QubicaAMF WORLD CUP 2009 IN MALAYSIA
14th - 21st November 2009
Caroline Lagrange of Canada and Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea are the QubicaAMF Bowling World Champions

Schedule per 1. November 2009

TeilnehmerInnen per 1. November 2009
 

20091119
We now know the names of the top eight players in each section of the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup.

With one game to go, the men’s section was all but certain as Hussain Al Suwaidi of the UAE in 8^th place had a cushion of 70 pins over 9^th place. And so it was to prove. Although Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong did his best with a 247 game, he finished up 10 pins shy of the cut of 6838.

It looked as if it might be the same for the women, but Baek Seung-ja of Korea had other ideas. She hit a 257 final game, while Evgenia Tsarkova, so long near the top of the leaderboard, fell off the pace with a 181 game and, like Wicky, missed the cut (6760) by 10 pins.

Diana Zavjalova of Latvia bowled extremely well, hitting the highest eight game block of all the players, men and women, with 1889, finishing with games of 279 (joint high game for the tournament) and 268. This is by far the best result ever for a Latvian player, and she is just 50 pins off the coveted 3^rd place and a place in the stepladder final.

Three other women hit sets over 1700 – Zara Giles (England) with 1751, Siti Safiyah Amirah (Malaysia) with 1722 and Helen Johnsson (Swede) with 1706.

The scoring in the men’s section was high all round. Martin Larsen of Swden hit 1887 including a 298 which is joint high game for the tournament. Michael Schmidt of Canada hit 1886, Ryan Leonard Lalisang of Indonesia, 1835 and Walter Ray Williams Jr (USA) 1828.

Our quarter finalists are, in the men’s section

Choi Yong-Kyu, Korea, 7358

Ryan Leonard Lalisant, Indonesia, 7201

Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7169

Michael Schmidt, Canada, 7165

Walter Ray Williams Jr, USA, 6984

Zulmazran Zulkifli, Malaysia, 6956

Surasak Manuwong, Thailand, 6894

Hussain Al Suwardi, UAE, 6838

And in the women’s

Zara Giles, England, 7026

Siti Safiyah Amirah, Malaysia, 6963

Caroline Lagrange, Canada, 6884

Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 6834

Tennelle Milligan, USA, 6809

Helen Johnsson, Sweden, 6798

Liza del Rosario, Philippines, 6793

Baek Seung-ja, Korea, 6760

2091118
The final qualifying round of the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia, produced some very high scoring, with Siti Safiyah Amirah, the home favourite, leading the way with an amazing 1893.

Her set brought her right up from ninth to second place, 34 pins behind England’s Zara Giles, who has led after every round so far, with Canada’s Caroline Lagrange dropping to third.

Apart from Siti Safiyah, two other players shot over 1800: Helen Johnsson of Sweden on 1820 and  Tennelle Milligan of the USA on 1805. And another six had sets over 1700: Zara Giles (England) 1783, Caroline Lagrange (Canada) 1759, Patcharin Torgerson (Norway) 1753, Isabelle Sacco (France) 1746, Sayuri Yamada (Mexico) 1725 and Evgenia Tsarkova (Russia) 1704.

It was also a great day for Latvia, India and Moldova. Diana Zavjalova, Prathima Hegde and Uliana Grosu respectively recorded the highest ever finishes for their countries, none of which had ever made the top 24 before.

Uliana, who is just 18, was on tenterhooks as she waited with her mother for the results to come through and was overcome with emotion when she saw her name go up in 24^th place, making the cut. “It is only the 5^th time my country has been represented at the Bowling World Cup. Last year in Mexico I came 46^th and I am just so happy with my result here,” she said.

High game for the women so far is 279, shared by Siti Safiyah and Sayuri. The overall average for all 66 competitors was 187.6 with 20 women averaging over 200.

The qualifiers are

Zara Giles (England) 5275

Siti Safiyah Amirah (Malaysia) 5241

Caroline Lagrange (Canada) 5218

Evgenia Tsarkova (Russia) 5175

Tennelle Milligan (USA) 5122

Liza del Rosario (Philippines) 5098

Helen Johnsson (Sweden) 5092

Baek Seung-ja (Korea) 5065

Ann Maree Putney (Australia) 5054

Patcharin Torgerson (Norway) 5032

Laura Rhoney (Scotland) 5015

Isabelle Sacco (France) 4998

Tina Hulsch (Germany) 4997

Wendy Kok (Netherlands) 4982

Diana Zavjalova (Latvia) 4945

Sayuri Yamada (Mexico) 4913

Pia Burkal (Denmark) 4873

Joey Yip (Hong Kong) 4832

Prathima Hegde (India) 4811

Katrien Goossens (Belgium) 4806

Bernice Lim (Singapore) 4794

Reija Lunden (Finland) 4789

Putty Insavilla Armein (Indonesia) 4751

Uliana Grosu (Moldova) 4743.   

