GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling attracts record 17 countries
10/24/12
The GEICO Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling will boast a full field of 240 players representing a record 17 countries when the world's top professional players converge on the South Point Bowling Center Nov. 2-11 to kick off the 2012-13 PBA Tour season.
Countries represented this year include Australia, England, Bahrain, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Korea, Venezuela, Colombia, Finland, Canada, the U.S. and first-time participants from Costa Rica, Iceland, The Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
"The stature of the World Series of Bowling as a major international competition reaffirms the sport's standing as a global professional sport," said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.
"At the same time the World Series has established itself as the premier showcase of international professional bowling talent. Watching how this diverse field matches up with the best PBA has to offer from the USA will be compelling."
International players dominated the 2011 World Series, winning seven of eight titles. Leading the list was Jason Belmonte (pictured left) of Australia who won three titles in 2011. Other international title-winners were: Dom Barrett and Stuart Williams of England, Andres Gomez of Colombia and Osku Palermaa (right) of Finland, who won the PBA World Championship.
Only PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke and Wes Malott of the U.S. prevented an international sweep by winning the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship.
A total of 66 international players (all PBA members) are entered in the World Series:
The GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling begins the expanded 2012-13 PBA Tour season which will include two World Series of Bowling events (in November of 2012 and 2013), five major championships, new Winter and Summer Swing open events with multiple titles at stake, and 11 World Bowling Tour stops that will award PBA International Tour titles if won by PBA members.
For this year's World Series, the sold-out 240-player field will bowl two eight-game qualifying sessions in the Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon and Bowlers Journal Scorpion Championship events Nov. 3-6 in the South Point Bowling Center.
At the conclusion of each of the four daily qualifying rounds, the top 16 players will advance to an additional same-day six-game qualifying session to determine the four ESPN stepladder finalists for each event.
The combined qualifying totals of 32 games from the four "animal pattern" championships also will determine the top 24 match play finalists for the PBA World Championship. Round-robin match play will take place on Nov. 7 and 8 to determine the five PBA World Championship stepladder finalists. The ESPN finals of the season's first major championship will conclude the World Series on Nov. 11.
The GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling will include five ESPN-televised PBA events with the finals of each conducted in an arena setting on specially-installed lanes in South Point's Exhibition Hall complex. In addition to the PBA Tour finals, ESPN will also tape the finals of the WTBA Bayer Advanced Aspirin World Bowling Tour men's and women's finals presented by PBA.
For fans that cannot attend the World Series in person, they can catch World Series qualifying and match play action via the online bowling channel Xtra Frame. PBA is offering a PBA Super Fan Club subscription package of $99.99 that includes a 14-month subscription to Xtra Frame plus other benefits including PBA merchandise. The Super Fan offer expires on Nov. 1.
The PBA West Region will host two regional events during WSOB week -- the PBA All-Region Singles Nov. 9 and 10 and member/non-member doubles events on Nov. 10 and 11. Also scheduled for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. will be the Teen Masters World Showdown finals which will be webcast on Xtra Frame on a delayed basis.
All ESPN finals will be conducted on Nov. 10 and 11 for delayed telecast. The first ESPN telecast will be the WBT men's and women's finals presented by PBA on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. Additional WSOB telecasts will air on Sundays at 1 p.m. ET through Jan. 13.
Admission to all rounds of the PBA World Series of Bowling is free. Complimentary tickets are available as long as the limited supply lasts, and orders can be placed here.
South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas (ESPN finals in South Point Exhibition Hall); all times Pacific
Friday, Nov. 2, 2012
9 – 11 a.m. – A squad practice session
1 – 3 p.m. – B squad practice session
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012
Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah Championship
7:30 – A squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 10
Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
PBA Viper Championship
7:30 a.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 10
Monday, Nov. 5, 2012
PBA Chameleon Championship
7:30 a.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 11
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012
Bowlers Journal PBA Scorpion Championship
7:30 a.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 11
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012
Top 24 based on 32 combined qualifying games from the animal pattern championships advance to PBA World Championship match play.
11 a.m. - PBA World Championship match play round 1 (8 games)
6 p.m. – PBA World Championship match play round 2 (8 games)
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
2 p.m. - PBA World Championship round-robin match play, final round (8 games)
Top five advance to TV finals taping Nov. 11
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
10 a.m. - Bayer Advanced Aspirin WBT Men's and Women's Finals presented by the PBA ESPN finals
1 p.m. - Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah Championship ESPN finals
4 p.m. - Viper Championship ESPN finals
6 p.m. – Teen Masters World Showdown (boys and girls finals)
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
Noon - Chameleon Championship ESPN finals
2 p.m. - Bowlers Journal PBA Scorpion Championship finals
5 p.m. - PBA World Championship finals
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012
8 a.m. - PBA All-Region Singles qualifying (7 games)
1:30 p.m. – PBA All-Region Singles qualifying (7 games)
Top 16 advance to best-of-five single elimination match play
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
8 a.m. - PBA All-Region Singles Round of 16 best-of-five games match play
10 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles Round of 8 best-of-three games match play
11 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles Semi-final (one game)
11:30 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles championship match (one game)
1:30 p.m. – PBA West Region member/Non-members qualifying (8 games)
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
8 a.m. – PBA West Region Doubles Round of 16 best-of-five match play
10 a.m. – PBA West Region Doubles Round of 8 best-of-three match play
1 p.m. – Semifinal match (one game)
1:45 p.m. – Championship match (one game)
PBA News
Capacity field of 240 players to showcase world's top professional bowlers in multi-event competition at South Point in Las Vegas Nov. 2-11; all ESPN finals will be conducted on Nov. 10 and 11 for delayed telecast
The GEICO Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling will boast a full field of 240 players representing a record 17 countries when the world's top professional players converge on the South Point Bowling Center Nov. 2-11 to kick off the 2012-13 PBA Tour season.Countries represented this year include Australia, England, Bahrain, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Korea, Venezuela, Colombia, Finland, Canada, the U.S. and first-time participants from Costa Rica, Iceland, The Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
"The stature of the World Series of Bowling as a major international competition reaffirms the sport's standing as a global professional sport," said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.
"At the same time the World Series has established itself as the premier showcase of international professional bowling talent. Watching how this diverse field matches up with the best PBA has to offer from the USA will be compelling."International players dominated the 2011 World Series, winning seven of eight titles. Leading the list was Jason Belmonte (pictured left) of Australia who won three titles in 2011. Other international title-winners were: Dom Barrett and Stuart Williams of England, Andres Gomez of Colombia and Osku Palermaa (right) of Finland, who won the PBA World Championship.
Only PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke and Wes Malott of the U.S. prevented an international sweep by winning the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship.
A total of 66 international players (all PBA members) are entered in the World Series:
- Australia (2) - Jason Belmonte, Andrew Frawley
- Bahrain (7) - Fawaz Abdulla, Mohamed Al-Jahrami, Mahdi Assad, Yousif Falah, Masood Saberi, Mohamed Sultan, Hameed Taqi
- Canada (4) - Patrick Girard, Dan MacLelland, Michael Menard, Kasey Normandin
- Colombia (2) - Andres Gomez, Diego Lopez
- Costa Rica (1) - Alejandro Reyna
- Denmark (5) - Carsten Warming Hansen, Thomas Larsen, Jimmy Mortensen, Frederik Øhrgaard, Mik Stampe
- England (2) - Dom Barrett, Stuart Williams
- Finland (3) - Perttu Jussila, Mika Koivuniemi, Osku Palermaa
- Germany (2) - Kenneth Bland Jr., Manuel Mrosek
- Iceland (1) - Hafthor Hardarson
- Korea (7) - Cha Ji-Hyun, Jo Nam-Yi, Kim Hyun-Bum, Kim Meen-Woo, Kim Jin-Han, Kim Hyun-Suk, Yoon Yeo-Jin
- Mexico (6) - Isaac Amkie, Julio Cesar Blancas, Daniel Falconi, Gustavo Salinas, Roberto Silva, Humberto Vazquez
- Philippines (1) - Paolo Joquico
- Saudi Arabia (3) - Ahmed Saad Al-Hadyan, Hakim Al-Saud, Mohammed Al-Saud
- Sweden (13) - Erik Andersin, Mathias Årup, Patrick Bohm, Kim Bolleby, Dennis Eklund, Johan Hellden, Peter Hellström, Magnus Johnson Jr., Helen Johnsson, Mikael Kanold, Martin Larsen, Kim Ojala, Mattias Olsson
- Venezuela (7) - Giorgio Clinaz Jr., Carlos Cottone, Amleto Monacelli, Kevin Morillo, Hernan Ramirez, Ildemaro Ruiz, Eduardo Yzcaray Jr.
The GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling begins the expanded 2012-13 PBA Tour season which will include two World Series of Bowling events (in November of 2012 and 2013), five major championships, new Winter and Summer Swing open events with multiple titles at stake, and 11 World Bowling Tour stops that will award PBA International Tour titles if won by PBA members.
For this year's World Series, the sold-out 240-player field will bowl two eight-game qualifying sessions in the Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon and Bowlers Journal Scorpion Championship events Nov. 3-6 in the South Point Bowling Center.
At the conclusion of each of the four daily qualifying rounds, the top 16 players will advance to an additional same-day six-game qualifying session to determine the four ESPN stepladder finalists for each event.
The combined qualifying totals of 32 games from the four "animal pattern" championships also will determine the top 24 match play finalists for the PBA World Championship. Round-robin match play will take place on Nov. 7 and 8 to determine the five PBA World Championship stepladder finalists. The ESPN finals of the season's first major championship will conclude the World Series on Nov. 11.
The GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling will include five ESPN-televised PBA events with the finals of each conducted in an arena setting on specially-installed lanes in South Point's Exhibition Hall complex. In addition to the PBA Tour finals, ESPN will also tape the finals of the WTBA Bayer Advanced Aspirin World Bowling Tour men's and women's finals presented by PBA.
For fans that cannot attend the World Series in person, they can catch World Series qualifying and match play action via the online bowling channel Xtra Frame. PBA is offering a PBA Super Fan Club subscription package of $99.99 that includes a 14-month subscription to Xtra Frame plus other benefits including PBA merchandise. The Super Fan offer expires on Nov. 1.
The PBA West Region will host two regional events during WSOB week -- the PBA All-Region Singles Nov. 9 and 10 and member/non-member doubles events on Nov. 10 and 11. Also scheduled for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. will be the Teen Masters World Showdown finals which will be webcast on Xtra Frame on a delayed basis.
All ESPN finals will be conducted on Nov. 10 and 11 for delayed telecast. The first ESPN telecast will be the WBT men's and women's finals presented by PBA on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. Additional WSOB telecasts will air on Sundays at 1 p.m. ET through Jan. 13.
Admission to all rounds of the PBA World Series of Bowling is free. Complimentary tickets are available as long as the limited supply lasts, and orders can be placed here.
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GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling Schedule
South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas (ESPN finals in South Point Exhibition Hall); all times Pacific
Friday, Nov. 2, 2012
9 – 11 a.m. – A squad practice session
1 – 3 p.m. – B squad practice session
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012
Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah Championship
7:30 – A squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 10
Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
PBA Viper Championship
7:30 a.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 10
Monday, Nov. 5, 2012
PBA Chameleon Championship
7:30 a.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds (6 games)
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 11
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012
Bowlers Journal PBA Scorpion Championship
7:30 a.m. – B squad qualifying (8 games)
2 p.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 16 advance to semifinals
8 p.m. – Semifinal rounds
Top four advance to TV finals Nov. 11
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012
Top 24 based on 32 combined qualifying games from the animal pattern championships advance to PBA World Championship match play.
11 a.m. - PBA World Championship match play round 1 (8 games)
6 p.m. – PBA World Championship match play round 2 (8 games)
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
2 p.m. - PBA World Championship round-robin match play, final round (8 games)
Top five advance to TV finals taping Nov. 11
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
10 a.m. - Bayer Advanced Aspirin WBT Men's and Women's Finals presented by the PBA ESPN finals
1 p.m. - Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah Championship ESPN finals
4 p.m. - Viper Championship ESPN finals
6 p.m. – Teen Masters World Showdown (boys and girls finals)
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
Noon - Chameleon Championship ESPN finals
2 p.m. - Bowlers Journal PBA Scorpion Championship finals
5 p.m. - PBA World Championship finals
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PBA All-Region Singles and non-member Doubles event schedule
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012
8 a.m. - PBA All-Region Singles qualifying (7 games)
1:30 p.m. – PBA All-Region Singles qualifying (7 games)
Top 16 advance to best-of-five single elimination match play
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
8 a.m. - PBA All-Region Singles Round of 16 best-of-five games match play
10 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles Round of 8 best-of-three games match play
11 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles Semi-final (one game)
11:30 a.m. – PBA All-Region Singles championship match (one game)
1:30 p.m. – PBA West Region member/Non-members qualifying (8 games)
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
8 a.m. – PBA West Region Doubles Round of 16 best-of-five match play
10 a.m. – PBA West Region Doubles Round of 8 best-of-three match play
1 p.m. – Semifinal match (one game)
1:45 p.m. – Championship match (one game)
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