block will qualify for the Step 2 finals. They will be divided into four groups according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style.

The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point. The top 2 in each group will advance to Step 3 finals which will be split into two groups bowling in the similar format as Step 2 finals.

The top four will proceed to the semi-finals with the top-seed matched up against the fourth-seed and the second-seed matched up against the third-seed over a one-game match.

The top 32 will be divided into four groups of eight players according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style.

The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point. The losers of the semi-final will be awarded a bronze medal each while the winners will face each other in the final for the championship match. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion and awarded the gold medal and the loser, the silver medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

6th December, Doha: Swedish pair of Peter Hellstrom and Martin Paulsson ruled the second block of the Men's qualifying rounds at the World Singles Championships 2016 on Tuesday with a one-two finish.

Block 1 leader and winner of the Day 1 High-series award, Tomas Vrabed of Slovakia continued where he left off by leading the field after the opening game, 42 pins ahead Marek Talpa of Czech Republic in second.

Hellstrom, who is making his debut at a world meet and eighth in the first block, added a superb game of 255 to his 223 opening game to take over the running as the Czech stumbled to a lowly 172. A second Swede and 2010 World Men's Championships Doubles gold medallist, Martin Paulsson rolled a big game of 277 to move into second, just one pin adrift.

The pace-setter knocked down an equally big game of 279 to extend his lead over his compatriot to 92 pins after Paulsson managed only 188 in the seventh game.

With 757 after three games, Hellstrom looked set to easily over-take Squad 1 leader, John Janawicz of the United States, needing only 149 or more.

The 41-year-old Swede ended the block with 234 for a sizzling 991 series and an 8-game tally of 1886 to become the new overall leader. Paulsson bounced back with a second big game of 278 to clinch second spot for a 978 series and 1838 total. Talpa finished third in the squad with 1743. John Wells of England and Marcelo Suartz of Brazil completed the top five with 1727 and 1718 respectively.

Hellstrom, who picked up the Day 3 High-series award of US$300, and Paulsson occupied the top two spots in the overall standings going into the third block tomorrow. Janawicz settled for third with 1791 followed by Mats Maggi of Belgium and Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand rounding out the top five.

The top 44 will be assigned to Squad B for the third block while players positioned 46 to 81 will be assigned to Squad A. The Men's first squad will continue with the third block tomorrow morning and the second squad in the afternoon.

The top 32 men and top 32 women in the general standings at the end of the third block will qualify for the Step 2 finals.

Each division will be divided into four groups according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style.

The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point. The top 2 in each group will advance to Step 3 finals which will be split into two groups bowling in the similar format as Step 2 finals.

The top four will proceed to the semi-finals with the top-seed matched up against the fourth-seed and the second-seed matched up against the third-seed over a one-game match. The losers of the semi-final will be awarded a bronze medal each while the winners will face each other in the final for the championship match. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion and awarded the gold medal and the loser, the silver medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

5th December, Doha: 2015 PABCON Championships triple gold medallist, John Janawicz of United States took over the lead of the Men's Squad 1 after completing the second block qualifying rounds of the World Singles Championships 2016 while Mats Maggi of Belgium won the second Daily High-series award.

Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia, who was second after the first block, moved into the lead after the fifth game as overnight leader, Christopher Via of United States stumbled to a poor 179 to slip down to fourth.

Frank Drevenstedt of Germany shot the highest game of the block with 279 to take up second, eight pins behind the Malaysian while Janawicz remained in third, a further 11 pins adrift. Disaster struck Rafiq when he rolled a poor 142 in the sixth game to drop out of contention.

Drevenstedt took over the running with Janawicz moving up into second spot, 11 pins behind the German. The American added 214 in the seventh game to narrow the gap to just six pins as Drevenstedt continued to lead the pack.

Annop Arromsaranon of Thailand shot 268 to move into third as Via recovered slightly to move back up into fourth. Mats Maggi shot a big game of 277 to haul himself into contention.

Janawicz ended the block with 234 to become the squad's new leader with 876 series and a total of 1791. The Belgium ended the block with another superb game of 253 to win the daily high-series award of US$300 with 922 and finished second with 1772.

