GOAT — Greatest of All Time
Ninepin Bowling Classic World Championship — combined singles and team title rankings (1953–present)
Just like in tennis with Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, the "Greatest of All Time" debate in ninepin bowling will always spark different opinions — and that's part of what makes our sport great.
This ranking is built on the two competitions that have existed at every World Championship since 1953: singles titles and team titles. We plan to gradually add other competitions — combined, World Cups, Champions Leagues and more — but for now we stick with these two, so no era gives an unfair advantage to its players.
Feel free to help us build and improve this list, and to take care of our sport. If you spot a mistake or missing data, let us know.
Showing 156 of 156 players
| # | Player | Nation | Singles | Teams | Single years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Zavarko, Vilmos | SRB | 4 | 7 | 2010, 2016, 2018, 2022 |
| 🥈 | Csanyi, Bela | HUN | 4 | 2 | 1980, 1982, 1986, 1990 |
| 🥉 | Dragas, Nikola | YUG | 3 | 1 | 1972, 1974, 1976 |
| 4 | Benedik, Boris | SLO/MKD | 2 | 3 | 2000, 2004 |
| 5 | Luther, Eberhard | GDR | 2 | 3 | 1955, 1959 |
| 6 | Bice, I. | ROU | 1 | 4 | 1984 |
| 7 | Tismanaru, Josif | ROU | 1 | 4 | 1978 |
| 8 | Kakuk, Levente | HUN | 1 | 3 | 2014 |
| 9 | Schwarz, Christian | GER | 1 | 3 | 1998 |
| 10 | Calic, Jovan | YUG | 1 | 2 | 2002 |
| 11 | Zänger, Friedhelm | GER | 1 | 2 | 1994 |
| 12 | Urbanc, Boris | YUG | 1 | 2 | 1988 |
| 13 | Sterzaj, Miroslav | YUG | 1 | 2 | 1968 |
| 14 | Mihalcioiu, Petrut Ovidiu | ROU | 1 | 1 | 2012 |
| 15 | Lupu, Nicolae | ROU | 1 | 1 | 2008 |
| 16 | Zieher, Dieter | FRG | 1 | 1 | 1970 |
| 17 | Brachtel, Tim | GER | 1 | 0 | 2024 |
| 18 | Cech, Ivan | SVK | 1 | 0 | 2006 |
| 19 | Ilic, Dusan | YUG | 1 | 0 | 1996 |
| 20 | Pavlic, Zdenko | YUG | 1 | 0 | 1992 |
| 21 | Braeutigam, Horst | GDR | 1 | 0 | 1966 |
| 22 | Szabo, Josef | HUN | 1 | 0 | 1962 |
| 23 | Micooiu, Ion | ROU | 1 | 0 | 1957 |
| 24 | Baierl, Alfred | AUT | 1 | 0 | 1953 |
| 25 | Tepsa, Daniel | SRB | 0 | 7 | — |
| 26 | Baranj, Congor | SRB | 0 | 6 | — |
| 27 | Ernjesi, Robert | SRB | 0 | 6 | — |
| 28 | Kovacic, Igor | SRB | 0 | 5 | — |
| 29 | Vlajkov, Radovan | SRB | 0 | 5 | — |
| 30 | Silvestru | ROU | 0 | 4 | — |
| 31 | Jaglicic, Uros | SRB | 0 | 3 | — |
| 32 | Ostojic, Goran | SRB | 0 | 3 | — |
| 33 | Farkas, Sandor | HUN | 0 | 3 | — |
| 34 | Karsai, Laszlo | HUN | 0 | 3 | — |
| 35 | Kiss, Norbert | HUN | 0 | 3 | — |
| 36 | Bizjak, Darko | SLO | 0 | 3 | — |
| 37 | Kirbis, Franc | SLO | 0 | 3 | — |
| 38 | Koch, Ralf | GER | 0 | 3 | — |
| 39 | Catineanu | ROU | 0 | 3 | — |
| 40 | Baias | ROU | 0 | 3 | — |
| 41 | Martelanc, Vlado | YUG | 0 | 3 | — |
| 42 | Smoljanovic, Duje | YUG | 0 | 3 | — |
| 43 | Milinkovic, Aleksandar | SRB | 0 | 2 | — |
| 44 | Jovetic, Milan | SRB | 0 | 2 | — |
| 45 | Simijonovic, Milos | SRB | 0 | 2 | — |
| 46 | Zapletan, Zsombor | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 47 | Antal, Arpad | SRB | 0 | 2 | — |
| 48 | Sel, Tibor | SRB | 0 | 2 | — |
| 49 | Kovacs, Gabor | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 50 | Hoffmann, Timo | GER | 0 | 2 | — |
| 51 | Strukelj, Zdravko | SLO | 0 | 2 | — |
| 52 | Boariu, Stelian | ROU | 0 | 2 | — |
| 53 | Kühn, Andreas | GER | 0 | 2 | — |
| 54 | Fleischer, Jürgen | GER | 0 | 2 | — |
| 55 | Stössl, Werner | GER | 0 | 2 | — |
| 56 | Sterzaj, Hary | SLO | 0 | 2 | — |
| 57 | Makkai, Miklos | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 58 | Meszaros, Jozsef | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 59 | Mraz, Laszlo | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 60 | Nagy, Laszlo | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 61 | Nemeth, Lajos | HUN | 0 | 2 | — |
| 62 | Hosu | ROU | 0 | 2 | — |
| 63 | Purge | ROU | 0 | 2 | — |
| 64 | Beyer | DDR | 0 | 2 | — |
| 65 | Brautigam | DDR | 0 | 2 | — |
| 66 | Wloka | DDR | 0 | 2 | — |
| 67 | Grohs | DDR | 0 | 2 | — |
| 68 | Grom | YUG | 0 | 2 | — |
| 69 | Starc | YUG | 0 | 2 | — |
| 70 | Pogelsek, Stanko | YUG | 0 | 2 | — |
| 71 | Jakab, Zelislav | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 72 | Kujundzic, Alen | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 73 | Tadic, Mateja | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 74 | Huber, Lukas | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 75 | Janits, Martin | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 76 | Rathmayer, Martin | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 77 | Temistokle, Lukas | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 78 | Vsetecka, Philipp | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 79 | Zatschkowitsch, Matthias | AUT | 0 | 1 | — |
| 80 | Klicaric, Bojan | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 81 | Loncarevic, Adrijan | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 82 | Boanta, Claudiu | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 83 | Feher, Zoltan Flavius | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 84 | Kiss, Tamas | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 85 | Nemes, Attila | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 86 | Calukovic | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 87 | Lotina, Darko | SRB | 0 | 1 | — |
