Bendigo East's Lee Schraner on top of the lawn bowls world

Schraner was crowned champion after defeating Hong Kong China's Tony Cheung in a nail-biting final in Adelaide on Sunday.

Schraner, who didn't lose a match for the week, needed a tie-breaker in the final to shake off the gallant Cheung.

The championship came down to Cheung's last bowl on the final end of the tie-break.

With scores tied 1-1 in the tie-breaker and Schraner holding two shots, the Hong Kong China star faced a difficult shot close to the ditch to deny Schraner victory.

Cheung's final attempt took out the second shot bowl, but Schraner still held shot and ultimately victory.

An emotional Schraner slumped to the rink as the enormity of his 7-6, 6-9, 2-1 win sunk in.

At stages in Sunday's final it appeared as though Cheung could break Schraner's resistance, but every time the Australian star needed a big bowl he produced it.

In the three end tie-breaker, Cheung won the first end 1-0 and held shot on the second end before Schraner produced arguably a title-saving bowl with his last shot to tie the score at 1-1.

Cheung again grabbed an early advantage on the final end when he drew shot with his first bowl.

Schraner responded with a perfect drive that collected the kitty and went into the ditch.

Cheung's penultimate bowl went into the ditch before Schraner all but sealed the title with a superb bowl that finished less than two feet from the kitty.

Cheung needed a miracle with his final bowl and he came up short.

The Bendigo East coach was the only player in the tournament not to lose a game for the carnival.

After going through the preliminary rounds undefeated, Schraner thrashed England's Louis Ridout in Saturday's semi-finals 9-3, 11-3.

Cheung was just as impressive in his semi-final win over Scotland's Mark O'Hagan 10-4, 10-8.

Schraner is the third Australian in the past four years to win the men's title.

Scott Thulborn won in Brisbane in 2016, while Aaron Teys was successful in Sydney in 2017.

It was a golden day for Australia, with Kylie Whitehead winning the women's World Singles Champion of Champions in a third set tie-breaker over New Zealand's Debbie White.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.