Achim Grabowski (pictured left), Germany took the lead in the men's division at the 46th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup after the 46 players of Squad A have completed the 16-game preliminaries on Thursday afternoon.

Representing Germany for the last time as a national team member after an illustrious career, the German veteran fired games of 209, 279, 227, 260, 210 and 248 in the qualifying-ending six-game block for 1433 series and an average of 238.83.

Grabowski, who was in 30th place after the first five-game block and leaped into 13th after the second block of five games, beat out Mads Sandbækken (above right), Norway (3571) for the top spot by 12 pins.

John Szczerbinski, United States, who led the field of 91 players after 10 games with 2335 needs 1249 for his six games in tonight's Squad B, a 208.16 average, to overtake Grabowski by one pin.

Joonas Jähi (left), Finland, moved into third place with 3506 behind a 1333 series and overtook day one leader Biboy Rivera (right), Philippines, who slipped to fourth place with 3492.

In 2006, Rivera rolled a 300 game in the fifth and deciding game to beat Grabowski, three-games-to-two, in the Masters final of the World Championships in Busan, Korea.

Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, sits in fifth place with 3421and is followed by Dennis Eklund, Sweden, who leaped into sixth place with 3393 thanks to a 1338 series. Mykhaylo Kalika (left), Ukraine was seventh with 3364.

Rounding out the top 8 were the second cut will be made after the Intermediate Round of 24 on Friday, was James Kelly (right), New Zealand, with 3363 or an average of 210.19.

Places 9-11, Mohammad Al-Qubaisi, UAE (3349), Nicolas Forestier, France (3337) and Marcial Ovide, Catalonia (3323) are over the projected cut line (between 206 and 207).

12th place Kazuyuki Sakamoto (left), Japan, who has totaled 3296 pins and averaged 206.00 is the "man on the bubble" and has to sit and wait for the final results of Squad B, which will conclude the qualifying tonight.

Mark Spiteri (right), Malta, who sits in 13th place with 3286 and an average of 205.38, was in 24th place after 10 games with 2060.

Record 167 players (91 men and record 76 women) from 92 countries bowl for the coveted World Cup titles. Men and women bowl in separate divisions each split into two squads.

The total number of participants broke the previous record of 166 set in the 40th BWC in Singapore in 2004. The number of females bowlers broke the previous record of 73 set in Singapore, Caracas (2006) and St. Peters burgh (2007) .

To view the complete list of participating countries and players click here .

All photos will be published on Bowlingdigital's Facebook account.
Photo Album 1
Photo Album 2
Photo Album 3

After a delay on Tuesday due to structural problems with the roof of the bowling center, the preliminaries consist of 3 blocks, two of 5 games and one of 6 games, with the top 24 men and the top 24 women after 16 games advancing to the intermediate round. The top 24 players bowl another 8 games with the pinfall total from the preliminaries being carried forward.

The top 8 men and the top 8 women after 28 games will bowl a further 7 games round robin match play plus 1 game position round total 8 games) with 30 pins bonus per win and 15 for a tie. The top 3 men and the top 3 women after 36 games including bonus pins will determine the champions in a stepladder final in best-of-three games format on Saturday Oct. 23.

Bowlingdigital.com will cover the event live from Bowling de Provence with stories and results after each round, high quality photos and high definition videos commencing Sunday Oct. 17 with the Opening Ceremonies all the way through to the stepladder on Saturday Oct. 3.

Bowlingdigital will also simulcast all broadcast coverage provided by BOWL.com.