For the next 10 days, Tali Bowling Hall in Helsinki, Finland, will be the focal point of European bowling as it hosts the 55th edition of the iconic Brunswick Ballmaster Open.
Despite its departure from the European Bowling Tour, the Ballmaster Open remains as popular as ever, attracting over 500 bowlers from three continents and at least 19 countries.
This year, the tournament has not only drawn more participants but also increased its total prize pool to nearly €89,000. The champion will take home €12,000, while the runner-up will earn €7,000, ensuring fierce competition among a strong and talented field of players.
Players to Watch
Finland’s Jesse Kallio returns to Tali Bowling Center as the defending champion. The 30-year-old left-hander from Jämsänkoski claimed victory last year in dramatic fashion, narrowly defeating Finland’s Luukas Väänänen—runner-up at the AIK International Tournament 2024—by just four pins, 218-214, in a tightly contested semifinal and then went on to beat another compatriot, Niko Oksanen, in the final with a score of 222-212.
Niko Oksanen, meanwhile, is poised to be another formidable contender at Tali. In September, Oksanen clinched the Norwegian Open 2024 by Storm, capturing the EBT Tour title with a 225-214 triumph over top-seeded Mathias Danielsen Otting in the final. Oksanen displayed remarkable consistency throughout the 2024 EBT season, earning him the title of European Tour Ranking 2024 Champion.
Finland will field over 300 players in the 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open, but other nations are also sending top talent. Sweden, a dominant force in European bowling, is bringing more than 50 competitors to this year's event. Leading the Swedish contingent is Teodor Samuelsson, who had a stellar breakout season in 2024. The two-handed left-hander boasts two EBT Tour titles, the most recent from the Odense International Bowling Tournament 2024. Samuelsson came very close to a PBA Tour title, finishing as the runner-up in September's Storm Lucky Larsen Masters—the only PBA Tour event held outside the U.S.—falling to Jesper Svensson 257-238. Samuelsson also finished in the top 8 of the EBT Tour Standings.
Dominic Barrett of England, the 2023 EBT Masters champion and the only European bowler to compete in the eight-man PBA Tour Finals that year, isn’t coming to Helsinki just to enjoy the scenery. The UK Hall of Famer, with 10 PBA titles to his name, will be aiming to add a Brunswick Ballmaster Open title to his impressive resume.
Also among the elite international competitors is Ireland’s Christopher Sloan. Fresh off a €25,000 win at the Amir Cup in December, Sloan is riding high on momentum and looks poised to make a big impact in Helsinki.
55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open Format
The format of the 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open is as competitive as ever. After the qualification rounds, 48 bowlers will advance to the finals. The top 38 players will earn direct entry, while the remaining 10 spots will be filled through additional qualifiers: the top 2 from a separate standing in squads 9-13, the top 3 from squads 1-8, and the top 3 from the desperado squad.
Securing a high rank during qualification is crucial, as the top 16 bowlers automatically advance to the second stage of the finals. The tournament will conclude with the thrilling TV finals on January 12 at 5:30 p.m. local time, where the top four competitors will battle for the €12,000 grand prize.
As a cornerstone of the bowling calendar, the 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open combines world-class talent with exhilarating competition. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their website and social media platforms.
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