After 10 qualification squads, marking the halfway point of the 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open, 20-year-old Luukas Väänänen surged to the top of the leaderboard with a stunning 1566 6-game total. The day was also marked by outstanding five perfect 300 games.
Väänänen opened the Squad 9 with a 279, narrowly missing perfection after a 10-pin decided to remain standing in the third frame. Another 279 followed in game three, with the same pin 10th pin denied him a perfect game in the 10th frame. The breakthrough finally came in game five, where Väänänen delivered 12 strikes, earning the event’s fourth 300 game.
Earlier in game four, Finland’s Juho Rissanen claimed the tournament's third perfect game.
In the final sixth game, Väänänen scored 223, securing the top spot with an impressive 1566 series.
After the game, Väänänen, who had just returned from the Motiv AIK International Tournament in Sweden, where he won the B-finals, shared that he played the entire set with the same ball and made timely lane adjustments that allowed him to maintain his striking pace.
As if two perfect games in the morning weren't enough, the evening Squad 10 delivered three more. Irish bowler Taylor Forde Williams opened with the third 300 game of the day, quickly followed by Finland’s Patrik Päiviö, who delivered the fourth. Last year’s champion and defending titleholder, Jesse Kallio, added the seventh perfect game of the tournament in game four.
Kallio finished with a strong 1505 series, winning the squad and placing himself in the top five of the overall qualification standings.
Kallio, who bowled in both squads 9 and 10, shared that his carry wasn’t ideal during the first one. For the second squad, he adjusted by opening up the surface, which significantly improved his carry. He also mentioned that he’s aiming for a second victory but has decided not to participate in any more qualification squads.
Current Leaders of the 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open:
Luukas Väänänen, 1566 total
Joonas Jähi, 1540 total
Markus Lahti, 1523 total
Jesse Kallio, 1505 total
Niko Oksanen, 1476 total
On Wednesday, only one squad is scheduled, starting at 9 PM. 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. Don't forget to follow Ballmaster Open Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as to subscribe their YouTube channel.
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