13th August, Aalborg: China claimed the final glory when Yang Suiling defeated top-seed, Wang Yu-Ling of Chinese Taipei, 446-423 over the two-game stepladder finals to win the coveted Masters Gold medal.

Wang Yu-Ling had chosen the short-oil pattern for the final stepladder match against challenger, Yang Suiling and immediately found the condition to her liking when the top-seed easily took the match, 245-190.

After leading the first of the two games by 55 pins, Wang ran into trouble with a 2-7-10 split in the second frame of the second game. She got to 85 in the fifth frame but then just managed to spare through the rest of the frames except for a strike to seal the tenth for a 178.

Meanwhile, Yang opened with a double, then a nine-spare, repeated this then five strikes and an eight sealed victory to give China their first-ever World Championship gold medal, so they go all that long way home with one gold and one silver.

Wang missed out on setting a record with four gold medals, but matches that of Zara Glover of England who won three gold and one silver in 2003 in Malaysia.

In the earlier match, Lynda Barnes, the higher seed, chose to bowl this match on the long oil pattern. A disastrous game for Barnes, plagued with splits in the fifth, sixth and seventh and tenth frames, whilst the Chinese spinner enjoyed a strikefest, scripted the finale to be China versus Chinese Taipei, both finalists of the 'spinner' ilk.

In the Round-Robin finals in the morning, Wang won seven of the eight games in the first blcok of the Masters, played on the long oil pattern, tripping over the last hurdle to then 13th placed Christel Carlsson of Sweden, 170-188, all games prior to that over 200, but the curse of lanes 1 and 2 struck once more.

It has been one, two, three for Wang, Shalin and Barnes from around the halfway stage, but the door is not shut for those a little further down the standings as the field moved to the short oil pattern in the next and final block. The first block leader stretched her lead to 208 when the second block got underway and despite winning 4 matches and drawing one, she still led by a comfortable 115 pins at the end.

Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli, who was the only bowler in the field who was also a finalist in the 2003 championship, again failed to make the cut loosing to the eventual champion, Yang Suiling in the position round match 190-199 to drop from third to fourth.

Out of the 16 finalists, 10 were from Asia, 4 from Europe and 2 from the American zone. Four spinners and two hook-ball bowlers finished in the top 6 and the final deciding stepladder match was an-all spinner affair. Korea will host the Men's World Championship in 2006 while the next Women's World Championship will be held Monterry in Mexico.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

12th August, Aalborg: Esther Cheah, 19, brought home the Gold for Malaysia, one of the strongest teams from Asia in this Championships, squeaking home with a 199 sixth and final game when she knew she had to hit 193 to win that much sought after Gold medal.

A huge cry of disappointment came as she missed a single pin in the ninth frame and left the door open, but a strike and spare in the tenth saw her home and dry with 1296.

A strong challenge from USA's Lynda Barnes, opening up the series with 245 and 224, fizzled out in games three and four to place 13th overall and fifth on the squad. Zhang Yuhong's 1293, set on the early squad withstood all but Cheah's challenge to earn the silver and a wonderful first-ever medal in World Championship competition for South Africa with Annelize du Pisani clinching the bronze.

The All Events treasures saw Wang Yu-Ling of Chinese Taipei calling for their national anthem to be played for the third time, averaging 214 and a total pinfall of 5132 for gold.

Lynda Barnes' lowest six-game set in the singles still brought her into silver position, 72 pins behind Yu-Ling, and another medal for Malaysia with Lai Kin Ngoh taking the bronze.

Cheah certainly had her heart in her mouth at the end fof the last game and little did she know that her father was watching on the live scoring on his PC in Kuala Lumpur. He was so disappointed when she missed the ninth frame single pin that he closed his computer. Then he had to telephone Malaysian team manager Sidney Tung to get the result.

"I'm so happy to win the gold," remarked Cheah, "but I was so nervous after I missed the single pin. I managed to get my game back together for the tenth frame and was so relived when I got a strike with the first ball. As the scoring system here is so good, I knew exactly what I needed, so the pressure was immense."

"After so many days, what a relief," commented Tung. "I am so pleased that Esther and Kin Ngoh managed to get those vital medals. Esther will now be rewarded by the Malaysian government with RM80,000 (approx. $22,000) and Kin Ngoh will receive RM20,000 ($5,400)."

Lynda Barnes' lowest six-game set in the singles still brought her into silver position, 72 pins behind Yu-Ling, and another medal for Malaysia with Lai Kin Ngoh taking the bronze.

Ten Asians, 2 Americans and four Europeans will contest the Masters tomorrow (Saturday). The sixteen bowlers will bowl a total of 16 games over two blocks of 8 games, first on the long oil and second on the short oil. The top 3 at the end of the finals will proceed to the stepladder finals.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

12th August, Aalborg: Madame Marilyn Planchard from Bourges in France dominated the first squad of the day and the fourth of five squads in the singles event Friday afternoon.

Totalling 1276 over her six games, she came within a whisker of taking over the lead, needing a 218 in the final game to hold pole position overall. Alas, an open frame start and too few strikes meant that she fell 18 pins short of the target of 1294 so is now in sixth place in the standings.

Planchard gave up work to prepare for the World Championships but has not bowled well enough to get into that prestigious table of the top 16 for the Masters. Her unique 'back-up' or reverse hook delivery did not score well in the five-person team event, her lowest six-game showing, but it all came together for the singles.

Her coach Eric Couralt was extremely pleased with Planchard's final event. "Marilyn played a very good line today," he commented. "She has a very good mental game and very much wants to win."

So, the Chinese 'spinner' Zhang Yuhong still tops the leader board and there is just one more squad to take to the lanes. At around 18:00 the three medallists will be crowned and the Championships will move into the Masters on the final day, commencing at 08:00.

The cut in All Events shows Sayuri Yamada Ruiz of Mexico sitting on the edge, a 200 average still the figure to hit for inclusion, but that could rise by quite a few pins by the time this final squad is completed.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

11th August, Aalborg: A determined bid by Fiona Banks of England to hit the headlines at the end of Singles Squad 3 went awry in the sixth and final game to end up only fourth overall despite topping the group.

There was more than a fair tussle among half a dozen players to get into the top echelon, but whether the pressure was too intense can not be told. Nevertheless, that 1293 set by Zhang Yuhong of China in Squad 2 is still the target.

Banks only needed 196 in the last game to take the lead but fell way short on 180, so lies in fourth place overall, but two squads of the 'elite' are still to bowl tomorrow. She has also dropped out of the cut in the all events table.

Strong bids also came from China and Japan whilst Anja Ginge Jensen of Denmark was pleasing the home crowd with a strong start. But she, too, ran into trouble to finish in fifth place in this squad and unlucky 13th in the standings to date.

The all events table still has Yu-Ling Wang of Chinese Taipei in the lead with a 214 average but the 16th place cut line has now moved up to 200 and is likely to jump a lot higher than that when those stars take to the lanes tomorrow.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

11th August, Aalborg: The euphoria of South Africa's Annelize Du Pisani didn't last long as the 'spinners' came back into the frame as the six games of the Singles second squad unfolded this Thursday afternoon.

First of all Trios Gold medalist, Wang Yu-Ling of Chinese Taipei set the pace, but a humble 159 in the fifth game left the gate open for China's Zhang Yuhong and a comfortable 236 in the final game, despite an open frame in the tenth, saw her increase the target to 1293, eight pins better than that set by Du Pisani.

Now the overall leader board, with three squads to bowl, shows Zhang at the top, Du Pisani second and Lai Kin Ngoh of Malaysia third and currently 16th place in all events is with an average of 198, but that will surely increase considerably as the next squads take to the lanes.

Zhang, from the Chinese capital Beijing, has been bowling for around six years and rolls a veteran AMF Cobra bowling ball, 11-pound eight ounces in weight. She can't remember how long she's had it, but it came to her as a gift.

We couldn't get the interpreter to make her understand the question as to whether it was drilled to her specs or whether it just happened to nearly fit. One statement she was able to pass on was that her performance here is her normal bowling level back home.

Spinners took the top three places in this squad and the fourth was in seventh place. There were only four competing this time. Australia's Kate Wilson and Sweden's Eva Jönsson took up fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

11th August, Aalborg: Honors went to South Africa after the conclusion of the first of five squads in the Singles event as Annelize du Pisani, 19, from Victoria set the pace by shooting 1285, an average of 214.

"I came here to bowl my very best so am pleased to be the leader after the first squad," she said at the end of the squad. "I am really enjoying my visit to Denmark, too, and I think that Aalborg is a beautiful city. I'm not too pleased with the weather, though."

Du Pisani plays league at the Mainland Bowl at home and currently holds a 195 average and has been bowling for just eight years. To be 119 pins above that figure on these tough conditions is a major achievement indeed.

Malaysia's southpaw, Lai Kin Ngoh took over the lead briefly after the second game but soon found the pace too hot and relinguish it to Pisani. The other Malaysian, Wendy Chai also had an opportunity when she grabbed the lead in the fifth game but a strong final game from the leader saw Lai and Chai settling for second and third with 1284 and 1272 respectively.

A low game in the sixth aslo saw early pace-setter, Kim Soo-Kyung of Korea dropping to fifth with 1212 behind Filipina, Cecilia Yap in fourth with 1241. Squad 2 takes to the lanes at 13:30.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

10th August, Aalborg: Chinese Taipei clinched their second Gold medal of the Women's World Championship in second block of the five-person event which ended Wednesday afternoon at Lovvang Bowling Center.

Four teams were in contention for the three medals, Chinese Taipei, China, USA and Denmark, and the scores were so close that an open frame, double or just a spare could make all the difference - color or possible podium place.

