2026 World Indoor Bowls Championship

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2026 World Indoor Bowls Championship
48th World Indoor Bowls Championship
Location Flag of England.svg   Hopton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Date9–25 January 2026
Category World Indoor Championships
  2025
2027  

The 2026 World Indoor Bowls Championship, sponsored by Ambassador Cruise Line, was the 2026 edition of the World Indoor Bowls Championships, held at Potters Resorts, Hopton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, England, from 9 to 25 January 2026. [1] [2]

Contents

The event was organised by the World Bowls Tour and televised by the BBC and World Bowls Tour via its YouTube and Facebook channels. [3]

Having been runner-up in 2025, England's Robert Paxton went one better and won the open singles title, defeating Paul Foster in the final which went all the way to a third tie-break end after both sets were tied. It was Paxton's second open singles championship following his success at the 2020 event. [4]

England's Katherine Rednall took an afternoon off her job as a teacher to come from a set down against Nicole Rogers to win her seventh ladies singles title on a tie-break. Despite winning the title three years in a row from 2022 to 2024, she had to qualify for the 2026 event and said her victory proved that qualifying for the ladies singles was important for its credibility. [5]

Scotland's Paul Foster and Alex Marshall won a fifth pairs title together, and their first since 2019, by defeating fellow Scots Stewart Anderson and Darren Burnett. Victory moved Foster and Marshall to one win behind England's Tony Allcock and David Bryant, who won the title six times between 1986 and 1992. [6]

On her debut at the event, Northern Ireland's Chloe Wilson teamed up with England's Jamie Walker to win the mixed pairs title, defeating the English pair of Les Gillett and Emily Kernick in the final. Wilson became the first Irish player to win the title and emulated 2025 winner Beth Riva by claiming victory at her first attempt. Walker also claimed his first mixed pairs title after winning the singles event as a qualifier in 2023. [7]

After making its debut as an invitational event in 2025, the four-player masters championship returned in 2026, with the players winning through qualifying events held at Cambridge Chesterton, County Antrim, West Lothian and Hartlepool. [8] Russell Bewick from Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club won the title, defeating Danny Denison in the final. [9]

Winners

EventWinner
Open singles Flag of England.svg Robert Paxton
Ladies singles Flag of England.svg Katherine Rednall
Open pairs Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster & Alex Marshall
Mixed pairs Flag of England.svg Jamie Walker & Ulster Banner.svg Chloe Wilson
Masters Flag of England.svg Russell Bewick

Draw and results

Open singles

First roundSecond roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
1 Flag of Scotland.svg Jason Banks 9 13
Flag of South Africa.svg Wayne Roberts 6 1 1 Flag of Scotland.svg Banks 8 7 2
16 Flag of England.svg Aaron Johnson 10 10 16 Flag of England.svg Johnson 4 11 1
Flag of England.svg Mikey Titcombe 5 7 1 Flag of Scotland.svg Banks 10 9
9 Flag of England.svg Nick Brett 9 14 9 Flag of England.svg Brett 4 5
Flag of New Zealand.svg Clayton Simpson 4 1 9 Flag of England.svg Brett 10 4 2
8 Flag of England.svg Mark Dawes 4 9 2 8 Flag of England.svg Dawes 3 9 0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack McShane 6 7 1 1 Flag of Scotland.svg Banks 5 3
5 Flag of England.svg Les Gillett 9 11 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster 8 10
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ali Forsyth 4 6 5 Flag of England.svg Gillett 10 11
12 Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall 13 8 12 Flag of Scotland.svg Marshall 5 7
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Dorothy Yu 0 4 5 Flag of England.svg Gillett 3 4
13 Flag of Scotland.svg Michael Stepney 8 5 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster 12 12
Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow 9 9 Flag of England.svg Harlow 2 6
4 Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster 11 10 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster 11 8
Flag of England.svg Mark Higgins 0 1 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster 11 8 1
3 Flag of England.svg Robert Paxton 10 11 3 Flag of England.svg Paxton 11 8 2
Flag of Israel.svg Zvika Hadar 4 1 3 Flag of England.svg Paxton 7 6
14 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 7 3 2 14 Flag of England.svg King 5 6
Flag of England.svg Paul Hartley 5 9 1 3 Flag of England.svg Paxton 11 7
11 Flag of England.svg Wayne Willgress 0 3 Flag of England.svg Puckett 2 6
Flag of England.svg Martin Puckett 13 12 Flag of England.svg Puckett 11 11
6 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay 5 11 1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Walker 5 5
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Scott Walker 8 5 2 3 Flag of England.svg Paxton 9 6 2
7 Flag of England.svg Jamie Walker 8 5 2 10 Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett 3 11 0
Flag of England.svg Brett Arkley 3 10 1 7 Flag of England.svg Walker 5 9 1
10 Flag of Scotland.svg Darren Burnett 12 4 2 10 Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett 10 7 2
Flag of England.svg James Baxter+ 3 6 1 10 Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett 8 5 2
15 Flag of Guernsey.svg Jason Greenslade 6 5 2 Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson 5 10 0
Flag of England.svg Tom Holmes 7 10 Flag of England.svg Holmes 4 8 1
2 Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Anderson 12 2 2 2 Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson 9 4 2
Flag of Scotland.svg Martyn Rice 5 8 1

+James Baxter was a late replacement in the first round of the singles after the withdrawal of Belfast qualifier Lloyd Milligan. [8]

Ladies Singles

First roundSemi-finalsFinal
               
Flag of Scotland.svg Julie Forrest 5 12 0
  Flag of Scotland.svg Beth Riva 10 2 2
Flag of Scotland.svg Riva 2 7
Flag of England.svg Rogers 7 8
  Flag of England.svg Nicole Rogers 6 7
  Flag of England.svg Emily Kernick 4 7
Flag of England.svg Rogers 12 4 0
Flag of England.svg Rednall 7 9 2
  Ulster Banner.svg Chloe Wilson 3 1
  Flag of Scotland.svg Lesley Doig 8 9
Flag of Scotland.svg Doig 6 5
Flag of England.svg Rednall 8 9
  Flag of England.svg Katherine Rednall 7 8
  Flag of New Zealand.svg Selina Goddard 4 4

Open Pairs

First roundSecond roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
Flag of Scotland.svg Jason Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Michael Stepney
bye Flag of Scotland.svg Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Stepney
10 2 2
Flag of England.svg Andy Kyle
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ryan Davies
12 11 Flag of England.svg Kyle
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Davies
1 10 0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Ellis
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Verran
3 1 Flag of Scotland.svg Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Stepney
8 7
Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Kane
Flag of Scotland.svg John Orr
9 6 2 Flag of Scotland.svg Kane
Flag of Scotland.svg Orr
7 3
Flag of South Africa.svg Jason Evans
Flag of South Africa.svg Shaun Thomas
2 7 1 Flag of Scotland.svg Kane
Flag of Scotland.svg Orr
6 10 2
Flag of England.svg Les Gillett
Flag of England.svg Wayne Willgress
Flag of England.svg Gillett
Flag of England.svg Willgress
11 7 1
bye Flag of Scotland.svg Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Stepney
7 2
Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster
Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall
Flag of Scotland.svg Foster
Flag of Scotland.svg Marshall
7 7
bye Flag of Scotland.svg Foster
Flag of Scotland.svg Marshall
11 11
Flag of England.svg Finlay Williamson
Flag of England.svg Ryan Whitlock
9 12 Flag of England.svg Williamson
Flag of England.svg Whitlock
10 4
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Erik Galipeau
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Llewellyn
7 6 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster
Flag of Scotland.svg Marshall
10 6 2
Flag of England.svg Jamie Walker
Flag of England.svg Mark Dawes
Flag of England.svg Walker
Flag of England.svg Dawes
7 7 0
bye Flag of England.svg Walker
Flag of England.svg Dawes
7 8 2
Flag of England.svg Paul Hartley
Flag of England.svg David Bolt
10 10 Flag of England.svg Hartley
Flag of England.svg Bolt
9 4 0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Garry Cotter
Flag of New Zealand.svg Anthony Oullett
5 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Foster
Flag of Scotland.svg Marshall
11 12
Flag of England.svg Jon Wilson
Flag of England.svg Sammy Tindall
13 14 Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett
5 7
Flag of Israel.svg Noam Yehudai
Flag of Israel.svg Asaff Iron
1 0 Flag of England.svg Wilson
Flag of England.svg Tindall
9 4 2
Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay
Flag of England.svg Mervyn King
Flag of Scotland.svg Gourlay
Flag of England.svg King
5 9 1
bye Flag of England.svg Wilson
Flag of England.svg Tindall
6 10
Flag of England.svg Robert Paxton
Flag of Guernsey.svg Jason Greenslade
Flag of England.svg Paxton
Flag of Guernsey.svg Greenslade
5 4
bye Flag of England.svg Paxton
Flag of Guernsey.svg Greenslade
10 6 2
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wade Clatworthy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Scott Walker
9 3 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Clatworthy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Walker
5 9 1
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ross Owen
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Danny Davies
6 10 0 Flag of England.svg Wilson
Flag of England.svg Tindall
4 3
Flag of England.svg Nick Brett
Flag of England.svg Aaron Johnson
Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett
9 9
bye Flag of England.svg Brett
Flag of England.svg Johnson
8 9
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Philip Chan
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Andy Tung
9 10 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Chan
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Tung
6 3
Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Gorelick
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Brault
3 7 Flag of England.svg Brett
Flag of England.svg Johnson
1 8 0
Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Darren Burnett
Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett
11 6 2
bye Flag of Scotland.svg Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Burnett
8 8
Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Carla Banks
9 11 Flag of Scotland.svg Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Banks
3 3
Flag of England.svg Connor Chamberlain
Flag of England.svg Ben Harris
9 1

Mixed Pairs

First Round Semi-finals Final
               
Flag of Scotland.svg Jason Banks
Flag of Scotland.svg Beth Riva
4 4
Flag of England.svg Mark Dawes
Flag of Scotland.svg Julie Forrest
10 8
Flag of England.svg Dawes
Flag of Scotland.svg Forrest
5 9 0
Flag of England.svg Walker
Ulster Banner.svg Wilson
10 6 2
Flag of England.svg Jamie Walker
Ulster Banner.svg Chloe Wilson
7 7
Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Anderson
Flag of Scotland.svg Lesley Doig
7 4
Flag of England.svg Walker
Ulster Banner.svg Wilson
7 9
Flag of England.svg Gillett
Flag of England.svg Kernick
7 8
Flag of England.svg Robert Paxton
Flag of England.svg Katherine Rednall
5 5
Flag of England.svg Les Gillett
Flag of England.svg Emily Kernick
11 11
Flag of England.svg Gillett
Flag of England.svg Kernick
8 8
Flag of Scotland.svg Foster
Flag of New Zealand.svg Goddard
7 3
Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay
Flag of England.svg Nicole Rogers
3 6
Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster
Flag of New Zealand.svg Selina Goddard
11 10

Masters

Semi-finals Final
          
Flag of England.svg Danny Denison 13 10
Ulster Banner.svg John R Nicholl 1 2
Flag of England.svg Denison 5 2
Flag of England.svg Bewick 10 12
Flag of Scotland.svg Richard Mark 1 1
Flag of England.svg Russell Bewick 15 10

References

  1. "World Bowls Playing Schedule". Potters Resorts. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  2. "World Indoor Bowls Championships". Visit Great Yarmouth. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. "Fans are streaming in for World Indoor Bowls at Potters". Eastern Daily Press. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  4. "Paxton takes top prize in World Indoor Bowls finale". Great Yarmouth Mercury. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  5. "Rednall in seventh heaven after World Bowls triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  6. "Foster & Marshall secure fifth World Indoor pairs title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. "Mixed pairs history made at Ambassador Cruise Line 2026 World Indoor Bowls Championships". bowlsinternational.com. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 "POTTERS PREVIEW". bowlsinternational.com. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. "AMBASSADOR CRUISE LINE 2026 WORLD INDOOR BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS MASTERS CHAMPION DECIDED". bowlsinternational.com. Retrieved 25 January 2026.