The top 24 from the previous qualifying rounds are now in session with two blocks of four games, bringing forward fifty per cent of their qualifying pinfall.

In the first block, it was Nicole Sanders of the Netherlands, the defending champion, who lit her lantern with the first eight strikes in the first game to lead the parade with 269 but followed that with 197. Close behind at the first stage and then taking over the lead after two games, Mai Ginge Jensen of Denmark culled 266 and 217 to hold the lead with 1178, including pinfall brought forward.

The top six were over 1100 from the first two games.

A vintage computer scoring system that did not bring forward total pinfall after each game brought difficulties in keeping up with the pace of play. However, a print after three games proved Jensen still to be leading after three of the eight game stint with 1406, 15 sticks better than second-placed Helen Johnsson of Sweden and fellow Swede Rebecka Larsen Jr third with 1382.

It was still Danish Delight come the halfway stage with the first four games done and dusted. Mai ginge Jensen from Aarhus in Denmark ruled the roost with 1620, including pinfall brought forward, and Helen Johnsson from Sweden, also over 1600, was runner-up on 1602.

A nice halfway finish for Luz Adriana Leal, formerly from Colombia but now living in Barcelona and adopting Catalonian citizenship, she holds fourth place after a fourth game 277.

"I had a good feeling today, so started well with a 266," Jensen told us. "There are a couple of pairs of lanes that are different. You've got to roll the ball here because there is a lot of oil and a lot of the girls are doing that, so we are getting good carry from the corner pins. It makes a huge difference by having the lanes set up just for women. For some girls it is positive and negative for others, but I like it."

There was an hour delay in getting the second four-game block into action due to a score computer malfunction. The block started with players using paper scoresheets but the computer came back online for the next game and that showed Jensen still holding the lead over Johnsson, but with Rebecka Larsen and Wendy Kok taking over third and fourth positions.

Six games down the 'pike' and Jensen has Larsen on her tail, Johnsson dropping down to fourth and Kok up to third. Jensen just rolled her low game of 208 in the quarters and now holds just 19 points over Larsen who, incidentally was runner-up here last year.

A high game of 259 consolidated Jensen's position at the top of the leaderboard with a total score of 2314 after seven games, 62 pins ahead of second-placed Rebecka Larsen. Clara Guerrero, perhaps the tournament favorite moved into third place after a 257 and Helen Johnsson stays in the leading quartet in fourth place on 2233.

Qualifying for the semi-finals came to a disappointing end for defending champion Nicole Sanders, finishing well down the standings in 14th place. But numero uno was our projected favorite Clara Guerrero who finished with a 267 to outpoint Jensen in the home straight. Rebecka Larsen took third place and Kamilla Kjeldsen fourth, so the semi-finals, over best of three games, will be Colombia versus Denmark and Sweden versus Denmark.

The timing has gone a little late, so the semi-finals are due to take place at 15.15 and will be over the best of three games. The televised final will take place immediately afterwards. Unofruntately, the local internet will not support web streaming so the final will be recorded by CatTV and shown on the federation website, www.tbowling.cat, early in the week.

First game wins for Kjeldsen and Jensen in the semi-finals, both seeking for an all-Danish final. Kjeldsen defeated favourite Guerrero, 204-196, and Jensen had a wider margin over Larsen, 215-192.

Both semi-final matches were concluded over two games. The decider for Kjeldsen came with a 217-203 victory over Guerrero and Jensen booked her place in the tile match by taking out Larsen 226-208.

17:00 local time will be the time set for the final to begin, again the best of three games.

The final was maybe a sstrikefest and a wonderful climax to a women's bowling tournament. In no way were the lanes easy, especially with the TV lights on the even lane.

Honors to Mai Ginge Jensen for taking the first game, 214-197, but Kamilla Kjeldsen fought back to take the match into overtime by clinching the second game, 258-249.

The title game was as good as bowling gets with Jensen hitting the first nine strikes and a packed concourse willing a perfect game to close what is probably the only international tournament dedicated to women outside of the United States. To the disappointment of the crowd the 4-pin stood its ground and Jensen won the championship two games to one and a final game score of 279-243.

It was a most enjoyable final for the crowd of supporters, but did the two Danes enjoy it? "It was great," commented Kjeldsen. "It was great to bowl well against another good bowler. What more could you wish for in the final?"

Jensen added: "Yes, the same words. It was a good final and we had fun. I was disappointed not to bowl a 300 in the last game. I think it was deja vu from earlier in qualification when I did the same for a 279. I was planning on doing it, but it was not to be."

Plaudits too for Marija Tkacenko of Riga, Latvia. As the top finisher under the age of 20 she was presented with the President Samaranch Cup, a prestigious trophy sponsored by the late IOC president, who used to come along to the finals to make the presentation himself. He is greatly missed.

For tournament interviews, see:

STANDINGS AFTER BLOCK 2 (8 GAMES):
Top 4 qualify for semi-finals

P	Player	Federation	Qualify	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pins	TOTAL
1	Clara Guerrero	Colombia	704	220	197	204	211	235	223	257	267	1814	2518
2	Mai Ginge Jensen	Denmark	695	266	217	228	214	227	208	259	199	1818	2513
3	Rebecka Larsen	Sweden	661	250	213	258	196	224	234	216	188	1779	2440
4	Kamilla Kjeldsen	Denmark	712	224	190	210	205	236	196	226	235	1722	2434
5	Wendy Kok	Netherlands	645	236	215	219	248	236	211	216	204	1785	2430
6	Luz Leal Gonzalez	Catalonia	629	205	246	219	277	213	208	178	221	1767	2396
7	Helen Jonsson	Sweden	706	212	214	259	214	205	191	232	160	1687	2393
8	Nicki Ainge	England	665	183	224	225	183	244	194	268	200	1721	2386
9	Marija Tkacenko	Latvia	616	235	208	207	246	242	211	195	221	1765	2381
10	Darya Kovalova	Ukraine	612	227	224	193	187	201	265	221	237	1755	2367
11	Sofia Granda	Guatemala	626	215	191	214	192	191	254	221	258	1736	2362
12	Kirsten Penny	England	637	195	192	255	153	237	213	259	217	1721	2358
13	Ghislaine V/d Tol	Netherlands	622	206	249	211	225	212	196	217	204	1720	2342
14	Nicole Sanders	Netherlands	632	269	197	173	181	247	223	184	218	1692	2324
15	Joline Persson	Sweden	615	279	212	179	237	181	188	208	222	1706	2321
16	Reija Lunden	Finland	617	213	245	198	205	228	226	212	160	1687	2304
17	Alessandra Morra	Italy	612	258	199	214	191	224	205	202	189	1682	2294
18	Britt Bröndsted	Denmark	630	232	192	223	157	216	203	207	212	1642	2272
19	Bettina Lund	Denmark	625	201	241	185	151	221	204	216	202	1621	2246
20	Roosa Lunden	Finland	605	175	227	223	192	189	244	216	175	1641	2246
21	Nina Flack	Sweden	642	204	178	192	193	210	193	231	199	1600	2242
22	Laurence Gaillard	France	626	226	150	214	247	162	182	187	224	1592	2218
23	Rikke Holm Rasmussen	Denmark	623	180	235	150	174	229	157	220	186	1531	2154
24	Sanna Pasanen	Finland	651	205	152	216	176	145	183	210	209	1496	2147