Branfield, Kleinig and McLean remain unbeaten

England’s Stef Branfield remains the only unbeaten woman in the field at the World Bowls Champion of Champions, while Australia’s Max Kleinig and Scotland’s Iain McLean have maintained perfect records in the men’s competition. Elsewhere, several sections remain wide open, with Friday’s final round set to decide who moves through.

Branfield has taken control of Women’s Section 1 after adding another two wins on Thursday. The England international has now won all seven of her matches, alongside one bye, to move to 21 game points.

Malta’s Rebecca Rixon, who led after the opening two days, sits second on 18 points and has completed her section matches, with a bye in Friday’s final round. New Zealand’s Mandy Boyd has continued her climb through the section and is now third on 15 points, after sitting seventh at the end of day one.

That sets up a significant final match between Branfield and Boyd at 8am on Friday on the live stream. Branfield has already secured top spot, while Boyd has an opportunity to draw level with Rixon on 18 points. Former champion Anne Nunes sits fourth on 12 points and finishes against Spain’s Isobel McKay.

Women’s Section 2 has changed considerably during the day. Hong Kong, China’s Helen Cheung now leads with 15 points, ahead of the Cook Islands’ Tiare Jim and Australia’s Natalie Lewis. All three have five wins, two losses and a bye, with Cheung holding the advantage through sets won.

And there is still plenty that can change. Cheung faces Malaysia’s Ain Nurnajwa on Friday, Lewis meets Macao, China’s Hilda Tam, and Jim plays Switzerland’s Marianne Kuenzle. South Africa’s Sue Tarr has completed her matches and sits on 12 points.

Women’s Section 3 also remains close heading into its seventh and final round. Wales’ Ysie White has moved clear at the top with five wins from six and 15 game points.

Behind her, Canada’s Joanna Cooper, India’s Bangita Hazarika and the Philippines’ Vilma Greenlees are all on 12 points. Hazarika and Greenlees meet each other in the final round, while Cooper faces Norfolk Island’s Debra Adams. White finishes against Botswana’s Gadromelwe Pelemo.

There is just as much still to settle in the men’s competition.
India’s Putul Sonowal continues to lead Section 1 with five wins from six and 15 points, but New Zealand’s Rohan Ware, Canada’s Pat Bird and South Africa’s Nikša Bengurić are all just three points behind.

Friday brings two matches that could have a major say in the final order. Ware faces Bird in a direct meeting between second and third, while Sonowal takes on Botswana’s Edwin Nyoka Jnr. Bengurić finishes against Argentina’s Raul Angel Pollet.

England’s Isaac Jenner has created the biggest gap at the top of any of the men’s sections outside the two unbeaten leaders. Jenner has five wins from six and sits on 15 points in Section 2.

Behind him, five players are locked on nine points, led by Singapore’s Harriman Yuen and Türkiye’s Ozkan Akar. Akar has worked his way back into the section after being unable to compete on the opening day, while the group behind Jenner means the final placings remain far from settled.

Jenner finishes against Fiji’s Ramesh Chand, while Akar meets the Philippines’ Hommer Mercado and Guernsey’s Todd Priaulx faces Namibia’s Gordon Damster.

Australia’s Max Kleinig remains perfect in Men’s Section 3. The Australian has won six from six, collecting 18 game points and a +64 shot difference.

Malaysia’s Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple is his closest challenger on 15 points, and the draw has produced a fitting finish to the section. Kleinig and Dzulkeple meet each other at 10am on Friday.

Cyprus’ Bob Manson is third on 12 points and meets Malta’s Jason Borg in his final match.
Scotland’s Iain McLean has also continued his unbeaten run in Section 4. The 2014 Champion of Champions winner has six wins from six, 18 game points and a +74 shot difference after another two victories on Thursday.

Sweden’s Pontus Palmkvist remains close behind on 15 points, with Hong Kong, China’s Chadwick Chen third on 12.

McLean finishes section play against Sri Lanka’s Ranjith Randeniya, while Palmkvist meets USA’s Charlie Herbert. Chen faces Niue’s Stanley Frederick Tafatu.

With one section match remaining for each player still in action, Friday morning will settle the final standings before attention turns to the post section stage.