20091118

After the second block of eight games, England’s Zara Giles remains on top in the women’s section of the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia. She is now on 3492 an average of 218.

Evgenia Tsarkova from Russia remains in second place on 3471 after hitting 1720, but Canadian player Caroline Lagrange hit the high eight-game set of the day – men or women – with 1805 and leapt up into third place from 10^th overnight.

Four other women shot more than 1700 – Liza del Rosario of the Philippines (1782), Baek Seung-Ja of Korea (1770), Beatrix Pesek of Hungary (1718), Tennelle Milligan of the USA (1710) and Ann Maree Putney of Australia, our champion in 2007, (1705). Beatrix moved up from 39^th to 23^rd, just above the cut line of the top 24.

Lying in that coveted 24^th spot is Katrien Goossens from Belgium who actually finished 24^th last year. But Belinda Tam from New Zealand is only eight pins behind.

Zara commented afterwards: “I felt a bit unsettled at the start and had a poor game – 150 – in the third game, but I came back and I am really pleased to be on top still. But there is a long way to go!”

20091117
Korean Choi Yong-Kyu shot the high set of the day with 1788 over his eight games to take over the lead in the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia with a total pinfall of 3666after 16 games. In all, ten of the men shot over 1700 in this round of the high scoring event.

Last night’s leader, former champion Michael Schmidt of Canada, had a bad day at the office and could only manage 1533 and dropped to 9^th place.

Martin Larsen, runner-up last year, hit 1735 and is currently in second place on 3573 with local hero Zulmazran Zulkifli on 3534 in third after shooting 1757.

Choi has been pleased with his performance so far and said: “I was two pins down yesterday, but I want to be number one! The lanes are very good and I hope to play well again tomorrow.”

There are now just eight games to go before the field is cut to the top 24. Currently there are three players  in 24^th -  Marco Reviglio of Italy, Choi Io Fai of Macau and Kert Truus of Estonia, all on 3295.

In 27^th and just 8 pins off the cut is Jay Leon Guerrero of Guam who was down in 47^th overnight but pulled himself up into contention with 1722. Another player to shoot over 1700 was Paul Wright from the island of Jersey: after his 1724 he is now in 32^nd place. Petter Hansen of Norway, our runner up in 2004 in Singapore, shot 1732, to go part of the way to make up for his poor performance, by his standards, yesterday when he found himself down in 68^th place.

The highest game so far is 287 by Scotland’s Mark Kerr and 38 players are averaging over 200.

The other players to hit over 1700 today were Ryan Leonard Lalisang (Indonesia) 1770, Thomas Larsen (Denmark)1710, Hussain Al Suwaidi (UAE) 1745, Surasak Manuwong (Thailand) 1732.

20091116
Michael Schmidt of Canada, our champion in 2005 in Ljubljana, is leading the men’s section after the first qualifying block of eight games in the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia – but only just. He was pushed hard by Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea with the two of them just two pins apart.

Michael finished on 1880 (a 235 average) with Choi on 1878 and Sweden’s Martin Larsen, last year’s runner up, a further 40 pins behind. Local favourite Zulmazran Zulkifli is in 5th place.

Another score of note is Arturs Levikins of Latvia who is lying in 8^th place. Arturs is the youngest player in the men’s section at just 16. It is the best first day result for a Latvian by far.

The players will bowl a further two blocks of eight games before the cut to the top 24. The cut at the moment lies with Michael Loos of Austria on a 208.75 average.

Michael Schmidt was clearly delighted with his play today. “I had to start from scratch to qualify to represent Canada, right from the first rounds all the way through to the national finals. It brought me back down to earth and taught me a lot, not least how much this championship means.

“I didn’t expect to be leading after the first day. Of course, you always hope! It helped that Choi and I were on the same pair of lanes for the final game of the day and that gave added impetus to our play. But there is a long way to go yet and a lot of bowling to do.”

 Michael paid tribute to coach Sandy Lowe and his Dad Rick. “Dad has been a great support throughout my bowling career and Sandy was a real help down on the lanes today.”

Four time champion Paeng Nepomuceno is down in 31^st place, 44 pins off the 24^th slot. Pro bowler Walter Ray Williams of the USA is in 36^th, 53 off the cut. A total of 40 players are averaging over 200.

20091116

It was a case of déjà vue for Zara Giles, formerly Zara Glover, when she found herself in the lead after the first qualifying block in the 45^th Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia. She also lead after the first block last year in Hermosillo, Mexico.

