2025 IBF World Championships – Team Australia: Morning Brief Day 4
By Matt Stevens
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2025 IBF World Championships – Top Bowl, Kowloon, Hong Kong – Day 4
Day 4 begins in Hong Kong on the back of a dramatic and entertaining finish to the Singles events, with Australia producing two excellent Round 2 performances from Blake Walsh and Bec Whiting. Both athletes represented the country superbly, with Blake delivering a perfect 300 game in Men’s Matchplay and Bec fighting all the way to finish just 3 points shy of a semi-final berth in the Women’s event.
With the Singles medals now decided, attention shifts to the next championship discipline – Doubles, where teamwork, cohesion and Baker-format precision take centre stage.
What Happened – Men and Women’s Singles Event Round 2 & Finals
Men’s Division – Blake Walsh (Group D)
Blake put together a powerful Round 2 performance, winning three matches and averaging 221, including an incredible 300 game in his third match. He claimed victories against China’s Zhang Min, Finland’s Joonas Jähi, and top-seeded Ji Guen from Korea.
Despite the strong performance, Blake finished 5th in Group D with 9 points, two wins behind group winner Ryan Barnes (USA), who advanced to the semi-finals.
Blake’s Round 2 Results
| Game 1 – Defeated Zhang Min (CHN) 237-192 |
| Game 2- Lost to Lukas Jelinek (CZE) 218-244 |
| Game 3 – Defeated Joonas Jahi (FIN) 300-174 |
| Game 4 – Lost to Gaetan Mouveroux (FRA) 226-209 |
| Game 5 – Defeated Ji Guen (KOR) 201-181 |
| Game 6 – Lost to Ryan Barnes (USA) 189-226 |
| Game 7 – Lost to Ma Ka Yin, Jovi (HKG) 193-195 |
| Total Points – 9 points (3 wins, 4 losses) |
| Total Pinfall – 1,547 |
| Average – 221 |
A brilliant effort highlighted by a perfect game at a World Championship – congratulations Blake!
Female Division – Bec Whiting (Group C)
Bec delivered a composed matchplay block in a tough Group C, securing four wins and averaging 197.71 across her seven games. She stayed in contention throughout, including wins over Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Spain.
Bec finished 3rd with 12 points, just three points behind Malaysia’s Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee, who topped the group and advanced to the semi-finals.
Bec’s Round 2 Results
| Game 1 – Lost to Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee (MAS) 171-212 |
| Game 2 – Defeated Kim Bo Ah (KOR) 217-202 |
| Game 3 – Defeated Mirai Ishimoto (JPN) 190-170 |
| Game 4 – Lost to Megan Gales Dicay (DEN) 165-189 |
| Game 5 – Defeated Tay Ning (SGP) 202-180 |
| Game 6 – Lost to Victoria Johansson (SWE) 214-225 |
| Game 7 – Defeated Cristina Mas (ESP) – 225-195 |
| Total Points – 12 points (4 wins, 3 losses) |
| Total Pinfall – 1,384 |
| Average – 197.71 |
Summary
- Blake Walsh – 5th in Group D, perfect 300 game
- Bec Whiting – 3rd in Group C, just 3 points shy of advancing
- Australia finishes the Singles events with two athletes in Round 2 and one perfect game
- Valuable matchplay experience banked heading into next disciplines
🎳 Day 4 Preview – Women’s Doubles
After three intense days of Singles competition, Day 4 shifts the focus to the Women’s Doubles, marking the second Championship event for Australia’s female athletes. With the men earning a well-deserved rest day, the women will take full ownership of the lanes as they contest two Doubles qualification squads.
The Doubles format introduces a completely different rhythm and tactical approach, with teamwork, chemistry, and execution becoming the deciding factors in progression. Australia will field their combinations across today’s two squads, with all teams completing seven Baker-format games in search of a place inside the Top 24 to advance to the second round.
🗓️Friday 28 November 2025 – Day Schedule (AEST)
(The times below are AEST e.g. Brisbane. Hong Kong is 2 hours behind Brisbane)
- 09:30-11:00 – Lane Maintenance
- 11:00-11:10 – Warm Up
- 11:10-13:30 – Women Doubles Qualifying Squad 1 (7 Games)
- 13:30-14:30 – Lane Maintenance
- 14:30-14:40 – Warm Up
- 14:40-17:00 – Women Doubles Qualifying Squad 2 (7 Games)
🇦🇺 Australian Schedule – Doubles (AEST)
| 11:10-13:30 – Women’s Doubles Qualifying Squad 1 (7 Games) |
| Bec Whiting & Rebekah Martin |
| Lanes 24, 27, 33, 4, 8, 16, 17 |
| 14:40-17:00 – Women’s Doubles Qualifying Squad 2 (7 Games) |
| Jamie Phelan & Siarn Ottaviano |
| Lanes 10, 13, 19, 24, 28, 4, 5 |
| 14:40-17:00 – Women’s Doubles Qualifying Squad 2 (7 Games) |
| Dena Buxton & Samantha Clifton |
| Lanes 33, 30, 24, 19, 15, 7, 6 |
The men pairs have been decided but they will hit the lanes tomorrow and we will have the lane draw in tomorrow’s morning brief.
- Julian Dinham and Luke Doyle
- Jesse Ellis and Jordan Dinham
- Jackson Buckingham and Blake Walsh
🎳Doubles Event – Format Overview
All games will be bowled in Baker Format.
Round 1 – Qualification – Maximum Three doubles teams per federation. All teams will bowl seven games baker format in one block.
Round 2 – The Top 24 teams in the final qualification standings will qualify for round 2. They will then be divided into 4 groups of 6 teams evenly based on the rankings from qualification.
Teams will bowl 5 games round robin and be awarded 3 points for a win, and 1 point for a tie. The team with the most points at the end of round two in each group will then advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
- SF1 – 1v4
- SF2 – 2v3
Best of three games. Winners advance to Grand Final, losers to be awarded Bronze medals.
Grand Final
The winner of each semi-final will advance to the Grand Final.
- Final – Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2
Best of three games.
📲 How to Follow
Stay connected with the latest stream links, results, briefs, schedules through the Team Australia Hub on the TBA website.
We will now provide a Morning Brief in the morning each day of the Championships.
💚💛 Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! 💚💛
