23rd November, Hong Kong, China: A total of 168 men and 132 women from thirty-one countries and territories have converged in Hong Kong, China for the HKGX 2025 IBF World Championships from November 24 to December 5, 2025 at Top Bowl, Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon.
The IBF World Championships, the most prestigious event of the 2025 bowling calendar, is hosted by Hong Kong China Tenpin Bowling Congress (HKCTBC), under the chairmanship of Ms Vivien Lau, SBS, JP., Chairman of HKCTBC and Honorary Life President of Asian Bowling Federation.
Men from thirteen and women from eight member federations of ABF, Men and Women from nine European Bowling Federation (EBF), two each from Oceania (OBF), Men from four PanAm and Women from three PanAm making up a total of thirty-one.
Members of the Tournament Committee at the head table
Team officials attended the Managers Meeting, chaired by Mr Maradona Chok, Tournament Director with the tournament committee members, Mr John Janawicz, Technical Delegate, Dr Danny Santos and Mr William Yau, host tournament co-ordinators. Also present were Ms Vivien Lau and Mr Michael Seymour, CEO of IBF. Ms Lau delivered her welcome speech by extended her sincere appreciation to the team officials and their bowling congresses, federations and associations by taking part in this year's championships.
Mr Chok kicked off the meeting with a roll-call before introducing members of the tournament committee members at the head table. The meeting went through some of the various aspects of the competition format, highlighting important issues to the rules, ball registration, official practice and lane draws.
The Jury of Appeal, appointed by HE Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah, President of IBF, comprised on Ms Vivien Lau, Mr Bandar Al-Shafi, ABF Exco Member and Mr Onder Gurkan, IBF Delegate.
Mr Chok handed the meeting to Mr Janawicz, who went through aspects of the oiling pattern being used for this championships as well as the procedures of the ball registrations for all athletes. The highligh of the championships will feature the Trios and the Team Semi-finals and Final at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium where two lanes will be built.
Fans will also be able to watch the actions via live video streaming services and live scoring, courtesy of QubicaAMF Online portal and the new IBF events website especially built for this championship featuring live scores.
Welcome speech by Ms Vivien Lau, SBS, JP. at the meeting
The official practice will be held tomorrow over two squads. The Official Opening Ceremony is scheduled to commence at 7.00pm local time at Top Bowl. Competition will begin with the Singles for the Men on November 25 and the Women on November 26. Round 2 for the top 32 finishers in the preliminaries will advance to the head-to-head Matchplay divided into four groups of eight.
The winner of the seven matches in Round 2 will make the cut for the semi-final and final on November 27. Doubles preliminaries will be contested on November 28 to 30 followed by the Trios on December 1 and 2. The Team preliminaries and the head-to-head Matchplay will be staged in one day on November 3.
The Trios Semi-finals and Final will be held at the stadium on November 4 and the championships will conclude with the Team Semi-finals and Final on December 5. The Victory Banquet, histed by HKCTBC will be held at the Shangri-la Hotel at 7.30pm.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.