BOWLING – JM Villanueva topped the squad one rankings yesterday on the first day of the qualifying stage in the third edition of the Khalid bin Hamad Bowling Championship, which got underway at Funland Centre.
A total of 104 international players representing 13 countries, including a number of Bahrain’s national team stars, are competing in the tournament, which is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
It offers $65,000 in total prize money, and it is being organised and run by the Bahrain Bowling Association (BBA), and sanctioned by the European Bowling Federation, the Asian Bowling Federation, and the International Bowling Federation.
Villanueva emerged as the leader after five games from the first squad. He posted a total of 974 pins, with his best game being 256 pins.
Ali Almass followed with an 875 total from his five games, while Theo Shipp placed third with 847 pins. Khalid Sameer ranked fourth on an 816 total, followed by Mohammed Alansari, who completed the squad’s top five, with 783 pins.
Qualifying continues until May 8, after which the elimination rounds will take place.
The top eight from the qualifiers move directly into round three, while bowlers ranked ninth through 16th will advance straight to round two. Participants ranked 17th to 34th in qualifying will play in round one.
Eight bowlers at the end of the first round will then move forward to join the ninth-through-16th-ranked bowlers in round two. From there, another eight will advance to round three to join qualifying’s best eight. Eight from the third round will then march on to play in round four, which will then set up the semi-finalists and eventually the finalists.
Also as part of yesterday’s events at Funland, an opening ceremony took place, attended by BBA president Saleh Al Bufalah and other officials.
“The championship is being held with great momentum and wide participation,” said Al Bufalah in his address during the inauguration. “The BBA has prepared for this event in a distinctive manner that will be an extension of other successful international championships organised by Bahrain, along with a series of achievements that reflect the support and interest of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.”
Al Bufalah pointed out that the tournament’s organising committee has been keen to provide all the necessary arrangements to ensure the championship’s success. He also thanked the sponsors of this major event, which include Batelco, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, Crowne Plaza Hotel, and Funland Centre.
Al Bufalah highlighted that he expects a high level of competition throughout the tournament’s duration, given the eagerness of various leading bowlers from around the world to take part.
A number of Bahrain national team players are competing in the tournament, including six from the kingdom’s senior squad and another 12 from the junior team, giving them some valuable experience.
Bowlers during the qualification period will be competing daily in four squads. The first starts at 11am, the second at 2.30pm, the third at 6pm, and the last at 9.30pm.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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