The 2006 World Tenpin Masters

Big time tenpin bowling returns to the Barnsley Metrodome as the ninth annual WORLD TENPIN MASTERS takes place from Friday to Sunday 21^st, 22^nd & 23^rd April.

Featuring 16 of the world’s best bowlers representing twelve different countries, the World Tenpin Masters takes up where last November’s Weber Cup left off.

Defending his title will be last year’s champion, Jens Nickel of Germany (pictured), who pulled out all the stops to comfortably beat England’s Paul Moor in the final.

Both players were on the winning side when Team Europe defeated their American counterparts in the Weber Cup – tenpin’s high octane version of the Ryder Cup – last November.

For the first time in the Master’s nine-year history, the USA will be represented by a player from the prestigious Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour as 2005 US Open Champion Chris Barnes travels to Barnsley for a shot at the $30,000 top prize.

Barnes’ wife Lynda, the reigning AMF World Cup champion and World Bowling Writers' Bowler of the Year, will also be competing and with two female Masters' champions over the past five years, Mrs Barnes will have every chance at the Metrodome.

Three times Masters’ Champion, Tore Torgersen of Norway, who also plies his trade on the Pro Bowling Tour, will be back attempting to repeats his feats of 1998, 2002 and 2004.

The format for the Masters is straight knock-out, head-to-head matches with total pinfall over two games determining the winner.

The home challenge this year is headed by 2005 runner-up and Weber Cup star Paul Moor from Hull. Paul is one of the emerging stars of the European bowling scene and he is supported by the UK’s top female bowlers Kirsten Penny and Zara Glover.

Making his debut is 19-year-old sensation Dominic Barrett who is the English No.1 and a member of the national squad.

With a roster of three bowling events – the Masters, the Weber Cup and the AMF World Cup - Matchroom Sport have established a tried and tested formula to highlight televised bowling at its best.

This consists of a single lane surrounded by banked seating on both sides to give the event the kind of high-pressure atmosphere that makes the Masters the world’s leading televised bowling tournament.

In all, bowlers from the following twelve countries will be represented – Australia, Philippines, Germany, England, Sweden, Denmark, USA, Holland, Norway, Canada, South Africa and Malaysia.

(Pics by Lawrence Lustig)

2006 World Tenpin Masters – The Players
Chris Barnes - USA; Lynda Barnes - USA; Dominic Barrett - England; Jason Belmonte - Australia; Guy Caminsky - South Africa; Liza Del Rosario - Philippines; Zara Glover - England; Tomas Leandersson - Sweden; Alex Liew - Malaysia; Paul Moor - England; Jens Nickel - Germany; Kirsten Penny - England; Michael Schmidt - Canada; Britt Brondsted - Denmark; Tore Torgersen - Norway; Wim van der Veen -  Holland.
*All players appear subject to confirmation

The 2006 World Tenpin Masters – the Prize Fund

Winner                                       US$    30,000          $30,000
Runner–Up                                  US$    10,000          $10,000
Losing Semi-Finalists                      US$    5,000           $10,000
Losing Quarter Finalists                   US$    2,000           $8,000
First Round Losers                         US$    1,000            $8,000
TOTAL                                                                         $66,000

The 2006 World Tenpin Masters – Previous Finals

2005   Jens Nickel (Germany) 485 – 389 Paul Moor (England)
Adwick Leisure Centre, Doncaster
2004   Tore Torgersen (Norway)  436 – 415 Tomas Leandersson (Sweden); Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham
2003   Nikki Harvey (England)  431 – 402  Andrew Frawley (Australia); Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham
2002   Tore Torgersen (Norway)  465 – 449  Tim Mack (USA)
Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham
2001   Shalin Zulkifli (Malaysia)  455 – 450  Tore Torgersen (Norway); Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham
2000   Tim Mack (USA)  438 – 436  Tore Torgersen (Norway)
Milton Keynes, Shopping Centre
1999   Paeng Nepomuceno (Philippines)  422 - 402  Steve Thornton (England); Milton Keynes, Shopping Centre
1998   Tore Torgersen (Norway)  432 – 395  Tomas Leandersson (Sweden); Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham