Neumarkt is fighting for the World Cup title. © Sportissimus

Neumarkt is in the World Cup semi-finals

Qualification for the semifinals of the World Cup in Bolzano is over. Along with SKV Rot Weiß Zerbst (Germany), Zalaegerszegi TK (Hungary), and KSK Orth (Austria), the local favorites KK Neumarkt have advanced to the men's semifinals.

16 October 2025

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In the women's competition, SK FWT Neunkirchen (Austria), KV Liedolsheim (Germany), KK Mlaka (Croatia), and KK Kamnik (Slovenia) will battle for a place in the final on Friday. For Fugger Sterzing, however, the home tournament comes to an end after the qualification on Thursday: The Wipptal team finished ninth in the final standings.

Not only the entire men's qualification on Thursday promised to be exciting, but especially the final round. KK Neumarkt had to make up ground to qualify for the semifinals. But the Unterland team could rely on Tamás Kiss, who knocked down an incredible 701 pins, securing second place for his Neumarkt team. Before that, the young Daniel Prinoth scored 607 pins and Armin Egger 594. Neumarkt's total was 3779 pins.

Defending champion Zerbst marches through

With his 701 pins, Kiss wasn't even the best of the day, but rather his Hungarian compatriot Zsombor Zapletan, who had knocked down 702 pins just hours earlier. His team, Zalaegerszegi TK, advanced to the semifinals in third place with a total of 3777 pins, where they will face Neumarkt on Friday at 11 a.m. The best qualifying result came from defending champions SKV Rot Weiß Zerbst from Germany, who took first place with 3795 pins. They will face the fourth-placed team in the semifinals, which will be a German-Austrian derby. KSK Orth was the last team to advance to the semifinals due to a measly three pins (3682 pins). The Croatian team KK Zapresic suffered a bitter blow, finishing fifth with 3679 pins and being eliminated.

Neunkirchen grabs first qualifying spot

The women's qualification round ended early Thursday afternoon. According to Wednesday's results, the German club KV Liedolsheim was still in the lead. That changed after Thursday's results. The Austrian bowlers from SK FWT Composites Neunkirchen were in strong form and caught up with Liedolsheim with their final qualification results. Neunkirchen ultimately led with 3584 pins. Liedolsheim finished second (3547 pins), who will face third-placed defending champions KK Mlaka (3527 pins) from Croatia in the semifinals. Neunkirchen will contest its semifinal against the Slovenian team from KK Kamnik, who finished fourth with 3499 pins.

On Friday, the South Tyrolean representatives from Fugger Sterzing will no longer be competing. The Wipptal team scored 3284 pins as a team, finishing in ninth place. On Thursday, Silena Hochrainer (557 pins), Sabrina Parigger (571 pins), and captain Marion Thaler (543 pins) competed for the Fugger team. She expressed satisfaction with her achievements: "Each of us gave our best, which makes me feel positive. It was a really cool experience for all of us," Thaler concluded.

36th World Cup, Bolzano – the program

Friday October 17
11 a.m.: KV Liedolsheim vs. KK Mlaka (women), KK Neumarkt vs. Zalaegerszegy TK (men)
15 p.m.: SK FWT Composites Neunkirchen vs. KK Kamnik (women), SKV Rot Weiß Zerbst vs. KSK Orth (men)

Saturday October 18th
9 a.m.: Games for third place women and men
12.45 p.m.: Women's and Men's Finals