Eighty-six men and 71 women began, and now only eight men and eight women remain in contention in the 51st QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup at Sam’s Town Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

Topping the women’s division is defending champion Clara Guerrero of Colombia with a 32-game total of 6901, a 215.66 average. The 32-game leader in the men’s division is Francois Louw of South Africa with 7130, a 222.81 average.

A brightly illuminated sign and side-by-side flat screens greet bowlers and spectators as they descend the escalator from the main floor of Sam's Town to the resort's bowling center.

The women’s division has a good geographic mix among the players advancing, with three from the American Zone, three from the European Zone and two from the Asian Zone. The men’s division is another story, as it’s dominated by the Asian Zone with five advancing, joined by three European Zone players. No athletes from the American Zone advanced.

Here’s a look at the 16 players who are still in the hunt for the World Cup trophies:

WOMEN

1. Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 6901 — Lists “athlete” as her profession, and has a high game of 279 this week.

2. Sandra Gongora, Mexico, 6874 — This graphic designer has a high game of 277 and is averaging 214.81 thus far.

3. Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 6869 — This two-time World Cup champion (2002 and 2004) is averaging 214.66, with a high game of 278.

4. Maria Bulanova, Russia, 6854 — This 17-year-old student is rolling at a 214.19 clip, with a high game of 277.

5. Isabelle Hultin, Sweden, 6715 — This 23-year-old student has a high game of 269 this week, and is averaging 209.84.

6. Geraldine Ng Su Yi, Singapore, 6681 — Making her World Cup debut, she’s averaging 208.78, with a high game of 253.

7. Siti Safiyah Amirah, Malaysia, 6673 — Bowling in the World Cup for the third time, she’s averaging 208.53, with a high game of 265.

8. Sanna Pasanen, Finland, 6646 — This 21-year-old student is rolling at a 207.69 clip, with a high game of 258.

Keira Reay of England missed the cut by 21 pins, and will serve as the alternate on Thursday.

MEN

1. Francis Louw, South Africa, 7130 — Making his third World Cup appearance, this operations manager has a high game of 289 this week.

2. Siu Hong Wu, Hong Kong, 6991 — This World Cup rookie is averaging 218.47, with a high game of 269.

3. Paul Scott Jr., Ireland, 6903 — A taxi driver by profession, he’s averaging 215.72, with a high game of 270.

4. Alexei Parshukov, Russia, 6847 — Parshukov bowls for a living, and is averaging 213.97 this week, with a high game of 256.

5. Muhammad Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, 6813 — This 18-year-old student is averaging 213.56, with a high game of 277.

6. Muhammad Jaris Goh, Singapore, 6813 — This 20-year-old student is bowling in his second consecutive World Cup, and is averaging 212.91, with a high game of 278.

7. Ryan Leonard Lalisang, Indonesia, 6809 — This 35-year-old athlete is averaging 212.78, with a high game of 278.

8. Tomoyuki Sasaki, Japan, 6808 — He’s a bowling instructor by profession, and he’s showing his students how it’s done this week, averaging 212.75, with a high game of 279.

Markus Jansson of Sweden will serve as the alternate after missing the cut by 16 pins.

On Thursday morning, each division will feature an eight-game round robin, with 30 bonus pins awarded for each win. After 40 games, the top three in each division will advance to the stepladder finals, featuring best-of-three matches.

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The World Cup’s official website features full standings, player profiles, a link to daily live streaming and more. To view all of this week’s BJI blog posts from the World Cup, click here.