And then there were four... that's the number of players still alive in the chase for the Women's World Ranking Masters crown. Top seeded
Karen Marcano, Venezuela, came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat No. 8 Putty Armein, Indonesia, two-games-one. She will meet No. 7
Diana Zavjalova in the semi-finals. The underdog from Latvia eliminated No. 2 Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 2-1. No. 4
Krista Pöllänen, Finland, flew past the other Marcano, Alicia, 2-0, to set up a match with
Wendy Chai. The Malaysian ousted the second Indonesian, No. 3 Tannya Roumimper in two games.
Finn Sami Konsteri made it two out of three when he won yet another qualifying day in the Men's World Ranking Masters Sunday at Senayan Sportainment Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Finnish national coach, who won the qualifying on short oil on Friday, posted the highest 8-game block of the tournament with 1844 on dual lane condition (one lane with short, the other with long oil) en route secure the victory in this year's qualifying. Konsteri has already pocketed $3,000 bonus, $1,000 each for the daily leader on short and on dual oil condition and another $1,000 for the victory in qualifying. This is equivalent to the prize money for third and fourth place finishers.
Karen Marcano, Venezuela, dominated the women's division in the World Ranking Masters on day three qualifying on dual lane condition (one lane with short, the other with long oil) en route to earn the No. 1 seed for the best-of-three games single-elimination finals. Marcano rolled a 1716 8-game series on Sunday and outscored her next-closest competitor, Latvian Diana Zavjalova, by 90 pins. The Venezuelan, a familiar face in the World Ranking Masters, totaled 4832 pins over 24 games, to win the qualifying with 201.33 average. She earned a $1,000 bonus for leading the women on dual lane condition and another $1,000 for winning the qualifying. 
Mubarak Al-Muraikhi from Qatar took the $1,000 bonus for the highest 8-game series on long oil en route to jump from sixth to first place in the qualifying of the Men's World Ranking Masters at Senayan Sportainment Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. Al-Muraikhi had 1667 on short oil and added 1732 including a 289 game, the highest of the tournament thus far, to set the pace after 16 out of 24 games with 3399, an average of 212.44. All players will return on Sunday for the third and final 8-game block on dual lane condition. 
Krista Pöllänen (l.) from Finland posted a 1597 8-game series (199.63 average) on the second qualifying day in the 8th World Ranking Masters to win the low-scoring contest on the long oil pattern. Pöllänen, who received a $1,000 bonus, leaped seven spots into third place in the overall qualifying standings with 3151 16-game total. Tannya Roumimper, (r.) Indonesia, continued to lead the field of 24 players with 3231. 
Local favorite Tannya Roumimper started the Women's World Ranking Masters at Senayan Sportainment Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia with a 1720 8-game series en route to lead the field of 24 women after day one and to earn a $1,000 bonus. Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, is 103 pins behind in second place with 1617. Mere two pins behind is 2007 European ranking champion Kirsten Penny, England, with 1615, followed by Wendy Chai, Malaysia, with 1610. Asian ranking champion Kim Eun Jung, Korea has hurt her knee and sits in 24th and last place with 1386. 
Indonesian bowler Putty Armein (pictured left), ranked 7th in Asia, is determined to grab her first victory in the World Ranking Master tournament to be held in Jakarta from May 1 to 5. Her two compatriots, Ryan Lalisang and Tannya Roumimper, will also join the US$72,000 (Rp 662.4 million) tournament featuring 47 international bowlers who are ranked in the top eight of the American, European and Asian zones. "My aim this year is to win the championship," Putty, 27, competing in the Kuwait Open tournament, told The Jakarta Post by phone on Friday.
With the generous patronage of Belfast City Council, the IV Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championship will be staged from 22-30 November 2008 at Dundonald International Ice Bowl in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Bowlers, officials and supporters throughout the Commonwealth will be invited to Belfast to participate in this year’s event and the IV CTBC is expected to attract teams from up to 20 Commonwealth nations. 
Jack Guay of Calgary, Province of Alberta and Jennifer Park from Nanaimo, British Columbia won the BWC National Finals conducted by the Bowling Proprietors Association of Canada (BPAC). The National finals were held on the 48 lanes of Planet Bowl in Toronto, Province of Ontario, on March 15 and 16. The 44th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup will be held November 7-15 in Hermosillo, Mexico in a new 32 AMF lane "BOL 300" to be inaugurated in early summer.
The Israeli Bowling Federation has named the six players to represent Israel in the Men's World Championship at SF Strike Bowl Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi, Thailand from August 20-31, 2008. "The interesting matter is that for the first time we have the pleasure to have an Arabic player in the Israeli National Team," said IBF president Arie Fisher. All Players had to bowl 40 games (5 x 8) on short and long oil lane condition. 
Bowlingdigital was informed that two-time PBA player of the year Amleto Monacelli (pictured left), an 18-time PBA champion and the first non U.S. player, who was elected into the PBA Hall of Fame (1997), is not welcome in his country's national team. Monacelli's offer to qualify for the national team for the 2008 Men's World Championships in Thailand was declined. Despite Monacelli's support from the entire men's national team the officials of the Venezuelan Bowling Federation denied Monacelli's bid as "he has not participated in four national tournaments as requested by the VBF".
On behalf of QubicaAMF, Anne-Marie Board, Bowling World Cup Manager has formally confirmed the dates and venue for the 44th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup: Bol 300, Hermosillo, Mexico - 7 to 15th November 2008. The state of the art 32-lane Bol 300 is due to open in early summer. It has the latest QubicaAMF bowling equipment and prides itself in offering wonderful facilities including great spectator viewing and an excellent restaurant. All eligible countries are invited to send one man and one woman to represent them in the 44th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. 
Tenpin Bowling Australia Ltd. (TBA) has informed the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) last week that the organization has to withdraw as host of the Women's World Championships and the WTBA Congress 2009. According to Gillian Thompson-Rogers, CEO TBA, "Given the significant financial contribution required to host such an event we must at this stage regretfully decline the opportunity”. 
QubicaAMF has announced that the 44th Bowling World Cup will be held in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 7th to 15th November 2008. The world's most prestigious annual bowling tournament will be held in a brand new 32-lane center, which will be opening in June. This will mark a record fifth time that the Bowling World Cup will be staged in Mexico. Ian Holland (l.), Vice President of QubicaAMF signed the contract with owner and manager of the center, Fernando Gutierrez (r.), who has great experience of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup having hosted the event in 1994.
After a year when she won titles in four countries, Team USA's Diandra Asbaty (l.) has been named the 2007 World Bowling Writers Female Bowler of the Year. High Roller champion Jason Belmonte (r.) of Australia was selected as the Bowler of the Year among men. Former Denny's PBA Tour exempt player Tore Torgersen of Norway and 3-time world champion Zara Glover of England were both selected to join the WBW Hall of Fame. 
Each year, Bowlingdigital publishes an annual review covering the notable events of the previous year. This year we have added the best news stories, feature articles, columns, research stories and videos. You will find the top 10 or 12 in each category as we have tried to pick one per month which was almost impossible as some dates clash with other events and we still can't get information from all events. Select a topic and begin browsing these articles by clicking on it. 
Jessie Phua (left), Singapore, who was elected President of the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs several months ago, has announced that she has appointed European Tenpin Bowling Federation president Adolf Ophelders (right), Netherlands, as the new Secretary General of the FIQ. As far as we know this marks the first time that a President of one of the WTBA zones becomes the chief administrative officer of the FIQ President. 
