The first World Singles Championships, organised by the Cyprus Bowling Federation, will be held at the Galactica bowling centre in Limassol between September 18 and 26.
Sue Abela and her son Justin Caruana Scicluna have earned the right to represent Malta in the World Singles Championships after winning the respective female and male categories at a national qualifying tournament, played at the Eden SuperBowl.
The qualification format of the simple pinfall total, after 24 games played over three sessions, remains the preferred option in such tournaments. It was a challenging three-day event, played between Saturday afternoon and Monday evening, to test individual stamina as well as bowling skill.
Caruana Scicluna, the eventual men’s winner, was in the thick of action from the opening games but it was Rankin Camilleri who led the typically competitive male division after the first eight-game session.
Camilleri’s consistent 1,664 total (208 ave) put him just 25 pins ahead of Caruana Scicluna who was second on 1,639 (204.8 ave). Neil Sullivan was a close third on 1,628 with Mauro Anastasi fourth with 1,605 pins.
Day two saw a slight drop in the scoring pace but no change in the status quo as Camilleri held on to top spot on 3,249 (203 ave), ahead of Caruana Scicluna whose high games of 234, 230 and 238 improved his interim tally to 3,237 (202.3), just 12 away from the summit. Sullivan stayed third on 3,173 with Anastasi on 3,140.
It was all still to play for in the third and final session. Camilleri again showed great consistency (1,607 over eight) to finish on 4,856 overall (202.3 ave). However, he was forced to settle for second place as Caruana Scicluna clinched victory late in the day with a 1,659 set, including highs of 254, 235 and 258 for a winning total of 4,896 (2.04 ave).
Abela’s qualifying victory in the women’s tournament may not go down as one of her best, as she produced a series of uncharacteristic low games over the weekend. Yet, the near-perpetual national champion topped the ladies competition from the early stages.
Abela ended day one on 1,552 (194 ave) while Tiziana Carannante was second on 1,498 (187.2) ahead of Joanna Attard in third on 1,425, and Melissa Swift back in fourth place, with 1,368 pins.
Despite two low games during the back four (148-150), Abela retained top spot after day two. Her 2,975 tally (185.9 ave) after 16 games kept her a reachable 73 ahead of Carannante (2902, 181.3), and Melissa Swift in third on 2857. Joanna Attard dropped to fourth on 2,791.
Abela only had to keep her experienced head over day three’s eight-game session, and in fact that would be her best and most consistent of the tournament. She shot a 1,571, winning the event with 4,546 pins (189.4 ave), ahead of Swift who improved to second place thanks to a good 1,549 set (total 4406, 183.5 ave).
Carannante dropped third with a 4,272 tournament total (178 ave).