39 nations will participate in the IBF Youth World Cup in Helsingborg, Sweden from 17th to 21st of June 2025
Athletes
Jessica Sillis and Frank Stephenson will represent Team England in Sweden
Reports
Day 1 Games 1-6
Our first appearance in the Youth World Cup and a chance for our youth to emulate the English greats that won the adult World Cup. Bernie Caterer winning in 1973, Pauline Smith/Buck in 1981 then again in 1993 and a seventeen year old Gemma Burden winning in 1995. We have two amazing athletes in Sweden so anything can happen. Eighteen games qualifying to find our top 16.
Play got underway on Tuesday at 8am and Frank up first for block one. Great start too with a double then a spare and a double to settle any nerves and ending the first game with 244 before a drop to 179 and 156 and a step back up to 192 and 235 for 1006 with a game to go.
Jessica was next on the Swedish lanes at 1.30pm local time and opening with 171 and sitting on the top 16 cutline. A much better 216 and game two and moving up the standings to 10th. 195 in game 3 and 188 in game saw had Jessica in 13th with two to go. A run of strikes in the middle in game five for 204. The final game saw a 173 and 1147 and sitting in 11th spot overnight.
Day 2 Games 7-12
Jessica was first up on day two and games 7-12 and a 160 to start with followed by 169. Game nine saw a jump to 210 and just outside the cut in 17th. Flying in game ten with a turkey spares then a run of strikes for fine 253 and back to 12th overall. Looking way more settled now, Jessica adding 224 as she racing back up the standings. Splits in the 12th game hurting the overall score with half a game to go. Not the finish we wanted sadly with 142 for 2305.
Frank was back at 1.30pm CEST and splits back early on but strikes at the end for a 194 start. Much much better in game 8 with a 249 and into 18th place. a 192 game took us to the halfway point in the block. Another 191 in game ten and time to find some strikes in 24th place. Found them right away with front six in game eleven then a bit messy but landing a 252 game going into game twelve. A great finish also with 246 for a 12 game total of 2544.
Day 3 Games 13-18
The final day of qualifying and inside the cut in 15th but work still to do to stay in safety. All scores going to zero in the top 16. A tricky start with an open and split open but five strikes at the end to recover well for 203 opener. Same in game 14 and a problematic start then firing a five in a row to save and 215. Game 15 and now outside the cut in 18th it was time to again dig deep. Front three and two spares was the best start so far today and ending with 221 and in 18th by 18 pins. A 215 in game 17 and just one open stopping more and in 17th by four pins. A split in the tenth in the penultimate game and 191 and big game needed in the last game to make the top 16, sitting in 18th and 65 pins short. The final game and strikes needed, strikes we got, three to start with but a split open and recovery with a double. A spare then four in a row and nine for 242 but sadly not enough. 3831 and fantastic 212.8 average and 18th place by just 23 pins.
Jessica was back at 12.30pm uk time and although inside the cut in 13th would need to score well to stay in the top 16. A tidy game but for one split open and a double helping to 199 to start with. Staying over 195 each game would keep her in the 16. Game 14 and clean with strikes at the end for an improved 224. A closed game 188 next but no panic and sitting in 12th place with three to go. Game 16 and a 210 in the books with one open but turkey at the end and comfortable now in 12th and 129 above the cutline. 202 with a game to go and looking safe in 12th still. 176 to end with and an overall of 3504 and through to the last 16.
Round of 16 (1-8)
Jessica Sillis was back on Friday morning for the Round of 16 and games 1-8. Singles matchplay on one lane so a fast pace block. Malaysia first up. All tied over four frames with Jessica first to strike on the fresh oil and a double opening a lead. A split open for Malaysia in the 7th frame and strike from Jessica in the 8th and a good lead going into the final frames. A turkey from Jessica and split at the end for 211-195 win and plus 30 added.
Ireland up next and both opening one in first three frames but Jessica again first to strike and also hit a double and a lead growing. Another open from Ireland with Jessica spare and double and looking comfortable. Win number 2 with 214-155.
A match with Norway now who was also unbeaten after two games and both opening with a strike. Norway taking lead with a double and Jessica split open in the third frame. Norway making another double and pulling away as Jessica hit two spares then a double. Norway’s Jennie Mathiesen was locked on though with five in a row. Jessica was not giving up though and four in a row as Norway hit a six pack. A split in the tenth for jessica and the first loss of the day 201-258.
USA next up and opening with a double but a split open and then again in the 5th as the American had opened then doubled spared and doubled and leading. Jessica back with a double but USA still striking with a fourbagger. Sadly another loss at the end though 192-224.
Denmark up next and sitting in second place with Jessica in seventh and opening with a spare and double as Jessica hit two six spares and a strike. An open for Denmark in the fourth then a turkey and another open in the eighth but Jessica two spares then a fourbagger spare for 224-214 for a win.
A match now with Mexico, three wins and two losses so far and sitting in fifth place. A great start for Jessica with a double spare and strike as the Mexican split opened then spared but was back with a double. Jessica closed through five as the Mexican opened again in the fifth frame. A 25 pin lead going into the seventh frame but a split open as Mexico spared and the lead pegged. Mexico were not striking though and Jessica ahead and taking the match 192-165 for win number four.
Singapore next up and a tough match with Jessica in third now and Singapore in fourth. Jessica opening with a strike then split open and recoverywith a strike as the Singaporean opened with a turkey but soon front five and Jessica could be a spectator in this one but would need to keep a good score. A split open in the fifth frame not helping. Front seven for Singapore and Jessica hitting spares. Front nine for Singapore and Jessica still sparing. Jessica with 162 and Singapore a light hit seven pin and 289.
The final game of the first block against Thailand and Jessica currently in eighth. Not the greatest of starts with a split open in frame 2 and open in the fifth as the Thai was clean through six and leading. Jessica digging deep with a double in the seventh but Thailand matching her. A split open and recovery mode activate in the last two frames. Jessica loosing game 8 166-205.
Round of 16 (7-15)
Chasing a top 8 place, Jessica was back at 10.30am UK time for the last seven games and sitting in 9th place. Matches against Croatia, Costa Rica, Sweden, Germany, Colombia, Australia and Finland.
Croatia up first and a double open double to start with and a lead over the Croatian who also opened but no doubles. Jessica always in control and a 202-164 win.
Costa Rica would be tough and so it proved as the impressive Elana Weinstok opened with the front seven and Jessica not striking until the fifth meant she was a spectator again and a loss 181-256.
Sweden next and a good start for Jessica with a turkey spare double and double at the end for 245 and an easy win against the swede with 164. Up into 8th place now with four to go.
Germany and another tough matchup. An open early on for Germany but recovered with five in a row as Jessica with an open in the third and behind. she did hit two doubles in the game but 196 and the German with 232 for another loss and now 9th and 53pins adfrift.
A double starter against Colombia but then two opens as the Colombian spared and also had two opens before a strike. Jessica back with a strike and two spares followed by a strike and leading as the Colombian catching a double in eighth and fighting back. Three pins in it in favour of Jessica going into the 10th frame. Jessica with a strike then double and a colombia nine spare and a win 190-177.
Game 14 and Australia next and a need now for two wins to finish with and get that top 8 placing. Strike open strike spare to start with as the Aussie struck, spared opened then spared and a three pin lead after five frames. Strikes needed though for the bigger scores and it was the Australian making them as Jessica only sparing. 8 pins down going into the ninth frame and a 5 split and zero open from Australia opening a big door. Jessica back with a strike and a mark and 183 But the Aussie back with a turkey to tie 183-183.
Reality check going into the last game against Finland in ninth place but just 7 pins behind the USA in 8th and 24 behind Colombia in 7th. A double to start with for Finland then split open as the Jessica spared and doubled then a spare. Finland with another double and Jessica with a spare and behind now. Split open for Jessica in the sixth frame and in some trouble. A spare for Jessica then strike and Finland with a split open. Unable to double Jessica behind going into the tenth frame as the Finn struck in the ninth. 190 to end with and the Finn with 187 and win but heartbreak in 9th place by just 3 pins. A fantastic effort from Jessica all week.
Results
Schedule
