The Presidium of the World Tenpin Bowling Association has decided at its meeting in Kuwait on April 26 that the Women's World Championships 2009 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States from July 26 to August 2, 2009.

The 2009 WWC will be staged in a 56-lane bowling arena. The last day of arrival for the delegations is July 25th. The WTBA had to change dates and the venue as Australia withdrew as host two moths ago.

As the WWC 2009 will follow immediately after the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei (bowling competition runs from July 20-22, 2009), the WTBA and FIQ Congresses will be held AFTER the championships. The WTBA Congress is scheduled for August 3rd, and the FIQ Congress the day after on August 4th.

The WTBA presidium has announced several rules changes regarding World Championships (WC) tie rules, lane condition for both WC and World Youth Championships Masters events, and altering the surface of bowling balls in WC and approved tournaments. All rule changes become effective immediately.

New rules – immediate effective

Republished from the WTBA Newsletter (May 18, 2008)

Tie rules
WTBA Congress 2007 decided to implement semi-finals and finals in Single, Doubles, Trios and Team events in our World Championships. That means we need a correct ranking of the first four places after the qualifying games.

WTBA Presidium has decided as a Bye-Rule the following tie rules for Single, Double, Trios and Team event effective already in WYC and WMC 2008. This rule replaces the current 5.13.2 and 6.12.2.

"In case a tie exists in the standings for the first four places in Single, Double, Trios or Team event before the semi finals a roll off, frames 9-10, will be played. If a tie still exists another roll off will be played until the tie is broken.

In Double, Trios and Team events one (1) player in each team shall be selected to play the roll off.

One pair of lane will be prepared with one lane short oil and one lane long oil. A draw decides which player starts to play."


Masters
WTBA Presidium has decided to change rule 5.11.3 to the following.

"Each match will be played on one pair of lanes – one lane with short oil and the other lane with long oil pattern".

Rule 6.10. regarding Masters for WYC was decided to have the same wordings as 5.11 – including the change mentioned above.


Altering surface of bowling balls
In WTBA Congress 2007 rule 4.10.2 was changed with immediate effect. This rule about altering the surface of bowling balls is valid in World Championships.

WTBA Presidium decided in meeting in Kuwait in April 2008 that this rule also shall be effective in approved tournaments. This means that rule 2.10 will be changed with immediate effect to:

"Altering the surface of the bowling ball is allowed in a designated area during the official practice session, during the practice session immediately preceding a competition round, and between competition rounds.

A player may not alter the surface of the bowling ball during a game. During a stepladder final format, each match is considered a competition round".