Annop took third spot with a second block series of 901 and a total of 1765. Drevenstedt managed 884 series to finish fourth with 1754 while Via rounded out the top five with 1742.

Muhd Jaris Goh of Singapore and Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand took sixth and seventh positions with 1740 and 1734 respectively. Rafiq recovered with 277 in his final game to finish eighth with 1734.

The Men's Squad 2 will bowl their second block of four games tomorrow morning followed by the women's second block in the afternoon. The top half of the 81 men after the second block will be assigned to Squad A and the bottom half to Squad B for their third and final block of qualifying on December 7.

The top 32 men and top 32 women in the general standings at the end of the third block will qualify for the Step 2 finals.

Each division will be divided into four groups according to their rankings and will bowl against each player in a round-robin match-play style. The bowler with the highest score will receive 7 points, the second highest 6 points and so forth up to the bowler with the lowest score receiving 0 point. The top 2 in each group will advance to Step 3 finals which will be split into two groups bowling in the similar format as Step 2 finals.

The top four will proceed to the semi-finals with the top-seed matched up against the fourth-seed and the second-seed matched up against the third-seed over a one-game match. The losers of the semi-final will be awarded a bronze medal each while the winners will face each other in the final for the championship match. The winner of the final will be crowned the champion and awarded the gold medal and the loser, the silver medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

5th December, Doha: 2016 European Championships Trios gold medallist, Birgit Poppler led a Germany one-two finish in the Women's first block qualifying rounds of the World Singles Championships 2016 ahead of Laura Beuthner in second.

Two-time QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Clara Juliana Guerrero of Colombia had an almost perfect start in her opening game of the first block with 278 to lead 2016 Hong Kong Open champion, Esther Cheah of Malaysia by 13 pins.

Guerrero could not hold on to the lead after she was over-taken by Laura Beuthner of Germany when the latter rolled back-to-back 256 and 257 for the Colombian to trail in second by 23 pins. Kristie Lopez of Puerto Rico was third, a further five pins away.

Beuthner added a 246 in her third game but could not extend the lead as her compatriot, Birgit Poppler moved into second with just four pins separating the German duo with Lopez moving two pins ahead of Guerrero.

Poppler completed the first block with 229 to take pole position with 938 to win the Daily High-series award of US$200. Beuthner settled for second with 902 and Guerrero took third spot with 901.

Lopez and Diana Zavjalova of Latvia completed the top five with 891 and 883 respectively. The cut at 32nd position after the first block, to advance to Step 2 final went to Ebru Ozogluuntur of Turkey with 756 (averaging 189.0).

The Squad 1 men will resume with their second block of four games after lane maintenance while the Squad 2 men will take to the lanes tomorrow morning. The women will resume with their second block in the afternoon.

Lopez and Diana Zavjalova of Latvia completed the top five with 891 and 883 respectively. The cut at 32nd position after the first block, to advance to Step 2 final went to Ebru Ozogluuntur of Turkey with 756 (averaging 189.0).

The Squad 1 men will resume with their second block of four games after lane maintenance while the Squad 2 men will take to the lanes tomorrow morning. The women will resume with their second block in the afternoon.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

4th December, Doha: European Youth Championships silver medallist, Tomas Vrabec of Slovakia surprised a strong field to take top spot of the Men's first block qualifying rounds at the World Singles Championships 2016 en-route to winning the high-series award.

Marcio Viera of Brazil set a cracking pace with 269 in his opening game to lead Jamie Gonzalez of Colombia by one pin with 2016 Asian Championships triple gold medallist, Michael Mak of Hong Kong trailing in third, a further five pins away.

Viera managed only 204 in the second game to slip down to third as Gonzalez added a good game of 227 to take over the running. Vrabec rolled the highest single game of 279 to move up to second while Qatar's Jassim Al Muraikhi also had a big game of 269 to keep pace with the leaders.

Another strong game from Jassim gave the Qatari youngster the lead after the third game as Aleksei Prshukov of Russia took over second spot while Vrabed and Gonzales slipped down to third and fourth.

