An historic day for Oliver Thompson from the Falkland Islands who has reached the quarter-finals of the World Bowls Indoor Championship mixed pairs with parter Sophie Kurtzman, of Australia. Credit: Sporting Highlights

After three gruelling days of qualifying for a shot at the ultimate prize, just eight countries remain in the hunt to be crowned World Bowls Indoor Championship mixed pairs champions. 

Two husband and wife combinations – Guernsey (Alison and Ian Merrien), who will be looking to better their bronze medal finish 12 months ago and Canada (Joanna Cooper and Pat Bird), plus two composite teams Falkland Islands/Australia (Oliver Thompson and Sophie Kurtzman) and Jersey/Australia (Josh Band and Lisa Phillips), plus Australia (Kelsey Cottrell and Corey Wedlock), Cottrell a former champion in 2023, Ireland (Shauna O’Neill and Adam McKeown), Scotland (Julie Forrest and Iain McLean), both former champions in 2013 and 2014 respectively, defending nation England (Sian Honnor and Tom Holmes) all booked their places in the last eight with Guernsey, Falkland Islands/Australia, Australia and England all winning three out of three games in the sectional rounds. 

For the Falkland Islands’ Oliver Thompson it was a landmark qualification for his nation – the first time to make it through to the knockout stages in five years of playing in the event. 

The quarter-final draw sees Guernsey play Ireland, Canada take on Scotland, Falkland Islands/Australia face the challenge of England and Australia against Jersey/Australia. 

Quarter-finals are at 1 pm with the semi-finals at 7 pm. 

MIXED PAIRS SECTION TABLES 

The tables are decided on game points, sets won, set points, net total of shots 

Section 1: 1. Guernsey 9 points; 2. Spain 6; 3. Turkiye 3; 4. Sri Lanka 0. 

Section 2: 1. Canada 9 (6 sets won) (6.50 sets points); 2. Croatia/Australia 9 (6) (6); 3. Wales 9 (4) (4); 4. Norfolk Island 3. 

Section 3: 1. Falkland Islands/Australia 9; 2. New Zealand 6; 3. Macao China 3; 4. USA 0. 

Section 4: 1. Australia 9; 2. Malaysia 3 (3) (3); 3. China 3 (2) (2) (-7 net total of shots); 4. Isle of Man 3 (2/2/-22) 

Section 5: 1. Ireland 6 (4); 2. Defending champions 6 (3) (3); 3. Singapore 3 (2); 4. Sweden/Australia 3 (1). 

Section 6: 1. Scotland 6 (5); 2. South Africa 6 (3) (3) (-8); 3. Fiji 6 (3) (3) (-37); 4. Namibia 0. 

Section 7. 1. England 9; 2. Malta 6; 3. Hong Kong China 3; 4. Israel 0. 

Section 8: 1. Jersey/Australia 6 (3) (4); 2. India 6 (3) (3.50) (7); 3. Switzerland 6 (3), (3.50) (4); 4. Japan 0. 

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SINGLES 

In the men’s and women’s singles, it’s been a moving day in the various sections as players strive for qualification tomorrow (Friday). 

Every shot counts with just two more sessions of sectional play remaining before the quarter-finals. 

In the men’s event, four players remain unbeaten – Australia’s Corey Wedlock, defending champion Jack McShane, also of Australia, Wales’ Carl Wood and Iain McLean, of Scotland. 

Wins against Isle of Man and Turkiye – on a tiebreak – for Wedlock sees him take top spot for the first time in the competition in section one with Canada’s Pat Bird second. McShane heads section two as he continues his bid for back-to-back titles, with New Zealand’s Shannon McIlroy his nearest challenger. Wood maintains his lead in section three followed by South Africa’s Charles Matthewson, while McLean holds the bragging rights in section four with England’s Tom Holmes second.  

In the men’s competition, Croatia’s Slavko Percia and the results in section one which he was in have been adjusted as per the conditions of play.  

In the women’s singles, section one and two sees new leaders on day three. Sian Honnor, of England, takes the lead over Alison Merrien MBE, of Guernsey, in section one, while section two sees Switzerland’s Laura Butler jump two places to take pole position, with Malta’s Rebecca Rixon her closest rival. Australia’s Kelsey Cottrell tops section three ahead of Sri Lanka’s Kumari Mangos, while defending champion, Scotland’s Sophie McGrouther, reigns in section four despite a loss to USA’s Giulia Gallo by the narrowest of margins. The pair peeled the two sets 8-8, 6-6, before Gallo got over the line 3-1 in the tie-break. Ireland’s Shauna O’Neill overturned a 0-3 deficit on the last end tie-break in her match against Japan’s Saki Takayama to win and clinch second place in the group keeping her gold medal hopes alive. 

Sectional play takes place at 8.30 am and 10.30 am, with women’s quarter-finals at 3 pm and men’s quarter-finals at 5 pm. 

All time are AEST. 

Follow live scores, results and draw on the official World Bowls Match Centre: https://tinyurl.com/4catzhm2 

Watch live all day on World Bowls TV: https://www.youtube.com/@world_bowls/live  

The 2026 World Bowls Indoor Championship is supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria.