Valgeir Gudbjartsson
The European Men’s Bowling Championships 2025 in Aalborg, Denmark, has already produced a thrilling series of competitions. With the Singles, Doubles, and Trios events now concluded, Europe’s top athletes have showcased exceptional skill, focus, and determination. Below is a detailed look at each event’s story, including every athlete’s performance.
SINGLES EVENT
The Singles event opened the championship with high expectations and fierce rivalries. In the semi-finals, Gaetan Mouveroux of France delivered a strong performance, defeating Juhani Tonteri of Finland. Mouveroux scored 238, while Tonteri finished with 199.
In the second semi-final, Italy’s Antonino Fiorentino faced France’s Valentin Saulnier. Fiorentino showed sharp precision and aggressive shot-making, scoring 246 to Saulnier’s 204, advancing comfortably to the final.
The championship match saw Antonino Fiorentino rise to the occasion with one of the highest single-game scores of the tournament. Fiorentino rolled a remarkable 277, overwhelming Gaetan Mouveroux, who managed 150. With this commanding win, Fiorentino earned Italy the Singles gold medal.
DOUBLES EVENT
Teamwork and chemistry came to the forefront in the Doubles event. In the first semi-final, Finland team 2, consisting of Tomas Käyhkö and Niko Oksanen, faced France team 3—Enzo Franco and Maxime Dubois. Oksanen was outstanding with a 234 game, while Käyhkö contributed 196, bringing Finland’s total to 430. Despite a strong effort—Franco scored 198 and Dubois 208, totaling 406—France team 3 was eliminated.
In the second semi-final, France team 1—Gaetan Mouveroux and Valentin Saulnier—met Italy team 3, represented by Antonino Fiorentino and Erik Davolio. France controlled the match from the start: Mouveroux rolled 215 and Saulnier added 212, giving France a combined 427. Italy struggled—Fiorentino posted 177 and Davolio 172, finishing at 349.
The final was a clash of in-form teams. Niko Oksanen once again starred for Finland with a 236 game, while Tomas Käyhkö added 198, for a winning total of 434. France team 1 pushed hard: Valentin Saulnier scored 205, and Gaetan Mouveroux followed with 204, but their combined 409 fell short. Finland team 2 deservedly claimed the Doubles gold medal after two composed and high-scoring performances.
TRIOS EVENT
The Trios competition introduced a new dynamic, testing synergy among three players. In the first semi-final, France team 1—Maxime Dubois, Valentin Saulnier, and Gaetan Mouveroux—took on Romania team 1, featuring David Martin Orlanda, Romeo Gagenoiu, and Octavian Anton Craciun.
France dominated the match with steady scoring across the board: Dubois rolled 213, Saulnier hit 216, and Mouveroux added 210, for a total of 639. Romania struggled to keep pace. Gagenoiu posted a respectable 216, but Orlanda scored 172, and Craciun’s 133 left the team far behind at 521.
In the second semi-final, Denmark team 1—Bjørn Saksager Jensen, Dan Agerbo Østergaard, and Mathias Grønne Ankerdal—faced Romania team 2, made up of Catalin Gheorghe, Mihai Alin Dragnia, and Mate Balazs-Becsi. It was a close contest. Østergaard’s powerful 226 led Denmark, with Ankerdal scoring 206 and Jensen 187, totaling 619. Romania team 2 fought valiantly: Balazs-Becsi rolled 217, Gheorghe 199, and Dragnia 182, totaling 598—just short of upsetting the hosts.
The final featured Denmark team 1 against France team 1, both riding high on confidence. Denmark rose to the occasion with their best collective performance yet. Dan Agerbo Østergaard led the trio again with 236, followed by Mathias Grønne Ankerdal with 219, and Bjørn Saksager Jensen with 203, amassing a total of 658. France team 1 had moments of brilliance—Gaetan Mouveroux posted a top-tier 237—but Valentin Saulnier struggled with 163, and Maxime Dubois added 191, giving them a final score of 591.
Roared on by the home crowd, Denmark team 1 celebrated their gold medal victory with pride and emotion. Their composure and consistent execution across all three games earned them a deserved spot at the top of the podium.
TEAM EVENT
In the first semi-final, Sweden squared off against Greece. Sweden’s lineup included Martin Larsen (193), Pontus Andersson (197), William Svensson (206), Markus Jansson (197), and Robin Ilhammar (213), with Teodor Samuelsson listed but not scoring. Their total of 1006 reflected balanced, consistent performances across the board. Greece gave a commendable effort—Ioannis Xydas led the charge with 202, Vasileios Stefopoulos scored 180, Georgios Stefanidis added 181, Evangelos Krizinis posted 190, and Nikolaos Serelis had 172. Anastasios Exarchou was listed but did not score, and Greece ended with 925—falling short despite their determination.
