SQUADS E & F:
As the final two squads get set with their first six of the twelve qualifying games, it was Wim van der Veen of the Netherlands and Russia's Tatiana Smirnova who set the pace in their opener.
Van der Veen, 39, a part-time mail worker with TNT in Holland and lives just two kilometers over the German border, where houses are so much more of a reasonable price, hit 1339 over his first six games. If this score is doubled then it will tie with leader Richard Beck's 2678.
"This is my third year in the Malta Open, a tournament I like very much, and the lane condition this year is good. It is a very fair condition and doesn't seem to be a lefthanders paradise, which seems to be the case in many recent events." He had a big surprise when he opened his bowling bag as one of his bowling balls had been absolutley smashed to smithereens aboard the aircraft, falling into so many pieces that it looked like some form of jigsaw puzzle.
The petite Tatiana Smirnova topped the ladies' group with 1112 so will have to improve in her second block on the last squad tonight. The Moscow lass, here for the fourth time says she likes Malta very much but doesn't like to reveal her age.
Pic: Van der Veen and Smirnova.

SQUAD F:
Defending champion Paul Moor, 26, of Hull, England posted his intentions of retaining the Malta Open title, being the top scorer over the first six games of Squad F, the final bunch to take to the lanes this year.
"The lanes seem to be a little tougher this year than last," commented the I.T. engineer. "I played a wider line last year but this time the lanes are much tighter. I started off well with a 256 but failed to break 600 over the first three games. I changed balls after the fourth game but in hindsight feel that I should have stayed with my first choice."
Nevertheless, Moor totaled 1336 which, if bettered over his final six games Saturday morning, should see him contesting pole position when the cut to the top 72 takes place.
It was very nice to see a Greek lady topping the distaff squad. Martha Karatzoyla, 36, from Athens had a pleasing 256 to finish off her first block this evening for a 210 average and squad leading score of 1261. If she can double that tomorrow morning she will oust frontrunner Helen Johnsson on 2476.
Pics: Paul Moor and Martha Karatzoyla

SQUAD E - FINAL 6 GAMES:
An all-time record score of 1503 over his final six-game block zoomed Belgium's Chris van Damme to the top of the leader board with only squad F left to complete the qualifying round.
After a mediocre 1175 in his opening squad earlier in the day, the executive taxi company proprietor from Knokke-le-Zout slipped into top gear to shoot 224-269-237-280-238 and 255 to park in pole position, deposing previous leader into second place by the narrow margin of two pins.
Sweden's Helen Johnsson, sitting atop the ladies' division, remains  unchallenged and it is odds on that she will be the top lady qualifier after the present F squad complete their games.

SQUAD F - FINAL 6 GAMES:
Paul Moor of England was once again the squad leader but his overall score of 2561 was not quite enough to overtake Chris van Damme, the tournament leader. Just one pin behind Moor was Peter Knopp of Frankfurt, Germany and this pair slot into third and fourth positions respectively.
Nobody could top the ladies' high and Helen Johnsson of Sweden retains pole position of her group.
A good result for the ladies is Maltese bowler Sue Abela, the 2002 champion, finishing in third place.
The top 72 men and 36 ladies now continue with the competition whilst the remainder reach for their swimsuits and party wear.
Qualifiers 37-72 in the men's division take to the lanes at 14:30 this afternoon and those in positions 1 - 36 will follow at around 17:00. Their field will then cut to 36, taking to the lanes as the final squad of the day at 21:30.
Ladies finishing 1 - 36 will play their squad at 19:15 and will cut to 18. All these squads, men and ladies, will be over four games with pinfall carried forward from the 12 qualifying games.
The cut for 72nd place came at 2236, a 186.33 average, pretty much as forecast in the mens' division, and at 2070, average of 172.50 for the ladies.
Pic: Helen Johnsson & Chris van Damme

FULL QUALIFYING SCORES:
MEN'S EVENT
LADIES EVENT

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For further information, contact Keith Hale: keithhale@btconnect.com