After a 16-year absence, the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup returns to the United States when the 51st edition of the prestigious event will be held from November 13-20 at the 56-laner inside Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With less than three weeks to go before the first ball will be rolled, the World Cup, traditionally tenpin bowling's biggest event in regard to participating countries, is nearing the 90-country mark.

82 men and 71 women from 88 countries have registered for the event so far, which already exceeds the expectation of tournament organizer Anne-Marie Board and the World Cup staff, who were expecting bowlers from around 85 countries to participate in the five-day event (Nov. 15-19).

After Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, Singapore and Venezuela have named, withdrawn or changed one or both players, the World Cup includes the following countries:
Aruba, Australia, Azores, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Catalonia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, UAE, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, Wales, and the host country United States.

The 40th BWC in Singapore in 2004 holds the record for the most countries (95) and the most male players (93), while the 46th BWC in Toulon, France, drew the most players (167) including the most women (76).

Last year's tournament in Wroclaw, Poland, drew 152 players, 82 men and 70 women, from 85 countries. The champions were Clara Juliana Guerrero (left) of Colombia and Chris Barnes (right) of the United States.

Guerrero will be in Las Vegas to defend her title trying to become just the sixth women with multiple BWC titles.

 

The five women, who have accomplished the feat, are Jeanette Baker, Australia (1982, 83); Pauline Smith, Great Britain (1981, 93); Shannon Pluhowsky, USA (2002, 04); Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic (2010, 11) and Caroline Lagrange, Canada (2009, 13).

Four-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno, Philippines, who has won record four titles (1976, 1980, 1992 and 1996), Michael Schmidt of Canada (2005, 10) and Arne Svein Strøm of Norway (1977, 1982) are the only multiple men's champions.

Pluhowsky and Guerra will also be in Las Vegas targeting to win their third World Cup. Baker and Guerra are the only players, men and women, who successfully defended a World Cup title.

The fourth World Cup champion in the women's field is Kerry Ryan-Ciach of Canada, who captured the title in 2003 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

It marks the third time in history that the Bowling World Cup visits the United States. The 17th edition was held in 1981 in New York (Champions: Robert Worall, USA, and Pauline Smith, Great Britain) and the 35th BWC was held in 1999, also at Sam's Town (champions: Ahmed Shaheen, Qatar, and Amanda Bradley, Australia).