The second semi-final saw hosts Denmark take on Italy. Denmark was electric, led by a dominant 268 from Tim Stampe and supported by Bjørn Saksager Jensen (226), Carsten Warming Hansen (244), Mathias Grønne Ankerdal (211), and Dan Agerbo Østergaard (192). Mikkel Brus Sørensen was on the lineup but didn’t contribute a score. Their combined total of 1141 was the highest of the round. Italy’s campaign ended despite strong efforts—Antonino Fiorentino rolled 211, Alessandro Walter Santu 202, Giorgio Gragnaniello 191, Tommaso Radi 180, and Erik Davolio 168. Marco Cesare Parapini did not score. Italy’s final tally of 952 was impressive but not enough to match Denmark’s dominant outing.
In the championship match, Denmark met Sweden in a classic Nordic showdown. This time, both teams felt the pressure, and scores reflected tighter margins. Denmark remained composed, with Bjørn Saksager Jensen scoring 210, Stampe 190, Østergaard 160, Hansen 176, and Ankerdal 180, for a total of 916. Sørensen remained on the roster without a score. Sweden couldn’t find their earlier rhythm—Martin Larsen (187) and Markus Jansson (187) anchored the effort, while Robin Ilhammar added 171, William Svensson 175, and Pontus Andersson 153. Samuelsson did not score. Sweden finished at 873.
With the crowd behind them, Denmark lifted the Team Event gold medal on home soil. It was a fitting reward for their cohesion, depth, and the unshakable momentum they carried throughout the event.
All Events
For 24 games across four disciplines — Singles, Doubles, Trios, and Team — the best bowlers in Europe clashed, not just for medals in each event, but for the most demanding title of all: the All Events Champion. This was a marathon of consistency, skill, and mental endurance.
From the very start, one name stood out.
Antonino Fiorentino of Italy delivered a stunning performance. Game after game, he remained composed, efficient, and relentless. With scores like 1372 in Singles and 1350 in Doubles, he anchored his campaign with solid play across all formats. His final total of 5167 pins, with an average of 215.3, earned him the All Events gold medal
Not far behind came a fierce contender from France — Maxime Dubois. Known for his balance of power and precision, Maxime shined particularly in Trios with a 1363, the highest among the top finishers in that category. His total of 5150 pins, just 17 short of the top spot, showed how close the competition truly was. He secured the silver medal, a proud result for France.
Completing the podium was another French star, Valentin Saulnier, who brought fire early with a blazing 1386 in Singles — the highest individual set of the top three. Though his Team event score slightly dipped, his consistency was enough to secure 5141 pins, averaging 214.2, and the bronze medal.
Just behind them were other heavyweights — Gaetan Mouveroux (France), Tomas Käyhkö (Finland), and Evangelos Krizinis (Greece) — all pushing hard, but just missing the podium.
In the end, the All Events wasn’t about one great block. It was about 24 games, across multiple team dynamics, lane conditions, and mental challenges. And Antonino Fiorentino proved that over the long haul, he was Europe’s best.
Masters Event – Finals Recap
Precision, endurance, and mental strength defined the Masters event, where Europe’s top bowlers battled through five grueling knockout rounds. The event showcased individual brilliance under pressure, culminating in a thrilling finale.
In the quarter-finals, Denmark’s Tim Stampe delivered two clutch games—189 and 222—to eliminate Italy’s Antonino Fiorentino, who struggled to find rhythm with 158 and 126. France’s Maxime Dubois, already a standout in earlier rounds, displayed elite form by edging out Finland’s Juhani Tonteri in a tight contest. Dubois fired 237, 267, and 222, narrowly outscoring Tonteri’s impressive series of 266, 208, and 202.
Sweden’s Robin Ilhammar maintained composure to defeat Denmark’s Mathias Grønne Ankerdal with a steady 200 and 224. Meanwhile, Finland’s Luukas Väänänen advanced by overpowering countryman Tomas Käyhkö, posting 225 and 234 against Käyhkö’s 174 and 184.
The semi-finals brought two high-stakes matchups. Robin Ilhammar faced Luukas Väänänen in a Scandinavian showdown. Ilhammar delivered back-to-back games of 257 and 238, overpowering Väänänen, who responded with 203 and 175. On the other side of the bracket, Maxime Dubois continued his incredible run, defeating Denmark’s Tim Stampe with games of 248 and 234. Stampe’s early momentum faded as he recorded 201 and 169.
