Ireland's Stephen O'Connor made it to the quarter-final stage of this year's World Cup in Toulon before finally finishing in 17th place.
O'Connor was in 12th place going into the quarter-finals, but fell back five spots in the eight-game round of 24 bowlers after shooting 1628 for his eight games (an average of 203.5).
The quarter-final round started off well for O'Connor, shooting opening games of 235 and 220. Unfortunately things went downhill from here, with the Irishman bowling two 180's and a 190 in his next six games, along with three games only just over 200.
However, O'Connor can be very proud of his performance in France, given the fact that he has not had much bowling over the last few months and the pressure that comes with playing in such a prestigious event.
Canada's Michael Schmidt eventually came out victorious, defeating the number one qualifier, England's Matt Miller, in the final match.
Schmidt had had a slow start to the tournament, but had gone from strength to strength as the tournament progressed to make the last three.
He then defeated Biboy Rivera of the Phillipines in the semi-final match 2-0, the scores being 247-215 and 252-202.
Momentum can be everything in bowling, and perhaps this was an advantage to Schmidt going into the final match.
If it was it didnt immediately seem that way. England's Miller took the first game 246-205, and it seemed as if maybe Schmidt had used up all his big games in defeating Rivera in the previous match.
However, a ball change in the tenth frame of the first game would prove a masterstroke by Schmidt, as he started the second game with three strikes to take an early lead in the game. Despite two consecutive splits in frames four and five, Schmidt was able to hold on to the second game with another three strikes in-a-row to shut out Miller before the Englishman could even finish his tenth frame.
Schmidt then started the decider in familiar fashion, with another three strikes. However, the balance swung back in Miller's favour again as Schmidt left a 7-10 split in the fourth frame and a solid four-pin in the fifth.
This final match was becoming a classic, and the drama continued in frame six as Miller opened the frame after leaving the 3-6-9-10 combination and failing to carry the nine pin.
Schmidt took full advantage of Miller's slip up with a double in frames six and seven. Miller then opened his second frame in-a-row in frame seven to leave the door wide open for Schmidt to take his second World Cup crown (Schmidt won the competition previously in 2005).
Schmidt obliged with a strike in the ninth frame, but hit light in the pocket in the tenth to leave a seven-pin and keep Miller in the match. However, he would not be in it for long.
Miller failed to come up with the vital strike in the ninth frame and the title was gone. Schmidt eventually won the deciding game comfortably, 224-118.
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