China and Chinese Taipei were, of course, of the 'spinner' ilk. The other two teams dedicated hook bowlers. Came the tenth frame and USA were the first to finish, posting 6088. Then China failed on the home straight, dropping back with some open frames under the tremendous pressure - 6062.

That made certain that Chinese Taipei were to take the gold if once again Chou Miao-Lin could just spare - and she did it again, just as she did with

the conversion of the 9-10 for the win on Tuesday. So gold again, right after clinching the trios title on Monday night.

Chou Miao-Lin was the sole member of the Chinese Taipei team that won bronze in the trios in the 1995 World Championships in Reno, Nevada. USA came in 12 pins off the pace for the silver medal with 6088, despite Lynda Barnes rolling 225 in the last game.

The Chinese Taipei team spun their way to victory, weaving an average of 203 over the six team games and the top scorer was stalwart Wang Yu-Ling, currently the leader in All Events, the total scores over the 18 games played to date. Her 1249 gave her a 208 average and she is averaging 215 overall.

The top 16 players in All Events, when all 24 games have been completed, will progress to the Masters. Currently, it needs an average of 205 with a 3693 total pinfall to make the cut and within those elite players are six spinners, three from Taipei, two from Singapore and one from China. And just twelve different nations are still in that hunt, the USA, Chinese Taipei and Denmark with more than one likely candidate.

The action tomorrow moves to the singles event, six more games on the short oil pattern.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

10th August, Aalborg: Austria led all the way in Squad A second block of the five-person team event today to finish top of the leader board ahead of Venezuela in second and Hungary third.

The Austrian quintet, comprising of Patricia Klug, Jacqueline Broinger, Eveline Norzt, Christine Seidl and Ivonne Gross completed their six games in the event, their combined score of 5454, just 22 pins ahead of the Venezueleans. Eveline Norzt topped the individual score with 1185, a 198 average for the two days, and was also the highest series of the squad.

However, the big guns take to the lanes at 14:00 local time and there the five-nation battle for medals between Canada, Colombia, USA, Denmark and Australia will be the focus of attention. Sixth placed Chinese Taipei will be looking to get their act together after a disappointing start for those using the 'spinner' style of bowling.

Every ball is going to count over this final squad, playing on the short oil condition, and the atmosphere on the packed concourse, as well as on the lanes, will be electric.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

9th August, Aalborg: The Canadians took pole position in the five-person team event at the end of the first block of 3 games in the Women's World Championship 2005, overtaking Squad 1 leader, Norway.

There's an old saying that the Canadian Mounties, the mounted police, always get their man. Well, over the three games on the long oil condition at the Lovvang Bowl here in Aalborg, Denmark, it was the Canadian women who bagged the top score with 3120.

"This lane condition was tough, very tough," commented team coach Sandy Lowe after the frantic tenth frame finish, with Colombia and Team USA on their tails, and the three teams finish their first stint in that order.

Star of the Canadian team was Caroline Lagrange, 22, on the crest of a wave this year, having won five silver medals in the Commonwealth Championships in Cyprus and recently a further silver in the World Games in Germany. Lagrange signalled her intent of stepping up the pace to gold when she bowled a fine series of 685 over the three games this evening with scores of 217, 213 and 255.

But for a slower start, it could have been the Colombian girls leading the 34 teams in this event. Their first game was 992 and then they stepped up the pace with 1041 and 1042, but that was 45 pins short of the event leaders.

None of the girls managed to hit 700 on this first day of the team competition, but Ann-Maree Putney of Australia came closest, posting 692 with a high game of 245 averaging 218 with a total pinfall of 3276. Sole spinner in the top echelon, Chinese Taipei's Wang Yu-Ling, has an equal average and is just 12 pins back. But the star in Danish eyes was local player Kamilla Kjeldsen, holding third place.

The All Events table, featuring individual scores over the 15 games bowled so far, has Choi Jin-A of Korea in the lead with 3276 followed by Trios Gold medalist, Wang Yu-Ling in second with 3264. Kjeldsen's superb 626 puts her in third spot with 3215.

A unique format tomorrow will see the top scoring teams seeded into the second squad and those in the lower order moved to the opening squad, if not scheduled there already. This move intensifies the excitement over the final games and could become an integral part of all events in the future.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.

9th August, Aalborg: Twelve five-person national teams opened the first squad on Tuesday morning joined by ten makeup teams, the sixth player from the countries participating in this Women's World Championship.

Norway set the pace with an opening 1017, the only team to exceed four figures on this squad, and held the lead after the second game, adding 946. A 942 in the third game clinched pole position on the leader board at the halfway stage with a total score of 2905.

Nearest challengers are the Israelis with a 122 point deficit. Two Norwegians hit over 200 averages, Pernille Gunnerud the top scorer on 615 and team-mate Heide Thorstensen had 604. Guatemala finished third with 2783 total.

All teams play three games on the long oil pattern today (Tuesday) and complete their six-game stint with a further three games on short oil on Wednesday. The second squad, also with 22 teams, is scheduled for 16:00.

Story and photos by Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal International.