The final featured two of the most in-form players of the week: Sweden’s Robin Ilhammar and France’s Maxime Dubois. Ilhammar showed nerves of steel, shooting 238 and 234 in the final match. Dubois was strong with 215 and 233, but it wasn’t enough. Ilhammar’s relentless pace and accuracy earned him the Masters title.
Robin Ilhammar of Sweden emerged as the 2025 Masters Champion, navigating a demanding bracket and defeating elite opponents with consistency and style. A gold medal well earned for one of the standout performers of the championship.
Pictures from the medal ceremonies and more can be found here: https://gallery.ebfchampionships.sport/emc2025-gallery/
Results can be found on: https://bowlingresults.info/emc/2025
The Reykjavik International Games or RIG as it is better known as, the 2nd tournament of the 2025 European Tour was held from 1st of February until the 9th of February 2025 in the Keiluhöllin Egilshöll bowling centre in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Total of 257 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 87 players, where of 27 were women.
After four final steps it came down to a four player carousel final on live TV. After every game the lowest score was eliminated.
The four players in the final were Carsten Trane from Denmark, William Svensson from Sweden, Mikael Aron Vilhelmsson from Iceland and Adam Pawel Blaszczak from Poland.
After the first game, Adam Pawel was eliminated with the low score of 255.
After the second game, Trane was eliminated with the low score of 170.
In the final game the hometown hero, 18-year old Mikael Aron Vilhelmsson managed to win with the score 216 to Svensson’s 184.
This was Vilhemsson’s first ever win on the European Tour. Congratulations Mikael Aron!
The winner of the women’s ranking was Nora Johansson from Sweden, who finished in 7th place.
The complete ranking after the 2nd tournament of this year‘s tour can be seen here: Women | Men
Dear EBF Member Federations,
At the last Congress, the EBF Presidium was tasked with exploring the possibility of hosting a championship for athletes aged 65 and older, similar to what is done at the IBF level. Following discussions at our recent Presidium meeting, we are pleased to announce the introduction of the European Grand Senior Championships as part of the EBF championship program (ESC+).
This new championship, open to athletes aged 65 and older, will take place every two years in even-numbered years (2026, 2028, etc.). The first edition will be hosted in Vienna from 30 January to 8 February 2026.
Additionally, the European Senior Championships (for athletes aged 50 and older) will continue to be held every two years in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.).
We hope this initiative will be warmly welcomed by our senior athletes, and we look forward to strong participation in both championships.
Kind regards
Valgeir Gudbjartsson
President
European Bowling Federation
The European Bowling Federation (EBF) proudly announces the certification of Eden Superbowl Bowling Center in Malta as the first string setter bowling center in Europe.
Following a thorough inspection by an EBF Technical Delegate, the 20-lane center was confirmed to meet all standards outlined in the International Bowling Federation (IBF) Playing Rules. Equipped with Switch brand technology, compliant with IBF regulations, Eden Superbowl is now officially recognized as capable of hosting EBF Championships, European Bowling Tour (EBT) tournaments, and other international events.
By accepting this certification, Eden Superbowl commits to maintaining its equipment and lanes to the highest standards throughout the certificate’s validity.
Congratulations to Eden Superbowl!
This achievement sets a new milestone in European bowling, and we look forward to seeing the center host prestigious tournaments in the near future.
The MOTIV AIK International 2025, the first tournament of the 2025 European Tour was held from the 26th of December 2024 until the 6th of January 2025 in Bowl-O-Rama bowling centre in Stockholm, Sweden.
Total of 919 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 327 players, where of 60 were women.
After three final steps it came down to three players.
In the semi final, Pontus Andersson from Sweden, who qualified to the semi finals by one pin managed to beat Tomas Käyhkö from Finland with the score of 254 to Käyhkö‘s 207.
In the final, Pontus again proved to be the winner by beating Leo Norgen, also from Sweden with the score of 237 to Norgren‘s 207. Norgren had a chance to win going into the 10th frame but unfortunately left a split to lose the game.
This was the 4th EBT title for Pontus – congratulations Pontus!
The winner of the women‘s ranking was Josefine Linderoth from Sweden, who finished in 8th place.
The complete ranking after the 1st tournament of this year‘s tour can be seen here: Women | Men
The FM Mattsson Christmas Tournament the last tournament of the 2024 European Tour was held from the 14th of December until the 22nd of December 2024 in Mora Parken Bowling in Mora, Sweden.
