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