Team Australia kicked off its Masters campaigns at the 2025 IBF World Seniors Championships in Reno today.

Australia began the Masters phase with an impressive 12 athletes spread across all four divisions – Senior Women, Senior Men, Grand Senior Women, and Grand Senior Men.

The Masters features five elimination steps, with each head-to-head match played in a best-of-three format:

• Step 1 – Seeds 9-24 bowl, 8 winners advance
• Step 2 – Seeds 1-8 join the 8 Step 1 winners, 8 advance
• Step 3 – 8 winners face off, 4 advance
• Step 4 – 4 athletes battle for 2 finals spots
• Step 5 – The remaining 2 athletes contest the Masters Final

STEP 1

Six Australians hit the lanes in Step 1 while the remaining six top seeds advanced directly to Step 2. The Aussies claimed three wins from six matches to progress.

Senior Women

• V Ronique Perniaux (Belgium) defeats Sue Cassell (Australia) – 2 games to 0

Sue Cassell	143	170
V Ronique Perniaux	193	180

• Samantha Matthews (Australia) defeats Akiko Nakagawa (Japan) 2 games to 1

Samantha Matthews survived a three game battle, storming back after a Game 1 loss to win by 4 pins in the second game and a mere pin in the decider.

Samantha Matthews	168	180	201
Akiko Nakagawa	195	176	200

🟢Samantha Matthews advances. 🔴Sue Cassell is eliminated.

Senior Men

• Michael Muir (Australia) defeats Jesus Lecona (Mexico) 2 games to 1

Michael Muir started slowly losing the first game but had control in Game 2 and 3 to advance.

Michael Muir	179	191	191
Jesus Lecona	202	146	177

🟢Michael Muir advances.

Grand Senior Women

• Robyn Bull (Australia) defeats Eva Stefkova (Czech Republic) 2 games to 1

Robyn Bull gritted her way through to the next step winning the first Game, then forced for a deciding game three that she ended up top of.

Robyn Bull	178	170	152
Eva Stefkova	172	174	147

• Krystyna Janockova (Czech Republic) defeats Heather Robertson (Australia) 2 games to 0

Heather Robertson	160	183
Krystyna Janockova	223	190

🟢Robyn Bull advances. 🔴Heather Robertson is eliminated.

Grand Senior Men

• Kim Johnson (England) defeats Jim Bakirtzidis (Australia) 2 games to 0

Jim Bakirtzidis	188	236
Kim Johnson	215	240

• Terry Mustchin (New Zealand) defeats Jim Karakostas (Australia) 2 games to 1

Jim Karakostas	200	165	166
Terry Mustchin	178	202	213

🔴Jim Bakirtzidis and Jim Karakostas are eliminated.

STEP 2

The Aussies commenced Step 2 with eight Australians remaining with the top seeds from the Championship joining the battle.

Senior Women

• Samantha Matthews (Australia) defeats Lynda Barnes (USA)

Another three game thriller for Samantha! Losing the first game which was a tight tussle, Samantha won Game 2 to force a decider, surviving by two pins!

Samantha Matthews	185	193	191
Lynda Barnes	190	181	189

• Dena Buxton (Australia) defeats Katherine Ong (Singapore) 2 games to 0

Dena began her Masters quest with a commanding victory and was never under pressure throughout.

Dena Buxton	218	227
Katherine Ong	138	180

🟢Samantha Matthews & Dena Buxton advance.

Senior Men

• Michael Muir (Australia) defeats Parker Bohn III (United States of America) 2-0

Michael Muir is heating up! A fantastic clean sweep win over legend Parker Bohn III to advance to the third step.

Michael Muir	203	246
Parker Bohn III	184	213

• Adam Hayes (Australia) defeats Pierre Luc Sanchez (France) 2 games to 0

Adam Hayes	189	222
Pierre Luc Sanchez	180	195

🟢Michael Muir and Adam Hayes advance.

Grand Senior Women

• Julie Harrison (Australia) defeats Brigitte Fievet (France) 2 games to 1

Julie Harrison	189	193	202
Brigitte Fivet	205	158	135

• Honamai Yanagawa (Japan) defeats Robyn Bull (Australia) 2 games to 0.

Robyn Bull	159	159
Honami Yanagawa	181	173

🟢Julie Harrison advances. 🔴Robyn Bull is eliminated.

• Robyn Flynn (Australia) defeats Yumiko Yoshida (Japan) 2 games to 0

Robynn Flynn	215	167
Yumiko Yoshida	208	157

Grand Senior Men

• David Farquharson (Australia) vs Ralf Gr We (Germany)

David Farquharson	185	162 – Tiebreak win	200
Ralf Gr We	199	162	198

🟢David Farquharson advances.

Where Things Stand

At the conclusion of Day 5, seven Australians remain alive in the Masters competition – ensuring representation in every division heading into the final day of competition tomorrow.

All-Events Medal Presentation

The day concluded with the All-Events medal ceremony, where two Aussies proudly stepped onto the podium.

Finishing the day, the All-Events Medal Presentation took place where two Aussies proudly stood on the podium to receive their medals. ‘Shivers up the spine’ were felt as Advance Australia Fair was played for the second time at the Championships.

🥇 Julie Harrison – Gold, Grand Senior Women’s All-Events
🥉 Dena Buxton – Bronze, Senior Women’s All-Events

Congratulations to both athletes! 🇦🇺🎳

One day remains in the 2025 IBF World Seniors Championships – Seven Aussies remain! Let’s go Aussies! AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE!