Thomas Larsen (pictured left) of Denmark overtook the lead in the 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour tournament as the international qualifying portion got underway at Khalifa International Bowling Center in Abu Dhabi.

Larsen had three-game series of 807, 756 and 705 to lead a field of 72 players with 2268 total and an average of 252 for nine games. UAE's Hussain Al-Suwaidi and Mohamed Al-Marzooqi sit in second and third place with 2259 and 2239, respectively.

Fourth place belongs to two-time PBA champion Dominic Barrett (right) of England with 2238. Naif Oqab, UAE, is fifth with 2231 and is followed by Martin Larsen (below left) of Sweden in sixth place with 2230.

Rounding out the top 7 is currently Hassan Alzaabi, UAE, with 2184 and an average of 242.67.

The next two local bowlers outside the top 7, Mahmood Al-Attar (2184) and Sayed Al-Hashemi (2153) are seeded in eighth and ninth place. At the end of the qualifying, the top 8 will receive two byes, while players in 9th to 22nd place earn a first-round bye.

Michael Brünjes of Germany currently holds the 38th and last place to qualify for the finals with 1935 or an average of 215.00.

Samantha Hannan of England is the best of only four women in the field and the lone in the top 38 in 17th place with 2108 including eight pins handicap each game, an average of 226.22 scratch.

Qualifying continues Tuesday with qualifying squads starting at 1, 2.30, 3.30, 5, 6.30, 7.30, 8.30 10 and 11.30 p.m. Gulf Standard Time (CET -3 hours; EST -9 hours).

The 1st Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour tournament the second event of the 2014 World Bowling Tour.

Due to an agreement between the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), the Abu Dhabi World Bowling Tour tournament will award a PBA international title if won by a PBA member.

Players will compete for total prize fund of 441.800 Dirham (AED) or approximately $120,000. The champion receives the $29,945 top prize, the runner-up earns $19,055 and the third and fourth-place finishers get $10,890 and $5,445, respectively.

Qualifying (9 games in three-game blocks; unlimited re-entries) runs from Nov. 24-30 (for local bowlers only) and Dec 1 thru 4 (for local and international bowlers). Qualifying concludes with the ultimate one-game Desperado Squad slated for Thursday, Dec. 5 at 1 a.m. Women receive eight pins handicap each game.

A total of 42 players will qualify for the finals on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5 & 6 and will be seeded as follows:

• Places 1-7: Top 7 qualifiers
• Places 8 & 9: Two highest UAE bowlers outside the Top 7
• Places 10-38: Next 29 qualifiers
• Places 39 & 40: Top 2 UAE bowlers from local qualifying
• Places 41-42: Top 2 from the Desperado Squad.

Bowlers ranked 1-8 receive two byes, while bowlers ranked 9-22 bypass Round Two.

The remaining 20 bowlers (places 23-42) bowl 6 games scratch with the top 10 advancing to Round Three. After another six games scratch, the top 12 will join the top 8 qualifiers in Round Four.

Those 20 will determine the eight players (top 7 bowlers from Round 4 plus the next UAE bowler), who advance to the stepladder finals, in a final six-game block. The No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.