Total of 367 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 135 players, where of 15 were women.
After three final steps it came down to a four man elimination format.
The four players, all from Sweden were Robin Ilhammar, William Svensson, Filip Wilhelmsson and Emanuel Jonsson.
After the first game, Wilhelmsson was eliminated with the lowest score of 172.
After the next game, Jonssson was eliminated with the lowest score of 184.
Then in the final game it was Svensson that proved to be the winner with the score of 212 to Ilhammar‘s score of 209.
This was William Svensson‘s first win on the European Tour! Congratulations William!
The winner of the women‘s ranking was Anna Andersson from Sweden, who finished in 7th place.
There was one change in the top 8 which was determined after this tournament, Tobias Hogdin from Sweden snuck into the top 8 and leapfrogged Teemu Putkisto from Finland who misses out on the top 8 EBT Masters next year.
The complete ranking after the 14th and last tournament of this year’s tour can be seen here: Women | Men
The Mega-Xtreme Sofia Open 2024 was for the first time included in the european tour. It was held in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, from the duration of 28th of September until the 6th of October 2024 in Joy Station bowling centre. Total of 544 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 138 players, where of 12 were women.
After four final steps it came down to a four man elimination format.
The four players were Matyas Mnacko, Ondrej Trojek and Lukas Jelinek all from the Czech Republic and Luukas Väänänen from Finland.
After the first game, Mnacko was eliminated with the lowest score of 178.
After the second game it was Trojek that was eliminated with the lowest score of 177.
Then it came down to the exciting final game between Jelinek and Väänänen, both players started with the front 8 strikes but then Jelinek made the first mistake only managing a 7 spare in the 9th frame, however he managed to strike out in the 10th frame to finish with 277.
That put Väänänen in the lead going into the final frame where he only needed a 9 spare and 9 to win his first title.
He managed to get 9 spare but then threw a bad shot and only managed to get 7 meaning that Lukas Jelinek from the Czech Republic was the winner! This was his second title on the European Tour after his win in the French Open last year.
The winner of the women‘s ranking was Sarah Gamal from Egypt, who finished in 9th place.
The complete ranking after the 13th tournament of this year’s tour can be seen here: Women | Men
Dear friends,
It is my sad duty to inform you that ESBC President Lia Fievet from The Netherlands has passed away yesterday.
Lia was a good friend to many bowlers all around Europe and the World. She served the ESBC Organization as Secretary from 2007 till 2017 and as President since 2017.
Our thoughts and feelings are with her husband Frans. We will always honour Lias memory.
On behalf of the ESBC Presidium.
Florian Fister
Secretary
European Senior Bowlers Committee
The Norwegian Open 2024 by Storm was once again held in Hønefoss, Norway from the 6th of September until the 15th of September 2024 in Hønefoss Bowlingsenter. Total of 462 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 188 players, where of 40 were women.
After five final steps it came down to a five player stepladder finals.
In the first game Teodor Samuelsson from Sweden played against Noel Haglund from Sweden, Samuelsson was the winner with the score of 255 to Haglund‘s 194.
In the second game Samuelsson played against Viktor Brentebråten Mortensen from Norway, this time Mortensen was the winner with the score of 255 to Samuelsson‘s 191.
In the third game Mortensen played against Niko Oksanen from Finland, again the higher seed was the winner with the game coming down to the last frame, Oksanen scored 223 to Mortensen‘s 219.
In the final game it was between Niko Oksanen and Mathias Danielsen Otting from Norway and again we had the game decided in the 10th and last frame with Niko Oksanen needing a spare to win. He spared and then struck to finish with a 225 to Otting‘s 214.
This was Oksanen‘s first ever win on the European Tour! Congratulations Niko!
Nora Johansson, Sweden was the winner of the women‘s ranking finishing in 11th place in the tournament.
The complete ranking after the 12th tournament of this year’s tour can be seen here: Women | Men
The International Hammer Challenge 2024 was again held in Helsinki, Finland from the 30th of August until the 8th of September 2024 in the magnificent Tali Bowling Centre. Total of 690 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament of the tournament by 302 players, where of 79 were women.
After five final steps it came down to two players and once again during this year’s European Tour it was clear that a new winner would be announced. In the final it was Rami Mukkula from Finland against his fellow countryman, Jouni Helminen.
In the end Mukkula was the winner with the score of 249 to Helminen’s 213. Congratulations Rami with your first title!
The winner of the women’s ranking was Sanna Oksanen, Finland, who finished in 5th place.
The complete ranking after the 9th tournament of this year’s tour can be seen here: Women | Men