12th January, Hong Kong, China: Overnight Group A leader, USA added five wins in today's block ending the 2025 IBF World Cup qualifying rounds with 33 points ahead of Saudi Arabia in second as China topped Group B with 30 points followed by Macau, China in second.

USA's Kris Prather, Matt Russo, Chris Via and Packy Hanrahan had maxed out yesterday's block of 6 matches with 18 points going into the second block of seven matches today. The American quartet lost their match but bounced back to win their next two.

Another lost in the fourth match saw USA slipping down to fourth. The Americans recovered again to end strongly with two additional wins for a total of 11 wins and 33 points. Saudi Arabia's Abdulrahman Al Kheliwi, Ahmed Abualreesh, Bandar Alyabah and Abdulmajeed Alaslani, who were sixth in the first block, won all their six matches to haul themselves up to second with 30 points.

Qatar's youth team of Ibrahim Al Moraikhi, Talal Al Marri, Masaed Al Muraikhi and Abdulrahman Al Doseri leaped frog from tenth to third winning five matches to share third spot with Kuwait, Denmark, Costa Rica and Singapore with 24 points each.

Germany squeezed into the Round of 16 in eighth position with 21 points from four wins yesterday and only three wins in this block. Australia missed the cut by three points after a disappointing ninth.

Singles gold medalist, Du Jian Chao led his team-mates, Shi Guan Ming, 2016 World Cup champion, Wang Hong Bo and first perfect gamer, Qi Wan Kang from eighth to tie with Macau's Lam Iek Long, Chau Lei Man, Chan Tak Seng and Lee Tak Man on 30 points in Group B.

Peru's Adrian Tokashiki, Daiki Eda, Alejandro Ishikawa and Kenny Kishimoto, who topped this group yesterday, settled for third with 27 points after picking up four wins only. Bermuda surprised the field by making the cut and sharing fourth spot with Philippines, Malaysia and Puerto Rico on 24 points a piece.

Thailand survived a one-game tie breaker defeating host, Hong Kong, China 222-214 after both finished with 21 points each. The top 8 from Groups A and B qualified for tomorrow's Top 16 best-of-five Bakers Format elimination round.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.