In a sensational last quarter-final match Chris Barnes (USA) and England’s Kirsten Penny recorded the highest aggregate match score in the ten year history of the event as Barnes edged his way into his third consecutive semi-final at the PartyCasino.com World Tenpin Masters. Barnes now faces Osku Palermaa for a spot in the final.

Their joint total of 1,115 pins eclipsed the Belmonte/Moor final of 2007 by 25 pins as both players dished out a barrage of strikes throughout both games. A spare in the first frame of the match was the only flaw in Barnes’ otherwise perfect opening game as he returned 11 straight strikes to record a score of 290 against Penny’s impressive 248.

The English girl came out fighting in the second knowing that only a very high score indeed would give her a chance of victory. In the end even a maximum would not have prevailed as Penny was one strike away from the perfect 300 game but left two pins standing with her final ball. Barnes added a 279 to his opener to take the match by 23 pins.

"It was a lot of fun," said Barnes. "It's fantastic when you're striking a lot but Kirsten bowled unbelievably.
"I was probably very fortunate and that was the only way I could've bowled to have any chance against her. It was a much better performance than last night.

"The crowd are very respectful to the players, both the favorites and non-favorites. I was not the crowd's favorite in that match but they are always tremendous and very animated.
"This is the fifth time I've bowled on this lane and every time the crowd has been fantastic and very appreciative of good performances.

In the opening quarter final of the sessions, England's Paul Moor rediscovered his form and produced a stunning performance to keep his Masters dream alive as he defeated countryman Dominic Barrett, 516-473.

A beaten finalist at the past three World Tenpin Masters finals, the 29 year-old from Hull is finding his touch at the right time and will be relishing his semi-final match against Guy Caminsky later tonight.

After disappointing results in the Brunswick Challenge in Paris and the Istanbul Open, Moor was delighted to be back at the top of his game. "That's the best I've bowled this year," said Moor.

"This was a big match against Dominic as he has been on fire recently. In a way I didn't feel any pressure because he was on form and I was the one struggling.
"I just wanted to go out there and throw each shot and I'm pretty confident when I get out there on the lane.

"But I really wanted to prove something to myself - that I've still got it. I've not had really bad results but no real notable ones and it has got worse.
"There has been a problem with my technique but it's about finding that problem. As a full time bowler I don't know when my next pay check is coming from and if I bowl badly I will not get paid.

"I want to be out there competing with the best bowlers week in, week out and in the last two events I haven't done so."

Five strikes with his first five balls of the match gave Moor the advantage as Barrett struggled to throw successive strikes. It was 257-225 in Moor's favor after the first game. A further four strikes at the start of the second extended Moor's lead, although Barrett refused to give up and ended with four strikes of his own. But it was not enough to beat Moor.

Osku Palermaa moved into the semi-finals of the 2008 Masters as a capacity crowd at the Barnsley Metrodome saw Palermaa win by 467-445 against Stuart Williams to set up a match with Chris Barnes in the semi-finals.

Three strikes from his first three balls from Palermaa, compared to a strike and two spares from Williams, gave the Finn the advantage. However, it was a very exciting and close match as the lead changed hands and Williams stole a three-pin lead at the end of the first game.

The balance of the encounter swung again though as Palermaa booked his place in the semis with an incredible run of eight successive strikes. Any hope of a perfect game disappeared in the ninth frame when he only hit nine but had still done enough for victory.