| 88 | Hergeth, Zoltan | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 89 | Nemeth, Csongor | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 90 | Gerdau, Marcus | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 91 | Reiser, Torsten | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 92 | Scholler, Oliver | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 93 | Schondelmaier, Axel | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 94 | Traenkler, Sven | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 95 | Wellach, Alexander | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 96 | Zesewitz, Rene | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 97 | Feher, Laszlo | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 98 | Hafnar, Damjan | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 99 | Pintaric, Primoz | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 100 | Stoklas, Uros | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 101 | Zvezic, Bostjan | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 102 | Bese, Dumitru | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 103 | Cadinoiu, Mihai | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 104 | Donos, Vasa | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 105 | Dorin, Virgil | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 106 | Beraldo, Mario | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 107 | Hübner, Frank | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 108 | Steimer, Uwe | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 109 | Hocevar, Matjaz | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 110 | Juvancic, Albin | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 111 | Hribar, Bogdan | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 112 | Ivancic, Dusan | SLO | 0 | 1 | — |
| 113 | Keller, Ludwig | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 114 | Zechmann, Leonhard | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 115 | Madak, Pal | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 116 | Pete, Laszlo | HUN | 0 | 1 | — |
| 117 | Kliment | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 118 | Krtil | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 119 | Nenicka | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 120 | Prochazka, V. | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 121 | Slabak | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 122 | Vitkovic | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 123 | Marin | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 124 | Tudor | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 125 | Biber | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 126 | Cesen | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 127 | Rabfeld | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 128 | Senasi | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 129 | Hegenbarth | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 130 | Wostehoff | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 131 | Beck | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 132 | Gunzel | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 133 | Holzmann | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 134 | Nutz | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 135 | Pelikan | GER | 0 | 1 | — |
| 136 | Seifert | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 137 | Mantoiu | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 138 | Micoroiu | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 139 | Radulescu | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 140 | Szemany | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 141 | Vinatoru | ROU | 0 | 1 | — |
| 142 | Kocarek | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 143 | Mihal | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 144 | Prejsler | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 145 | Savlik | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 146 | Simunek | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 147 | Vostrak | TCH | 0 | 1 | — |
| 148 | Buneta | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 149 | Likovnik | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 150 | Franke | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 151 | Grettner | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 152 | Rumpf | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 153 | Uhlmann | DDR | 0 | 1 | — |
| 154 | Denic, Dusan | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 155 | Hladnik, Stanko | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
| 156 | Kobal, Eugen | YUG | 0 | 1 | — |
🥇
Zavarko, Vilmos
SRB
Singles
4
2010, 2016, 2018, 2022
Teams
7
2009, 2011, 2015, 2017
2019, 2021, 2025
🥈
Csanyi, Bela
HUN
Singles
4
1980, 1982, 1986, 1990
Teams
2
1986, 1988
🥉
Dragas, Nikola
YUG
Singles
3
1972, 1974, 1976
Teams
1
1976
4
Benedik, Boris
SLO/MKD
Singles
2
2000, 2004
Teams
3
1992, 1994, 2002
5
Luther, Eberhard
GDR
Singles
2
1955, 1959
Teams
3
1955, 1968, 1972
6
Bice, I.
ROU
Singles
1
1984
Teams
4
1974, 1978, 1980, 1982
7
Tismanaru, Josif
ROU
Singles
1
1978
Teams
4
1974, 1978, 1980, 1982
8
Kakuk, Levente
HUN
Singles
1
2014
Teams
3
2004, 2007, 2013
9
Schwarz, Christian
GER
Singles
1
1998
Teams
3
1990, 1996, 1998
10
Calic, Jovan
YUG
Singles
1
2002
Teams
2
2009, 2011
11
Zänger, Friedhelm
GER
Singles
1
1994
Teams
2
1996, 1998
12
Urbanc, Boris
YUG
Singles
1
1988
Teams
2
1992, 1994
13
Sterzaj, Miroslav
YUG
Singles
1
1968
Teams
2
1959, 1976
14
Mihalcioiu, Petrut Ovidiu
ROU
Singles
1
2012
Teams
1
2000
15
Lupu, Nicolae
ROU
Singles
1
2008
Teams
1
2000
16
Zieher, Dieter
FRG
Singles
1
1970
Teams
1
1970
17
Brachtel, Tim
GER
Singles
1
2024
Teams
0
18
Cech, Ivan
SVK
Singles
1
2006
Teams
0
19
Ilic, Dusan
YUG
Singles
1
1996
Teams
0
20
Pavlic, Zdenko
YUG
Singles
1
1992
Teams
0
21
Braeutigam, Horst
GDR
Singles
1
1966
Teams
0
22
Szabo, Josef
HUN
Singles
1
1962
Teams
0
23
Micooiu, Ion
ROU
Singles
1
1957
Teams
0
24
Baierl, Alfred
AUT
Singles
1
1953
Teams
0
25
Tepsa, Daniel
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
7
2009, 2011, 2015, 2017
2019, 2021, 2025
26
Baranj, Congor
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
6
2011, 2015, 2017, 2019
2021, 2025
27
Ernjesi, Robert
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
6
2011, 2015, 2017, 2019
2021, 2025
28
Kovacic, Igor
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
5
2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
2025
29
Vlajkov, Radovan
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
5
2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
2025
30
Silvestru
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
4
1974, 1978, 1980, 1982
31
Jaglicic, Uros
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
3
2011, 2015, 2017
32
Ostojic, Goran
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
3
2009, 2011, 2015
33
Farkas, Sandor
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
3
2004, 2007, 2013
34
Karsai, Laszlo
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
3
2004, 2007, 2013
35
Kiss, Norbert
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
3
2004, 2007, 2013
36
Bizjak, Darko
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
3
1992, 1994, 2002
37
Kirbis, Franc
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
3
1992, 1994, 2002
38
Koch, Ralf
GER
Singles
0
Teams
3
1990, 1996, 1998
39
Catineanu
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
3
1974, 1980, 1982
40
Baias
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
3
1974, 1978, 1980
41
Martelanc, Vlado
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
3
1953, 1957, 1959
42
Smoljanovic, Duje
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
3
1953, 1957, 1959
43
Milinkovic, Aleksandar
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
2
2019, 2021
44
Jovetic, Milan
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
2
2017, 2019
45
Simijonovic, Milos
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
2
2015, 2017
46
Zapletan, Zsombor
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
2007, 2013
47
Antal, Arpad
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
2
2009, 2011
48
Sel, Tibor
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
2
2009, 2011
49
Kovacs, Gabor
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
2004, 2007
50
Hoffmann, Timo
GER
Singles
0
Teams
2
1990, 2005
51
Strukelj, Zdravko
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
2
1994, 2002
52
Boariu, Stelian
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
2
1982, 2000
53
Kühn, Andreas
GER
Singles
0
Teams
2
1996, 1998
54
Fleischer, Jürgen
GER
Singles
0
Teams
2
1990, 1996
55
Stössl, Werner
GER
Singles
0
Teams
2
1990, 1996
56
Sterzaj, Hary
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
2
1992, 1994
57
Makkai, Miklos
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
1986, 1988
58
Meszaros, Jozsef
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
1986, 1988
59
Mraz, Laszlo
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
1986, 1988
60
Nagy, Laszlo
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
1986, 1988
61
Nemeth, Lajos
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
2
1986, 1988
62
Hosu
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
2
1980, 1982
63
Purge
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
2
1966, 1974
64
Beyer
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
2
1968, 1972
65
Brautigam
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
2
1968, 1972
66
Wloka
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
2
1968, 1972
67
Grohs
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
2
1955, 1968
68
Grom
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
2
1957, 1959
69
Starc
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
2
1957, 1959
70
Pogelsek, Stanko
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
2
1953, 1957
71
Jakab, Zelislav
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2025
72
Kujundzic, Alen
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2025
73
Tadic, Mateja
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2025
74
Huber, Lukas
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
75
Janits, Martin
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
76
Rathmayer, Martin
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
77
Temistokle, Lukas
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
78
Vsetecka, Philipp
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
79
Zatschkowitsch, Matthias
AUT
Singles
0
Teams
1
2023
80
Klicaric, Bojan
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2021
81
Loncarevic, Adrijan
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2021
82
Boanta, Claudiu
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2013
83
Feher, Zoltan Flavius
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2013
84
Kiss, Tamas
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2013
85
Nemes, Attila
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2013
86
Calukovic
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2009
87
Lotina, Darko
SRB
Singles
0
Teams
1
2009
88
Hergeth, Zoltan
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2007
89
Nemeth, Csongor
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2007
90
Gerdau, Marcus
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
91
Reiser, Torsten
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
92
Scholler, Oliver
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
93
Schondelmaier, Axel
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
94
Traenkler, Sven
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
95
Wellach, Alexander
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
96
Zesewitz, Rene
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
2005
97
Feher, Laszlo
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
2004
98
Hafnar, Damjan
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
2002
99
Pintaric, Primoz
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
2002
100
Stoklas, Uros
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
2002
101
Zvezic, Bostjan
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
2002
102
Bese, Dumitru
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
2000
103
Cadinoiu, Mihai
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
2000
104
Donos, Vasa
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
2000
105
Dorin, Virgil
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
2000
106
Beraldo, Mario
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1998
107
Hübner, Frank
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1998
108
Steimer, Uwe
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1998
109
Hocevar, Matjaz
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
1994
110
Juvancic, Albin
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
1994
111
Hribar, Bogdan
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
1992
112
Ivancic, Dusan
SLO
Singles
0
Teams
1
1992
113
Keller, Ludwig
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1990
114
Zechmann, Leonhard
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1990
115
Madak, Pal
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
1988
116
Pete, Laszlo
HUN
Singles
0
Teams
1
1986
117
Kliment
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
118
Krtil
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
119
Nenicka
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
120
Prochazka, V.
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
121
Slabak
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
122
Vitkovic
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1984
123
Marin
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1978
124
Tudor
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1978
125
Biber
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1976
126
Cesen
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1976
127
Rabfeld
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1976
128
Senasi
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1976
129
Hegenbarth
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1972
130
Wostehoff
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1972
131
Beck
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1970
132
Gunzel
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1970
133
Holzmann
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1970
134
Nutz
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1970
135
Pelikan
GER
Singles
0
Teams
1
1970
136
Seifert
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1968
137
Mantoiu
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1966
138
Micoroiu
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1966
139
Radulescu
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1966
140
Szemany
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1966
141
Vinatoru
ROU
Singles
0
Teams
1
1966
142
Kocarek
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
143
Mihal
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
144
Prejsler
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
145
Savlik
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
146
Simunek
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
147
Vostrak
TCH
Singles
0
Teams
1
1962
148
Buneta
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1959
149
Likovnik
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1957
150
Franke
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1955
151
Grettner
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1955
152
Rumpf
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1955
153
Uhlmann
DDR
Singles
0
Teams
1
1955
154
Denic, Dusan
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1953
155
Hladnik, Stanko
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1953
156
Kobal, Eugen
YUG
Singles
0
Teams
1
1953
Sorted by: singles titles → team titles → most recent single year → most recent team year.