2026 Championships - Women's Singles

2026 Women's Championship: A Weekend Full of Suspense, Surprises, and Confirmed Favorites

Saturday and Sunday, June 13–14, 2026, at the TJ Sokol Liboc grounds, were dedicated to women and their ninth bid for the domestic bowls title.

A record-breaking group of seven players filled the bowls lanes, having arrived with one goal in mind—to enjoy a weekend of bowls and perhaps even make a run for the medals in the prestigious all-women’s tournament.

The tournament kicked off with a round-robin group stage. Every match mattered; every end could determine who would stay in contention for the semifinals and whose path to the title would begin to get complicated. Then came the knockout stage—the semifinals and finals for the top four women of the weekend.

In their effort to raise the bar for women’s performance, the organizers prepared a truly challenging schedule for the participants. Matches consisting of 12 ends and knockout matches of 14 ends put the participants’ skills to the test perhaps more than some had expected. Throughout the competition, it was clear that mental resilience became increasingly important as the ends progressed—a minor mistake, a loss of concentration, or a brief lapse in attention often marked a turning point in a match.

The group stage matches produced several surprising results, but over both days, Slávka Vařečková and Aida Padyšáková dominated play in the group matches. They ended their head-to-head match in a draw, having more or less convincingly defeated their other opponents.

Joining them in advancing to the knockout stage were defending champion Romana Opletalová and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly to some, the better of the two players from TJ Astra ZM, Kateřina Žáková, who thus quietly emerged as the tournament’s dark horse.

Semifinals: When the Predictions on Paper No Longer Hold True

The semifinals delivered the moments that make tournaments like this worth playing—tension, shifting scores, emotions, and the disappointment of the favorites. Players who had been dominant up to that point unexpectedly fell to their opponents, whom they had outplayed in the group stage…

The match between Slávka Vařečková and Kateřina Žáková was a classic example of a contest where the details make all the difference. The score seesawed back and forth, with neither player able to build a significant lead. The match was very evenly matched, and Kateřina Žáková’s advancement to the final was decided by the very last stones.

The second semifinal told a different story. Romana Opletalová entered it as the defending champion and played accordingly from the very first throws. Precise play, composure in crucial moments of the ends, and the ability to immediately respond to every attempt by Aida Padyšáková to turn the tide quickly signaled which direction the match would take. Although Aida didn’t give up, the match ultimately ended prematurely.

The battle for third place then served as a small reward for both the spectators and the players themselves. Aida Padyšáková and Slávka Vařečková put on another high-quality show; in the end, Aida PADYŠÁKOVÁ took home the bronze after a close victory, and could only regret that her only truly “off” moment came in the semifinals.

The Final: A demonstration of one player's confidence

The final match is often the highlight of the entire championship, where two evenly matched opponents face off and the outcome isn’t decided until the very end. This year, that was only partly true. What the final lacked in drama, it made up for with a display of focused, mature play.

Romana OPLETALOVÁ entered the match against Kateřina Žáková as a player who knows exactly what she wants to do on the court—and is capable of pulling it off. From the very first ends, it was clear that she was the better player. The final was thus a clear-cut affair for the defending champion, who went on to claim her second consecutive gold medal on home soil. For Kateřina ŽÁKOVÁ, however, it was an exceptionally valuable experience; she certainly has no reason to be sad—she played very well overall, and her appearance in the final will certainly not be her last.

Thanks to her, TJ Astra Zahradní Město also took home another medal from the Czech Republic Championship—though that’s becoming the norm.

A rising standard, a full house, a relaxed atmosphere

Anyone who has watched the Women’s Czech Championship in Liboc in recent years may have noticed several distinct trends. The level of play is rising; matches are more tactical; the best players think more carefully about every throw and, at the same time, aren’t afraid to take risks at key moments. There is an increasing emphasis on mental preparation, the ability to switch gears from one match to the next, and maintaining concentration throughout the two-day tournament.

The atmosphere around the lanes also played a significant role. Although the weather this year wasn’t exactly ideal for a day of sports, spectator turnout was surprisingly high, especially during the final matches. Every successful throw and every turnaround from an unfavorable end elicited reactions that echoed throughout the venue. For the players, this provided an additional source of motivation—even those who had been eliminated earlier remained at the lanes, creating the kind of atmosphere that a national championship deserves.

The tournament’s organization also contributed significantly to the overall experience. The facilities ran smoothly, there was no shortage of locally sourced refreshments, and thanks to this, the entire weekend had a pleasant “club-like” yet dignified championship atmosphere.

It’s no wonder, then, that the Czech Women’s Championship is gradually becoming one of the most prestigious events of the domestic bowls season—not only in terms of sports but also socially.

In closing, all that remains is to congratulate the medalists, thank all the other players for their hard work on the lanes, and hope that next year’s tournament will bring equally compelling stories. We will certainly be looking forward to the 2027 Czech Women’s Championship with even greater anticipation than ever before.