She is on 1805, an average of 225.6, ahead of Evgenia Tsarkova of Russia on 1751 and Joey Yip of Hong Kong on 1724. The only other player over 1700 was Scotland’s Laura Rhoney (1713).

It is the first tournament that Zara has played since getting married to Matthew in August and she said after bowling today: “I hope the change of name will be a good luck charm -  I finished third last year and am looking to go two better than that! But there are at least eight or ten really good players out there and anyone could win it.

“I felt good out there today and just had a bit of a problem on one pair of lanes. The conditions are excellent and I think there will be some really high scoring.”

For Evgenia, it was her best ever start by far. She has come 23^rd in two previous Bowling World Cups, in 2006 and 2007, and is already the most successful Russian player.

20090926
The amazing Paeng Nepomoceno, four times winner of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, will be back again, having qualified to represent the Philippines in this year’s tournament in Melaka, Malaysia, in mid-November. Paeng, who is now 52, won the trophy in 1976 (Teheran, Iran), in 1980 (Jakarta, Indonesia), in 1992 (Le Mans, France) and 1996 (Belfast, Northern Ireland). He was the youngest male player to win the title, being just 19 in 1976 and should he win in Melaka, he will become the oldest as well, beating Italy’s Remo Fornesari, who was 51 when he won in 1982. “It will be fantastic to see Paeng compete again,” said Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup manager. “He has already written himself into all sorts of record books, including ours, and maybe he will add to his immense record in Melaka. ”The Philippines entrant in the women’s section will be Lisa del Rosario, who will be making her fourth appearance in the Bowling World Cup and who was our runner up in 2001 in Pattaya, Thailand, and came third in 2004 in Singapore.

Australia has announced its participants: Ann Maree Putney, our champion in 2007 in St Petersburg, Russia, and runner up last year in Hermosillo, Mexico, will be trying to regain the title while Paul Trotter will be remembered for his record 896 three-game series (300, 298, 298) in Riga, Latvia in 2002.

Indonesia’s representatives will be Ryan Leonard Lalisang, who shot a 300 game in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2006, and Putty Armein, who reached the top eight in Caracas. And Sweden will now be sending Helen Johnsson to take part in the women’s section. Helen has finished in the top eight every time she has played in the event – five times in all. She and Martin Larsen, who will also be competing in Melaka, won the top country award last year.

There are now 94 countries who have indicated they will be participating.

20090905

The fabulous Melaka International Bowling Centre was officially opened for business last month by the Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, and now all involved are looking forward to welcoming bowlers from around the world in mid-November for the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. George Heng, the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress vice-president, presented the centre with a certificate to recognise that, with 52 lanes, it is the largest centre in Malaysia.

The lanes are in two sets of 26 with a roomy concourse between them. It is an ultra-modern, two-storey building with space allocated to kiosks on the ground floor. It is also designed to be friendly to wheelchair users with facilities including a special lane for wheelchairs on the staircase. The first floor boasts restaurants, a media-cum-conference room and ball storage.

As for the tournament, 90 countries have now indicated that they will be sending representatives. Despite their outstanding international record over the years, no Malaysian bowler has ever won the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. Could this change this year? The big news for the host country is that Zulmazran Zulkifli, a semi finalist last year in Hermosillo, Mexico, who also hit a perfect game there, will be participating again. He also took part in 2002 in Riga, Latvia where he finished 10^th, and he will surely rank among one of the favourites to carry off the title.

He will be joined by Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman in the women’s section. Siti won the Women’s World Ranking Masters title this year and is the current Malaysian national champion. She was only 15 when she played in the Bowling World Cup for the first time, in 2006, in Caracas, Venezuela, finishing 10^th.

She will be up against our semi-finalist from last year, England’s Zara Glover, a former world champion, and Tina Hulsch of Germany who came third in 2007 in St. Petersburg, Russia and made the top 24 last year. They will all be looking out for Scotland’s Laura Rhoney, who will be making her 8^th appearance in the event and who finished 4^th in 2006, when her perfect game won her the high game of the tournament trophy.

But one of the stars they will all want to see will be the USA’s participant, Walter Ray Williams Jr, a pro bowler with an immense pedigree. With a record 45 PBA titles to his name, he has been inducted into both the USBC and the PBA Hall of Fame. He has been the PBA Bowler of the Year six times. He will be joined by Tenelle Milligan in the women’s section, who won three silvers and two bronzes in the 2007 Women’s FIQ World Championships.

The QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup is one of the most popular events in the calendar and many players come back time and time again. This year, we already know that we will be welcoming back several participants.