Vrabec ended the block the strongest with 256 to snatch top spot with 953. Jassim settled for second with 929 and Gonzales third with 925.

Marek Talpa of Czech Republic and the Russian completed the top five with 918 and 912 respectively. Vrabec also beat Squad 1 leader, Christopher Via of United States by nine pins to win the Day 1 High-series award of US$300.

The American finished second overall with 944 while Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia rounded out the top three with 938. Jassim took fourth and Gonzalez finished fifth.

The women will contest their first block of four games tomorrow morning followed by the Men's Squad 1 resuming their second block of four games qualifying round. The Men's Squad 2 will bowl their second block on December 6 followed by the women in the afternoon completing two blocks.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

4th December, Doha: 2012 World Youth Team gold medallist, Christopher Via of United States topped the opening squad of the Men's first block qualifying rounds at the World Singles Championships 2016 underway at Qatar Bowling Centre.

Via, 24 got off the block with a splendid 242 to lead 2016 World Youth Doubles silver medallist, Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia by seven pins and 2014 Incheon Asian Games Singles gold medallist, Yannaphon Larpharat of Thailand in a close third, two pins further away.

Rafiq added a strong 241 in his second game to move into the lead as Via managed only 211 dropping down to fourth. Frank Drevenstedt of Germany and Paul Stott of Ireland took up second and third.

The Malaysian continued to lead the field of 39 players in this squad with another strong game of 259 but was unable to stretch his lead as Romeo Gagenoiu of Romania shot the highest game of the block with 290 to move into second with the gap remaining at 20 pins.

Via bounced back with 233 to move one spot up into third with the second American, John Janawicz occupying fourth position.

Via ended the block with 258 to snatch pole position with 944 while Rafiq managed only 203 to settle for second with 938, just six pins adrift.

Janawicz also finished strongly with 257 to take up third spot with 915 while Stott and Drevenstedt rounded out the top five with 887 and 870. The Romanian, Gagenoiu suffered a poor 149 to end in 12th position.

The remaining 42 men will contest their first block of four games after lane maintenance. The player with the highest four-game series from the combined squad will also win US$300 courtesy of host, Qatar Bowling Federation.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.

2nd December, Doha: Eighty-one men, fifty-three women and fifty-five officials from fifty member countries of World Bowling will be vying for glory when the 2nd World Singles Championships 2016 gets underway at Qatar Bowling Centre on Sunday.

Seventeen countries from the Asian zone comprising of Australia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates and host, Qatar.

Twenty-six countries from the European zone comprising of Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Wales.

Seven countries from the Pan-American zone comprising of Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela making up the total of fifty countries.

The second edition of the World Singles Championships of not more than two men and two women from each country will bowl three blocks of four games each (12 games total) in the Step 1 qualifying rounds to determine the top 32 men and top 32 women for Step 2.

The top 32 qualifiers will be divided into four groups (8 players each group) and each player will bowl against every other player in the group every game. The highest scoring player in each group will be awarded 7 points, the second highest scoring player will be awarded 6 points, the third highest 5 points and so forth down to the lowest receiving 0 point.

The top 2 highest point scorers in the standings in each group (total 8 players) will advance to Step 3 where they will bowl 8 games in one group in the similar format as in Step 2.

The top 4 players from the points standings will advance to the semi-finals seeded one to four. The top seed will bowl against the fourth-seed and the second-seed against the third-seed over one game match. The losers will each be awarded the bronze medals.

The winners of the semi-finals will bowl one game in the championship match for the gold and silver medals. As an added bonus, the host Qatar Bowling Federation will award prize money to the top four winners of each division.

The men gold medallist will receive US$8,000, the silver medallist US$5,000 and the bronze medallists US$3,000 each while the women gold medallist will receive US$6,000, the silver medallist US$4,000 and the bronze medallists US$3,000 each.

The official practice sessions will be held on December 3 followed by the opening ceremony and welcoming reception at Westin Hotel in downtown Doha. The three blocks of qualifying rounds will be staged over four days from December 4 to 7.

Step 2 finals will be contested on December 8, Step 3 finals, semi-finals and finals on December 9. The championships will conclude with the medal ceremony followed by a farewell party.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha.