2025 IBF World Championships – Team Australia: Preview

Team Australia has touched down in Hong Kong, China ahead of the HKGX 2025 IBF World Championships, a global showdown running from 24 November to 5 December at Top Bowl, Kowloon.

Hosted by the International Bowling Federation (IBF) and the Hong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress (HKCTBC), the World Championships bring together the best of the best. This year features 28 nations in the men’s division and 22 nations in the women’s ready to battle across Singles, Doubles, Trios, Teams, and All-Events.

A majority of Team Australia landed on 21 November, settling into their tournament base and completing two unofficial practice sessions. Tonight, the spotlight swings to the Opening Ceremony at Top Bowl, launching 11 days of world-class competition.

The Venue: Top Bowl, Kowloon

A staple venue in Asian Bowling circles, Top Bowl has hosted several major Asian and IBF sanctioned events and is renowned for its clean and modern playing environment. The centre features 40 world-class competition lanes and sits within the Kai Tak Sports Park precinct in the heart of Kowloon – giving teams convenient access to transport, food options, and anything they may need throughout the campaign.

Team Australia is no stranger to the venue, having completed here at earlier events in recent years. The squad is familiar with the setup, the surroundings, and the atmosphere, and they’re excited to return for another major campaign.

Team Australia

National coach Cameron Walsh leads the squad into this third world event of 2025, following the open and youth World Cups earlier this year. The group features returning athletes, rising stars, and several debutants chasing their first taste of global competition in green and gold.

“I am very much looking forward to taking this team away to Hong Kong for the World Championships” explained Cameron Walsh.

“Everyone has been training hard and putting in the effort and time on the lanes heading into the Championships. Baker format is not a format that we usually compete under in Australia, but the team is well prepared and ready to go.

“There are members of the team that have played this format overseas, and some quite regularly so we will have plenty of experience to lead the others that are new to the competition” added Walsh.

Women’s Team

Australia’s women’s squad brings a powerful mix of experience, momentum, and fresh energy into Hong Kong.

Bec Whiting and Bek Martin – affectionately known as “Bec Squared”, reunite for another international campaign after yet another strong and consistent year on the national circuit. Their reliability and big-moment composure make them of Australia’s most trusted combinations.

Dena Buxton continues her incredible year, backing up for her second World Championships in just a matter of months after starring at the IBF World Seniors Championship, where she medalled in All-Events and Teams. She arrives in peak form.

South Australian Jamie Phelan also returns to the world stage following her appearance at the 2025 World Cup, adding proven versatility and match-play toughness to the lineup.

Fresh from a breakout year, Samantha Clifton enters her second Open international campaign, and third overall, after capturing the Female Youth World Cup title in Sweden earlier in 2025. Her confidence and trajectory make her a genuine X-factor in this squad.

Rounding out the team is a debutant many across the country have been cheering for: West Australia’s Siarn Ottaviano. The smiling assassin has worked tirelessly for this opportunity and now earns her first chance to don the green and gold on the Open stage.

Men’s Team

Australia’s men’s squad arrives in Hong Kong as one of the youngest and most exciting groups the nation has fielded in recent years – a lineup built on talent, hunger, and the confidence of a new generation breaking through.

Blake Walsh and Jordan Dinham headline the team, both returning after strong performances at the 2025 IBF World Cup. Walsh continues to cement himself as one of Australia’s most composed young bowlers on the global stage, while Jordan Dinham’s shot-making and match-play maturity make him a key pillar of the squad.

Joining them is Julian Dinham, who earns his first Open selection following a standout domestic season. His rapid rise through  the national ranks, highlighted by clutch performances at major events, has made him one of the most  talked-about emerging bowlers in the country.

Rounding out the team is a talented Queensland trio: Jackson Buckingham, Jesse Ellis, and Luke Doyle. All three make their Open international debuts, each bringing a slightly different skillset. Together they form a dynamic young core ready to test themselves against the world’s best.

With every athlete either newly transitioned into the Open division or still eligible for Youth/Junior competition, this squad embodies the next wave of Australian bowling, fearless, fast-learning, and eager to make an impression on the global stage.

What to Watch For

• New Generation Taking Over

Australia’s men’s squad is one of the youngest in the field, a genuine ‘future of the sport’ core getting its first major test on global lanes.

• Baker Battles Decide the Week

Doubles, Trios, and Teams are all Baker format, making every shot meaningful, chemistry, lane reads, and fast adjustments will separate contenders from the pack.

• Rival Nations to Watch

Traditional powerhouses like USA, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden, and Finland remain the benchmark. Australia’s match-play mentality will be key against these nations in group stages.

• Debutants in the Spotlight

Several athletes are making their first appearance in an Open major – a chance to announce themselves on the world stage.

Championship Schedule

Hong Kong is 2 hours behind AEST (Brisbane). Full daily previews with AEST-converted start times will appear at www.tenpin.org.au each day of the Championships.

• Tue, 25 Nov – Men’s Singles Qualifying
• Wed, 26 Nov – Women’s Singles Qualifying
• Thu, 27 Nov – Singles Rd 2 and Finals
• Fri, 28 Nov – Women’s Doubles Qualifying
• Sat, 29 Nov – Men’s Doubles Qualifying
• Sun, 30 Nov – Doubles Rd 2 and Finals
• Mon 1 Dec – Men’s Trios Qualifying and Rd 2
• Tue 2 Dec – Women’s Trios Qualifying and Rd 2
• Wed 3 Dec – Team of 5 Qualifying & Rd 2
• Thu 4 Dec – Trio Finals
• Fri 5 Dec – Team of 5 Finals

Championship Format

All events are contested on a 46-foot oil pattern, with medals awarded across Singles, Doubles, Trios, Teams, All-Events, and the Overall Federation Championship.

Singles

• Round 1 – Qualification: All six athletes bowl 6 games in one block.
• Round 2 – Top 32 Matchplay: Top 32 advance into four groups of eight, seeded based on qualifying and evenly. All bowlers in each group bowl against each other for a total of 7 matchplay games.
• Semi-Finals – Top 4: Group winners play 1v4, 2v3 (best-of-three). Losers receive bronze.
• Grand Final: Winners meet for gold and silver in a best-of-three.

Doubles (Baker format)

• Round 1 – Qualification: 7 baker games
• Round 2 – Top 24 Matchplay: advance into four groups of six, seeded based on qualifying and evenly. All pairs in each group bowl against each other for 6 baker games.
• Semi-Finals – Top 4: Group winners play 1v4, 2v3 (best-of-three). Losers receive bronze.
• Grand Final: Winners meet for gold and silver in a best-of-three.

Trios (Baker format)

• Max two trios per federation.
• Round 1 – Qualifying – 7 baker games
• Round 2 – Top 16 Matchplay –  advance to two groups of 8 teams, seeded based on qualifying and evenly. All bowlers in each group bowl against each other for a total of 7 baker games.
• Semi-Finals – Top 4: Group winners play 1v4, 2v3 (best-of-three). Losers receive bronze.
• Grand Final: Winners meet for gold and silver in a best-of-three.

Teams of Five (Baker format)

• Max one team per federation (5 bowlers)
• Round 1 – Qualifying: 7 baker games
• Round 2 – Top 8 Matchplay: advance for round 2 in one group of 8 teams where they will bowl 7 games round robin with the top 4 advancing to the semi-finals.
• Semi-Finals – Top 4: Group winners play 1v4, 2v3 (best-of-three). Losers receive bronze.
• Grand Final: Winners meet for gold and silver in a best-of-three.

All-Events

Due to a majority of the events being conducted using the Baker format, Individual All-Events medals are awarded based on lowest total points across disciplines (points=finishing position).

Overall Federation Champion

Determined by a weighted points formula across all disciplines.

The federation ranking will use the following formula:

S x (P-Avg +1) x T

• S – Team Size
• P – Field Size
• Avg – Average finishing position
• T – Disipline tier

The nation with the highest total is crowned Overall Champions.

Best of Luck Team Australia

Tenpin Bowling Australia sends its full support to the green and gold as they begin their World Championships campaign. With a mix of seasoned performers and emerging stars, this is a chance to showcase Australian talent on the world’s biggest stage and build the next chapter of green and gold success.

Action will begin tomorrow with the Men’s Singles event set to kick-off the championships! Look out for the daily preview tomorrow morning with all the details.