Valgeir Gudbjartsson
Attached to this news you will find information about how EBF is intenting to handle the Bowling Ball Hardness tests at the EWC2026 in Odense that will start on the 10 June
Statement from the European Bowling Federation (EBF)
Regarding IBF Urethane Bowling Ball Regulation
Further to the recent announcement by the International Bowling Federation (IBF) concerning urethane bowling ball specifications, the European Bowling Federation (EBF) wishes to inform all Member Federations, athletes, coaches, and stakeholders of the following:
The IBF has ruled that, effective immediately for IBF events, only urethane bowling balls manufactured with a minimum hardness of 78D and approved by USBC are permitted. Random hardness checks may be conducted during IBF competitions, and any ball measuring below 72D will be declared non-compliant and removed from competition.
In alignment with this regulation, the EBF confirms that this rule will apply to all European Championships conducted under EBF authority after the European Youth Championships 2026 in Berlin, Germany.
Accordingly, the new urethane ball hardness requirement will come into effect for EBF European Championships starting from 6 April 2026.
The EBF will also conduct random hardness checks during its European Championships. Any ball found to be below the permitted hardness level will be declared non-compliant and removed from competition.
All Member Federations are requested to inform their athletes accordingly and ensure full compliance ahead of future championships.
The official USBC list of non-eligible bowling balls is available here: USBC National Tournament Ineligible Ball List – 78D Slow Oil Only.
Upcoming Procedures and Recommendations
Complete testing procedures and rules will be published soon.
The EBF recommends that all Member Federations and athletes study these upcoming procedures and rules to ensure compliance and avoid disqualifications at future events.
EBT Tour 2026
No changes will apply to the ongoing EBT Tour for 2026. All current events will continue under the existing rules and equipment regulations. This means that athletes participating in the 2026 tour are not required to make any immediate adjustments to their bowling balls or equipment.
Regarding Russian and Belarusian Youth Athletes
The European Bowling Federation (EBF) confirms that it will follow the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Bowling Federation (IBF) regarding youth athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports.
Accordingly, these athletes will be permitted to participate in EBF and IBF youth events, provided their national federation is in good standing and all standard IBF protocols and regulations are followed.
The biggest tournament in Europe, Ballmaster Open was held from the 2nd of January until the 11th of January 2026 in the magnificint Tali Bowling Centre in Helsinki, Finland.
Total of 1128 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 485 players, where of 88 were women.
The score to make the cut to final step 1 was 1390, or 231,67 average.
After three final steps it came down to two semi final matches where all the players were from Finland.
In the first match Santtu Tahvanainen won over Jarno Lahti, who was last year‘s winner with the score of 222 to Lahti‘s 202. Then in the second match Rami Mukkula won over Linus Boström with the score of 216 to Boström‘s 211.
In the final match, Santtu took an early lead with Mukkula struggling to hit the pocket and keep up with Santtu. In the end Santtu proved to be too hard to beat and he became the winner with the score of 204 to Mukkula‘s 170.
This was Santtu Tahvanainen‘s first win on the EBT Tour and he grabbed the top prize of 10,000 euros.
The winner of the women‘s ranking in Finland was Elissa Mehmet, Sweden who was close to making the top 16 but finished eventually in 18th place.
The 2025 International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Seniors & Grand Seniors Championships wrapped up at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, celebrating an exciting week of world-class bowling. Athletes from 37 nations competed in spirited fashion across all events, with European bowlers delivering outstanding performances and securing numerous medals in both the Senior and Grand Senior divisions.
While Team USA led the overall medal tally, Europe demonstrated remarkable consistency and depth, earning podium finishes across nearly every category and reaffirming its strong presence on the global stage.
Senior Division – European Success Stories
Europe made a powerful impression in the Senior Division, with several countries capturing gold and multiple podiums.
- Germany emerged as one of the standout nations:
- Manuela Oing claimed Gold in Women’s Singles as well as Michaela Gobel-Jancka secured Bronze.
- Bodo Konieczny and Michael Kramer took Gold in Men’s Doubles.
- Team Germany added a Bronze in both the Men’s Team event and Women´s Team event as well as another Bronze in the Women’s Doubles by Martina Beckel and Michaela Gobel-Janka.
- Martina Beckel finaly claimed the Bronze in Women´s Masters.
