I felt I should devote a post to the just-completed WTBA World Men’s Championships, which was held in Thailand, and marked the first time that PBA professionals have been allowed to compete in the event. The decision to allow PBA participation really benefited Team USA, as they’re coming home with the lion’s share of the medals. Americans medaled in every event, which I’ll list here:
- Doubles: Patrick Allen and Rhino Page (gold)
- Trios: Bill Hoffman, Patrick Allen, and Rhino Page (bronze); Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, and Tommy Jones (bronze)
- Five-man team: Bill Hoffman, Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen, and Rhino Page (gold)*
- Singles: Walter Ray Williams Jr. (gold)
- All-Events: Rhino Page (silver)
- Masters: Walter Ray Williams Jr. (gold)
* Denotes team for knockout round. Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Rhino Page split duties during team qualifying, with one bowling with the national team for a three-game block while the other paced on a make-up team for All-Events score.
Complete coverage of the tournament, including full results, can be found on the tournament’s official web site. As an additional note about international bowling, the World Women’s Championships is scheduled for next year at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, NV, and will be contested on the USBC Open Championships lanes.
Sidebar link to World Tenpin Bowling Association site added: As the World Tenpin Bowling Association, along with the member zone organizations, governs the major international tournaments (including, perhaps one day, the Olympic Games), I’ve included the link to their site in the sidebar. Links to future major international tournaments can be found from that site.
The Tenth Board 