The World Ranking Masters was ten-pin bowling's international ranking system, as with professional tennis. It was governed by the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA). The rankings were formulated at the end of the three international tours, the European, Americas (not "American", although it does cover the US) and Asian tours.
The last World Ranking Masters was conducted by WTBA in 2009.
Organisation
It was divided into the following geographical Zones/Tours:
American Bowling Federation which consists of North and South America and has the Americas Bowling Tour. Asian Bowling Federation which consists of Asia, Australia, Western Pacific and has the Asian Bowling Tour. European Tenpin Bowling Federation (ETBF) which consists of Europe and South Africa and is host to the European Bowling Tour (EBT) (similar to that of the PBA's Tour)
When all three vast tours were complete, the top 8 bowlers over the three tours were invited each year to the World Ranking Masters.
For example, with the EBT, the list can be found on the official ETBF website . It is also reported on in the leading Tenpin news site .
The World Ranking Masters is played on the "Dual Condition" format. Over the years the format has changed. The current qualifying format takes place over 3 days, with 8 games being played each day. The first day is played on a "long" lane pattern (oiled to around 44 ft), the second on a "short" pattern (oiled to around 35 ft). The final day is played on a "mixed" pattern (each lane is dressed alternately with the long and short patterns).
The top 8 men and top 8 women over the 24 games qualify for the single-elimination matchplay finals. The finalists are seeded according to their final position in qualifying. The finals are played using "best of 3" matchplay style on alternating lane patterns. The higher seeded player has the choice of which pattern to start on.
These patterns force the players to attack the 2 different lane conditions using different angles/equipment/hand positions and is the best way to determine the player with the most skills, versatility and knowledge.
2007 - Lake Wales, Florida The 2007 World Ranking Masters event will be held in the Kegel Training centre, Lake Wales, Florida after the original Hosts, Qatar withdrew from hosting the event in February 2007.
The five-day competition will start May 3 and will conclude with the TV finals on May 7.
"We have TV again. It will be a 90-minute show this time, maybe even two hours", Kegel founder John Davis proudly stated. "The county made the decision to back the show. It seems they were very happy with our performance and ratings last time."
It marks the third time after 2003 and 2005 that the prestigious event will come to the Kegel headquarters.
"This will be the 7th edition of this tournament and we are proud to be able to have the tournament at our Kegel Training and Tournament centre here in Lake Wales, Florida for the third time", said Del Warren, Tournament Manager and Vice President of Kegel Training and Tournament centre. "In fact, I think we will make the theme of this tournament 'A Celebration of the Sport of Bowling'.
The World Ranking Masters features the top eight men and top eight women from each of the three WTBA zones (American, European and Asian) plus one male and one female bowler to be picked by the host - a total of 25 men and 25 women.
Sara Vargas, Colombia, will be on hand to defend the women's title while Khalid Al Dubyan of Kuwait, the 2006 men's World Ranking Masters champion did not qualify through the Asian rankings.
As tournament hosts, Kegel and USBC jointly selected Team USA members Bill Hoffman of Columbus, Ohio, and Diandra Asbaty of Chicago to represent the United States in the event. However, just before the start of the tournament Bill Hoffman had to unfortunately withdraw due to a foot injury. Hoffman was replaced at short notice by Team USA team-mate, David O'Sullivan of Orlando, Florida.
The Kegel/USBC World Ranking Masters will have a first prize of $10,000 US Dollars for both the men and the women and we will be paying down to 10th place.
"We will also be unveiling a few new ideas to help promote the sport of bowling with the goal of elevating our sport to the next level", Warren added.
"We want to express our gratitude to the World Tenpin Bowling Association for their confidence and willingness to give us the opportunity to host this prestigious event."
As earlier reported, the Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF) withdrew as host of the 2007 World Ranking Masters, which should originally take place in Doha, from April 30 through May 6. Three countries wanted to step in and have sent an application to the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA), the USA], Finland and Indonesia. The WTBA decided in favour of the Kegel/USBC bid.
Participants - Women's Division
American Zone
Rocio Restrepo Caroline Lagrange Paola Gómez Sara Vargas Karen Marcano Alicia Marcano Lynne Gauthier Aumi Guerra
Asian Zone
Putty Armein Shalin Zulkifli Esther Cheah Lai Kin Ngoh Tannya Roumimper Zandra Aziela Choy Poh Lai Wendy Chai
European Zone
Britt Brøndsted Zara Glover Nina Flack Isabelle Saldjian Helén Johnsson Anna Mattsson-Baard Patricia Schwarz Ivonne Gross
Host Country Pick
Diandra Asbaty
Participants - Men's Division
American Zone
Arturo Hernández Luis Rodriguez Mark Buffa David Romero Francisco Colon Rolando Antonio Sebelen Manuel Otalora Jaime Monroy
Asian Zone
Remy Ong Ryan Lalisang Wu Siu Hong Alex Liew Azidi Ameran Biboy Rivera Yannaphon Larpapharat Zulmazran Zulkifli
European Zone
Paul Moor Osku Palermaa Peter Ljung Stuart Williams Martin Larsen Thomas Gross Jason Belmonte Kai Virtanen
Host Country Pick
David O'Sullivan (Late replacement for Bill Hoffman)
Results
Kan Jam World Rankings
Top 8 (highlighted) qualify for quarter finals. Pos.PlayerCountryLongOilShortOilMixedPatternTotalScoreAvg1Osku Palermaa1909194319465798241.582Jason Belmonte1913184518065564231.833Stuart Williams1872194017115523230.134Conor Fennell1969170317825454227.255Martin Larsen1828186117315420225.836Mossellem and Wilkie1898181416935405225.217Peter Ljung1808175718255390224.588Thomas and Gross1820167818815379224.139Remy and Ong1969171216795360223.3310Mark and Buffa1863178216905335222.2911Manuel Otalora1729174818425319221.6312Biboy Rivera1809176617255300220.83
Qualifying - Women (top 12 only)
Top 8 (highlighted) qualify for quarter finals
Pos.PlayerCountryLongOilShortOilMixedPatternTotalScoreAvg1Caroline Lagrange1885186117555501229.212Diandra Asbaty1637190119245462227.583Wendy Chai1659175018565265219.384Zara Glover1859169516965250218.755Zandra Aziela1599174118755215217.296Aumi Guerra1804167617185198216.587Patricia Schwarz1739165717985194216.428Alicia Marcano1662175717655184216.009Helén Johnsson1633179517455173215.5410Putty Armein1742170117155158214.9211Paola Gómez1731166317315125214.9212Tannya Roumimper1691171516565062210.92
Quarter Finals - Men
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame scores1 Osku Palermaa 0 - 28 Thomas Gross196-265, 203-2072 Jason Belmonte 0 - 27 Peter Ljung190-258, 158-2793 Stuart Williams 2 - 06 David O'Sullivan247-191, 240-2054 Paul Moor 2 - 05 Martin Larsen238-204, 212-204
Quarter Finals - Women
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame scores1 Caroline Lagrange 1 - 28 Alicia Marcano225-257, 235-213, 237-2442 Diandra Asbaty 2 - 07 Patricia Schwarz267-220, 234-2123 Wendy Chai 1 - 26 Aumi Guerra193-172, 185-202, 221-2264 Zara Glover 2 - 05 Zandra Aziela258-223, 213-184
Semi Finals - Men
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame scores3 Stuart Williams 2 - 18 Thomas Gross186-236, 197-151, 206-2044 Paul Moor 0 - 27 Peter Ljung227-258, 234-246
Semi Finals - Women
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame scores2 Diandra Asbaty 2 - 18 Alicia Marcano186-234, 224-177, 245-1654 Zara Glover 2 - 06 Aumi Guerra226-183, 233-201
Final - Men
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame scores3 Stuart Williams 2 - 17 Peter Ljung233-236, 235-224, 269-240
Final - Women
SeedPlayerScoreSeedPlayerGame Scores2 Diandra Asbaty 2 - 04 Zara Glover233-148, 235-220
Past events
Previous Finals - Men
YearLocationWinnerScoreRunner-upGame score2001Abu Dhabi, UAE Sunny Hui2 - 0 Bandar Al-Shafi247-225, 226-2242002Aalborg, Denmark Gery Verbruggen2 - 0 Anders Öhman247-234, 221-2172003Lake Wales, Florida, USA Anders Öhman2 - 1 Bill Hoffman237-223, 199-211, 220-1792004Moscow, Russia Mohammed Al-Qubaisi2 - 1 Lasse Lintilä188-244, 269-196, 210-1902005Lake Wales, Florida, USA Kimmo Lehtonen2 - 1 Jouni Helminen204-159, 216-253, 202-1512006Kuwait City, Kuwait Khalid Al Dubyan2 - 0 Pasi Uotila172-171, 178-1662007Lake Wales, Florida, USA Stuart Williams2 - 1 Peter Ljung233-236, 235-224, 269-2402008Jakarta, Indonesia Jari Ratia2 - 1 Zulmazran Zulkifli248-191, 173-179, 212-1852009Naples, Italy Osku Palermaa2 - 0 Tore Torgersen259-234, 248-238
Previous Finals - Women
YearLocationWinnerScoreRunner-upGame Score2001Abu Dhabi, UAE Jesmine Ho2 - 0 Iben Tchu191-179, 228-1742002Aalborg, Denmark Jennifer Tan2 - 0 Jesmine Ho205-172, 223-2002003Lake Wales, Florida, USA Britt Brøndsted2 - 0 Patricia Schwarz224-164, 224-2152004Moscow, Russia Diandra Asbaty2 - 0 Shalin Zulkifli247-163, 277-1692005Lake Wales, Florida, USA Clara Guerrero2 - 1 Wendy Chai219-235, 214-195, 223-1572006Kuwait City, Kuwait Sara Vargas2 - 1 Putty Armein176-185, 278-193, 187-1842007Lake Wales, Florida, USA Diandra Asbaty2 - 0 Zara Glover233-148, 235-2202008Jakarta, Indonesia Wendy Chai2 - 0 Karen Marcano186-181, 220-2012009Naples, Italy Siti Safiyah Amirah2 - 0 Tina Hulsch215-199, 175-166
External links World Ranking Masters Men's Medalists World Ranking Masters Women's Medalists Bowlinglinks all over the World, sorted by categories