Round One leaders Paul Stott of Ireland and Birgit Pöppler of Germany widened their lead in the men's and women's division of the 37th European Champions Cup after the second eight-game block Thursday at Keiluhollin, Egilsholl bowling center in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Stott (pictured left) won the second consecutive round to widen his lead in the men's division to 162 pins. Following an 1820 series on Wednesday, Stott toppled 1829 on Thursday to lead the field of 34 players from 34 countries with 3649 and an average of 228.06 for 16 games.

The Irishman had a solid start into day two with games of 218, 215, 189, 232 and 205 and closed out with 247, 279 (high game of the day) and 244, an average of 228.63 for the day.

Steve Thornton (above right) of England, used the fourth-best 1718 series today to shift from sixth to second place with 3487 (217.94). Mattias Wetterberg of Sweden moved up one spot to third place with 3471 (216.94) behind a 1686 second block.

Mads Sandbækken, Norway, fourth place finisher last year used the second-highest 1786 series ( 223.25) to jump from 13th to fifth place with 3419 total (213.69). Sixth place Juhani Tonteri of Finland chalked up 1744 to tie Sandbækken at 3419.

With 16 of 24 games in the books before the cut to the top 8, Ukrainian Levgen Karmazin was the player on the cut line with 3348 and an average of 209.25.

Pöppler (left) , who had the highest series in the tournament, both men and women, in Round one with 1858, an average of 232.25, closed out the second round with 279 (high game of the day) and 238 to finish the block in second place with 1741 (217.63) to maintain her lead in the women's division with 3599 and an average of 224.94.

Last year's runner-up, Lisa John (right) of England had 235 and 254 in games seven and eight for 1726 to leap one spot to second place with 3486 total (217.88).

Swedish youth national team member Jenny Wegner (left) led the second round with 1794 and an average of 224.25 including high games of 276, 257, 248 and 234 to shift from fifth to third place with 3485 (217.81).

Places 4 and 5 belonged to Finland's Reija Lundén (3445) and defending ECC champion Sanna Pasanen (3420), who had the third-highest 1740 series today. Maria Bulanova (right) of Russia, who celebrated her 16th birthday three days ago, posted the sixth-best 1694 series to move from 9th to sixth place with 3368.

Andrea E. Hansen of Norway had 1615 to maintain the eighth and last place to advance with 3289 and an average of 205.56.

All players will return on Friday, October 17, for the third and last block of eight games with the men starting at 9 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the women to follow at 2.30 p.m.