2016 Bowling World Cup Award Winners

Wang Hongbo and Jenny Wegner were our winners, but others reached the podium as well.

Jenny had beaten our long time leader, Bernice Lim of Singapore, in the semi-final, while Syaidatul Afifah of Malaysia lost to Danielle McEwan of the USA.

Bernice had last played in the World Cup in Malaka in 2009 and finished 20^th. Danielle had played in the event twice before, in Wroclaw in 2012 when she won the prize for high game, hitting her first ever sanctioned 300, and in Krasnoyarsk in 2013, and she had finished fourth both times. But in Krasnoyarsk she did win the top country award together with John Szczerbinski who had also finished fourth.

Martin Larsen of Sweden went into the arena finals in top spot, hoping to improve on his second place in Hermosillo, Mexico, in 2008. But he lost to Chris Sloan of Ireland, who had started the penultimate day in 22^nd place, a record climb up the standings. In the other semi-final, Wang beat Anze Grabrijan of Slovenia, but this was the best ever result for Slovenia, our wonderful hosts in 2005.

No Irishman had ever won the title and no one from China, male or female, had ever come close. Chris however had bowled in the event before, in Krasnoyarsk, when he hit not one but two perfect games. So a new country name has appeared on the men’s trophy.

Top country award went to Sweden, not surprisingly as both players finished in the top four. It is the fourth time Sweden has taken this honour.

The trophy for high game was also presented. Bernice won the women’s with 290. Although Iliana Lomeli of Mexico also hit 290, the rules of the tournament give the trophy to the first player to hit the high score in the event of a tie. Bernice shot hers in the second block of qualifying while Iliana shot hers in the fourth block. The men’s trophy went to Arturs Levikins of Latvia, the first time Latvia has ever won an award at the Bowling World Cup. Arturs’ score of 286 lasted despite the best efforts of all the others.

And here are all the awards.

World Cup Finals:

Men:      

1. Wang Hongbo (China)
2. Chris Sloan (Ireland)
3. Martin Larsen (Sweden) and Anze Grabrijan (Slovenia)

Women:

1. Jenny Wegner (Sweden)
2. Danielle McEwan (US)
3. Bernice Lim (Singapore) and Syaidatul Afifah (Malaysia)

High Game:

Men:       Arturs Levikins 286 (Latvia)

Women: Bernice Lim 290 (Singapore)

Top Country: Sweden

So that’s it for another year.