Marin Tranier from New Caledonia will be making his 12^th appearance while Maurice Talane will be representing French Guiana for the 9^th time. Apart from Laura. Northern Ireland’s Kevin Horton will also be with us for the 8^th time. Also present, for the 7^th time, will be Shant Panos Tomassian of Iraq and Bashar Kalaji from Syria, Bashar won the ‘Sportsman of the Tournament’ award in 2001 when the event was held in Pattaya, Thailand.

The qualifying rounds for this year’s event start on 16^th November with the finals on 19th. It is expected that the finals will be live on Malaysian television.

The Bowling World Cup was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, in 1987 when the winners were Remo Fornesari of Italy and Irene Gronert of the Netherlands. Remo is the oldest player ever to have won the Bowling World Cup: he was 51 when he triumphed in KL. 

20090725
Already, with still several months to go to the 45^th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia, we are assured of welcoming back players who have shone in the past. And fans around the world with internet access will now be able to follow any player’s scoring in real time. First, Michael Schmidt of Canada, our champion in 2005 in Ljubljana (Slovenia), will be returning. Michael also reached the top three in 2006 in Caracas (Venezuela). Next we will welcome Norway’s Petter Hansen, runner up twice: in Singapore in 2004 and Caracas in 2006. And finally, Sweden will be represented by Martin Larsen who took second place last year in Hermosillo (Mexico), in a very exciting final against Derek Eoff of the USA.

Live scoring will be an innovation for this year. Access to individual’s scores, frame by frame as they are bowled, will be available through the QubicaAMF web site. Fans will be able to keep up with progress by clicking on the individual’s biography page, then onto the live scoring in real time when that competitor is on the lanes. Further information will be made available nearer the time. “This promises to be an outstanding event,” commented Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup manager. “With three such wonderful players already on the start list, we know the competition is going to be as hot as ever. “The innovation of real time scoring over the internet this year will mean that friends, family and fans around the world will be able to follow any individual’s scoring as it happens and I’m sure this will be a really popular addition to our services to the bowling community,” she added.

Belgium’s Katrien Goossens will be making her second appearance in the Bowling World Cup having made the quarter-finals last year. Kazakhstan’s players will both be returning to the Bowling World Cup: Irina Lazaridi made her first appearance in 2008 in St Petersburg, while Makhmut Iskhakov will be competing for the third time having played in Ljubljana in 2005 and in Caracas in 2006. Another ‘old friend’ to be welcomed back will be Kevin Horton of Northern Ireland who last played five years ago in Singapore.

So far over 80 countries have indicated that they will be sending competitors including newcomers Mongolia, Pakistan and Nigeria. The 52-lane Melaka International Bowling Centre is now completed and the grand opening ceremony will take place on August 1^st.  The centre is expected to host local tournaments before the BWC gets under way in mid-November.  

20090315
QubicaAMF is pleased and proud to announce that the 2009 Bowling World Cup will be held in the stunning new 52-lane centre in Melaka , Malaysia, from 14th to 21st November. ”It is 22 years since the Bowling World Cup was in Malaysia,” said John Walker, Chief Executive Officer of QubicaAMF, “and it is high time that we came back to a country that holds bowling in such high esteem.” John Walker went on to say: “We are honoured that the tournament will be backed by Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Wira Ali Rastam. Management Company Benua Aspirasi, a dynamic and professional company headed up by CEO Mr Fadzil Ibrahim, has been entrusted by Melaka State Government to run the new Melaka International Bowling Centre (MIBC), the biggest bowling centre in Malaysia.  Mr Ibrahim’s team has plenty of experience in running world class sporting events so the 45th edition of the World Cup is set to be a remarkable tournament and one which will live long in the memory of all who visit Melaka.”
 
The MIBC is located in the city of Melaka, on the west coast of Malaysia which is known as a prime holiday destination. It is the capital of the state of Melaka and home to 700,000 people, only 1 hour from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The centre has 26 lanes on each side of a wide and roomy central concourse, with plenty of ancillary facilities for all to enjoy. Construction is due to be completed in early summer and will be equipped with the latest state of the art QubicaAMF lanes, pinspotters and scoring systems.   
 
QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup Manager, Anne-Marie Board, added her delight and said: “I am really excited about the prospects for this year’s event. Bowling is such an important sport in Malaysia – many of us remember that it was part of the Commonwealth Games in 1998 – and I know that all competitors, officials and supporters can expect a warm welcome from knowledgeable crowds.”

The Bowling World Cup was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, in 1987 when the winners were Remo Fornesari of Italy and Irene Gronert of the Netherlands. Remo is the oldest player ever to have won the Bowling World Cup: he was 51 when he triumphed in KL.