Four women won all seven of their matches on the opening day of women's singles qualifying at the 2026 IBF World Cup at Max Munich Bowling in Brunnthal, Germany.
Denmark's Karen Kærgaard Nielsen, Shannon Pluhowsky of the United States, Malaysia's Sin Li Jane and Singapore's Shayna Ng are all 7W, 0L with 21 points.
The women are drawn into four groups of two pools. Bowlers play one-game matches, earning three points for a win and one for a tie. Only the top four from each pool will reach the singles Top 32.
One Pin Apart in Group D
Karen Kærgaard Nielsen and Shannon Pluhowsky share the lead in Group D, Pool 1 with 21 points.
Australia's Brianna Walsh holds fourth place with 15 points and 1,280 pins, one pin ahead of Viktorie Brokešová of the Czech Republic on the same points total.
In Pool 2, Sin Le Jane averaged 196.7 to stay perfect, with Singapore's Cherie Tan second with 18 points. Sweden's Nora Johansson avaraged the most in the pool, 204.4, but is third with 15 points.
Ng Finishes With 245
Shayna Ng leads Group A, Pool 2 after seven straight wins and a 200.7 average. She closed the day with a 245. Sweden's Victoria Johansson is second with 18 points.
In Pool 1, Australia's Samantha Clifton leads with 18 points after a 253 in her second game. Behind her, five players are tied on 15 points. Poland's Daria Pajak, France's Manon Clement and Greece's Alexandra Giannadaki currently hold the qualifying spots.
Andersson and New Set the Pace
Sweden's Anna Andersson had the best pinfall of the day, 1,479 at a 211.3 average, and finished with a 259. She leads Group C, Pool 2 with 18 points, together with Krizziah Lyn Macatula of the Philippines.
Singapore's New Hui Fen currently eads Group B, Pool 2 with 18 points.
The highest game came from Gianna Brandolino of the United States, who opened with a 267. She averaged 204.3 to lead Group B, Pool 1 with 18 points. Norway's Madelen Thorsrudhagen Danielsen has the same points total with a 172.9 average.
Defending Champion in a Five-Way Tie
Natasha Roslan won the 2025 IBF World Cup in Hong Kong, beating Germany's Birgit Noreiks in the final. On Thursday, she averaged 185.1 and is sixth in Group C, Pool 1 with 15 points.
She is one of five players on 15 points, from third to seventh place, along with France's Emma Friant, Australia's Dena Buxton, Denmark's Mika Guldbæk and China's Yijie Zhao.
Norway's Jenny Mathiesen leads the pool with 18 points, ahead of Spain's Patricia Beatriz Ciotti Ettari with 16.
Noreiks, bowling at home in Germany, opened with a 266 and averaged 203.7, but she is eighth in Group D, Pool 2 with 9 points. Jillian Martin of the United States is in a similar position: she averaged 204.3 but is eighth in Group C, Pool 2 with 9 points.
Singapore leads the women's federation leaderboard with 69 points from 23 wins, ahead of Malaysia on 66 and Sweden on 63. This leaderboard also places the teams into their Round 2 groups for the team event.
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Current Top Four in Each Pool
Pool leaders across Groups A through D:
What Comes Next
The women have six more rounds to play later in the week. The singles Top 32 and medal matches are set for Sunday, October 18, with best-of-three-game matches.