- Italy also delivered an exceptional showing:
- Maurizio Celli and Marco Reviglio earned Silver in Men’s Doubles.
- Maurizio Celli went on to claim Bronze in the Men’s All-Events category.
- Alessandra Morra secured Silver in the Women´s Master.
- Belgium’s legendary Gery Verbruggen captured Bronze in Men’s Singles, while the Belgian men’s team joined Germany on the Men´s Team Bronze podium.
- Netherlands secured Silver in Men´s Teams competition.
- Finland continued its strong bowling tradition with Reija Lunden and Jaana Taavitsainen bringing home Bronze in Women’s Doubles.
Grand Senior Division – European Veterans Dominate
Europe’s Grand Seniors showcased their skill and experience with medal-winning performances across all disciplines:
- England led the European charge with multiple golds:
- Gary Baker and Kim Johnson won Men’s Doubles Gold, and
- Angie Brown and Diane Johnson secured Women’s Doubles Gold.
- Gary Baker won the Men´s All Event Bronze and
- Kim Johnson claimed the Men´s Silver in the Men´s Masters
- Angie Brown also claimed Women’s Masters Gold and Women’s All-Events Bronze, highlighting an extraordinary championship performance.
- France continued its rich tradition in senior bowling:
- Jacqueline Faure struck Gold in Women’s Singles, as well as Pepita Jacques added Bronze
- Yvan Augustin and Serge Frouvelle secured silver in Men´s Doubles.
- Team France earned Silver in the Women’s Team event
- Jacquelin Faure also claimed the Women´s all Events Silver
- Pepita Jacques finaly secured Women´s Masters Bronze.
- Germany’s Peter Knopp collected Silver in Men’s Singles, added another Bronze in Men’s Doubles together with Ralf Graewe and finally had Bronze in Men´s Masters.
- Czech Republic captured a notable Bronze in the Women’s Team event, while Iceland proudly joined them for Bronze in the Women´s Team. — a historic achievement for both nations.
A European Bowling Powerhouse
From Germany’s gold-medal runs to France’s elegant consistency and England’s veteran mastery, European bowlers reaffirmed their elite standing in the international arena. Their achievements underscore Europe’s ongoing commitment to developing excellence and fostering the sport across all age categories.
The Norwegian Open 2025 by Storm was held from the 22nd of August until the 7th of September 2025 in Lucky Bowl Veitvet in Oslo, Norway.
Total of 435 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 170 players, where of 42 were women.
After four final steps it came down to a four player stepladder final.
In the first match, Christer Aker from Norway won over William Svensson from Sweden with the score of 258 to Svensson‘s 205.
In the second match, Aker was defeated by Nora Johansson from Sweden with the score of 184 to Johansson‘s 194 (186+8).
In the final match it was Johansson against Carl Eklund from Sweden as well. There it was Johansson that came out on top with the score of 229 (221+8) to Eklund‘s 191.
This is Johansson‘s first win on the tour! Congratulations Nora!
The complete ranking after Norwegian Open can be seen here: Women | Men
The Odense International 2025 was held from the 16th of August until the 24th of August 2025 in Odense Bowling Centre in Odense, Denmark.
Total of 342 entries and re-entries were bowled during the duration of the tournament by 169 players, where of 50 were women.
After three final steps and three games in final step four it came down to a final game between two players, Mathias Ankerdal from Denmark and Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen also from Denmark.
Ankerdal had total control of the final and had a great game with the score of 237, Sofie only managed 187 and unfortunately finished in 2nd place. Congratulations Mathias!
This was his 3rd win on the European Tour.
The complete ranking after Odense International can be seen here: Women | Men
We would like to inform that the EBF´s collaboration with BBBS, under the leadership of Mr. Bill Hartofillis, has officially concluded due to administrative considerations.
This partnership ended on good terms, and we sincerely thank Mr. Hartofillis and the BBBS team for their valuable contributions and support throughout our time working together.
Looking ahead, EBF is actively seeking new partnerships with companies interested in collaborating on apparel and related projects. We welcome inquiries from organizations that would like to support European bowling by producing high-quality clothing and merchandise featuring the EBF logo and other creative designs.
If your organization is interested in exploring a partnership, please contact EBF Vice President Mr. Marios Nicolaides at mn@europeanbowling.sport.
We look forward to building new collaborations that help promote and promote the sport of bowling across Europe.
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