2026 Championships – Men’s Singles – 2nd Qualifying Tournament

Second Qualifying Round – One Drama After Another! The Lucky Qualifiers Move On; the Rest Will Have to Try Again Next Year.

June 20, 2026, in collaboration with ČABOW and TJ Sokol Liboc, the Second Qualifying Round for the Men’s National Singles Bowls Championship for the year 2026 took place.

Eight players competed for the last two spots in the national finals; they were divided into two groups. The top three from each group advanced to the final group (results from the group stage were carried over to the final standings), and the head-to-head matches then determined the two qualifiers as well as the reserve list.

Heat and sweat—an inferno in Liboc!

The weather had decided to join forces with the devil’s realm—the temperature climbed toward forty, and even the bowls lanes at the Liboc complex, though shaded by spreading linden trees, turned into scorching lairs of evil. Players, organizers, referees, and spectators alike experienced firsthand the torment of what might have been the ninth circle of Dante’s Inferno. This was compounded by the devilish pace of the matches: no time to rest, no recovery, just endless ends and players who could barely keep up with rehydrating their parched bodies.

Hell on the Lanes

As the played matches were gradually checked off the list, it became increasingly clear that this qualifier must be part of some diabolical plan. Every match was intense; players fought tooth and nail for every end, for every ball; every hesitation could be fatal, the score was of the utmost importance. In the end, the winner of Group A was the focused, almost machine-like Radovan Šimůnek, while the winner of Group B was the equally impressive Jaroslav Vrátný—both defeated all their opponents.

The final group, however, brought a number of surprises. B Jaroslav VrátnýB , who had been excellent up to that point, unexpectedly faltered against newcomers in his last two matches, thus giving B Karel ŠTURMB a chance. Šturm seized it; with a superb performance and a victory over Radovan Šimůnek—who had dominated the qualifiers until then—he ultimately secured first place and, with it, the coveted spot in the final tournament of the Czech Republic Individual Championship. Radovan ŠIMŮNEK secured the second qualifying spot with ice-cold (or demonic?) composure. Surprisingly, Martin DVOŘÁK—who has only been playing for a few months—fought his way to the first alternate spot, even against much more experienced opponents (could it be a secret deal with the bowls underworld?).

A great tournament, with dedicated teammates

Despite the sweltering heat, the entire qualifier took place amid unexpectedly high spectator interest. Organization was once again excellent, save for a few minor details. If they ever decide to hold a bowls tournament in hell—let ČABOW know!

B Slávka VařečkováB and B Romana OpletalováB deserve special praise for their selfless help as referees. A big thank you also goes to B Jirka Ledvina and Honza MášaB for the great catering.

Invitations from ČABOW to the Czech Republic Championship finals (September 4–6, 2026) can therefore be expected by:

We’re looking forward to the 2026 Czech Republic Championship finals. But success isn’t possible without thorough preparation!

We hope that all finalists’ preparation goes smoothly, without any disruptions, and proceeds according to their plans and expectations. Surely everyone knows where their weaknesses lie and what they need to work on, because time is ticking away faster than a sharp take-out in the decisive end.

We’re all looking forward to the final tournament being—as it is every year—a fantastic culmination of the entire bowls season in the Czech Republic!

And whoever isn’t ready—will be consumed by the flames of competition...