The World Indoor Bowls Championships have once again rolled into Potters Resorts in Hopton-on-Sea, bringing with them the unique blend of tradition, tension, and televised spectacle that has become a staple for bowls enthusiasts across the globe. With the 2026 edition now reaching its dramatic conclusion, fans both in the arena and watching from afar are being treated to a grandstand finish, complete with record-breaking prize money and a host of compelling storylines.
This year’s event, running from January 9 to January 25, has packed the venue to its 1,100-spectator capacity, a testament to the enduring appeal of indoor bowls even as it remains a relatively niche sport in the wider landscape. Yet, for those who couldn’t snag a ticket, there’s no need for disappointment. The BBC has continued its longstanding tradition of broadcasting the final weekend live on BBC Two, with coverage kicking off at 2:30pm on Sunday, January 26. For fans on the move or tuning in from outside the UK, the action is also available via BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the World Bowls Tour YouTube channel, ensuring no one misses a bowl, jack, or end.
While radio listeners won’t find dedicated ball-by-ball commentary, regular score updates and interviews are provided by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Norfolk throughout their sports bulletins, accessible via the BBC Sounds app. It’s a comprehensive media effort for a sport that, as some advocates argue, is ripe for a broader digital renaissance. As one viral sensation in the bowls world recently put it, "Bowls needs to grow in the same way as darts – we need to get out there on TikTok." The push for modernization is clear, but the heart of the event remains rooted in its unique format and fiercely competitive spirit.
Matches at the World Indoor Bowls Championships follow a distinctive sets format: two sets of seven ends each, with a three-end tie-break if the sets are split one-all. In singles play, each competitor uses four bowls, delivering them alternately toward the jack. Players are only permitted to "visit the head"—that is, walk up to inspect the position of the bowls—after their third and fourth deliveries. To maintain a brisk pace suitable for television audiences, the tournament employs the "re-spotting rule." If the jack is knocked out of the rink, instead of restarting the end, it is placed on a designated white spot at the back of the green, keeping the action moving and the tension high.
The stakes this year are higher than ever, with a total prize pool that reflects the growing status of the event. Both the Open Singles and Women’s Singles champions will walk away with a whopping £50,000 each—a sum that underscores the championship’s position as the pinnacle of the indoor bowls calendar. The team events are similarly lucrative, with the Open Pairs and Mixed Pairs winners sharing a £20,000 prize per team. Even those who fall in the early rounds aren’t left empty-handed, as the prize fund is distributed to recognize the achievement of qualifying for this world-class stage.
History was made on the penultimate day of this 17-day tournament with the staging of the new Open Masters Championship. England’s Russell Bewick, a 57-year-old stalwart of Hartlepool IBC and a former Under-25 international, captured the inaugural title. Bewick, already an English pairs champion and five-time Liberty Trophy winner, bested Danny Denison—himself a former world singles qualifier and seven-time national champion—in a commanding 2-0 victory (10-5, 12-2) in the final. The Masters event, trialled as an invitational in the previous year and won by Ian Bond, was expanded in 2026 to include four qualifying tournaments around the UK, each offering 32 spots. Only players aged 55 or older by September 30, 2025, were eligible, making this a true showcase of the sport’s experienced elite.
The Masters semi-finals saw Denison, who emerged from the Cambridge Chesterton IBC qualifier, dispatch Ireland’s John R Nicholl 2-0 (13-1, 10-2). Bewick, who qualified at his home club in Hartlepool, delivered another dominant performance, defeating Scotland’s Richard Mark—winner of the West Lothian IBC qualifier—by the same 2-0 margin (15-1, 10-1). The format for the Masters mirrored the main event: two sets of seven ends, with a tie-break if needed, ensuring consistency and fairness across the board.
Meanwhile, the Open Singles competition has built towards a tantalizing final. Scotland’s Paul Foster, a seasoned campaigner, ended the hopes of reigning champion Jason Banks—who last year made history by winning the singles, men’s pairs, and mixed pairs titles in a single championship. Foster’s clinical 2-0 semi-final win (8-5, 10-3) denied Banks the chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Alex Marshall in 2008. On the other half of the draw, England’s Robert Paxton, the 2020 champion, came through a dramatic 2-1 tie-break against Scotland’s Darren Burnett, who endured his fourth tie-break of the tournament. With Foster and Paxton set to clash for the £50,000 top prize, fans are bracing for a showdown that promises both skill and drama.
Reflecting on the event’s evolution, it’s clear that the World Indoor Bowls Championships have struck a careful balance between honoring tradition and embracing change. The prize money on offer is now among the most substantial in the sport’s history, and the tournament’s accessibility—via television, streaming, and radio—continues to grow. Last year’s heroes, like Jason Banks and Julie Forrest, set a high bar, but 2026 is shaping up to deliver its own memorable moments and new champions.
As the final bowls are played and the last ends unfold, the world’s best indoor bowlers are seizing their moment under the bright lights of Potters Resorts. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer drawn in by the BBC’s expert coverage, this year’s championships offer a vivid reminder of why bowls, in all its quiet intensity, remains a cherished fixture on the sporting calendar. With the Open Singles final set to decide who takes home the £50,000 prize—and with the Masters already crowning a new champion—the excitement in Hopton-on-Sea is palpable. Stay tuned, because the action isn’t over yet!