Andersson/Larsen rise to the top in Vienna Open Doubles

The reigning World Champions in Doubles, Robert Andersson (l.) and Martin Larsen (r.) from Sweden, averaged 234.50 in the eighth qualifying squad in the 4th Vienna Open powered by Columbia 300 to rise to the top of the Doubles competition with 2814 pinfall total. Andersson had 1408 and Larsen added 1406 to move into third and fourth place in Singles.

Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong (left) finished his block with 279 to lead Squad 8 with 1418. With six more squads to go in Vienna, Siu Hong leads the field with 1481 six-game total and an average of 246.83. Andrew Cain, United States, remained in second place with 1438.

Thomas Gross from Austria slipped two spots to fifth place with 1400. Two-time defending European ranking champion Britt Bröndsted (right), Denmark, posted the fourth-highest series and is the best woman in sixth place with 1395 including her 48 pins handicap Rounding out the top 8, who will bypass the first round of the finals, are Bo Winther Pedersen and Pia Burkal, both Denmark, with 1388 and 1384, respectively. Pictures Lars Müller.

The qualifying for the Vienna Open finals is contested as a doubles tournament. All players roll six-game blocks and no finals will be played. A bowler can only cash once with the same partner. Unlimited re-entries with different partners are possible. The winners of the Doubles event will split 1.600 Euro ($2,002). The top 20 doubles cash.

Previous Doubles leaders Andersson/Wu fell one spot to second with 2738 (228.17). Ivonne and Thomas Gross, Austria, sit in third position with 2722 (222.83).

Qualifying continues through Saturday evening and ends with the ultimate 'Desperado Squad'. 68 players from the qualifying will advance to the finals starting on Sunday, October 22 at 8am:
- The eight players with the highest six-game blocks will earn one bye and will be seeded 1-8 in the match play Round of 32.
- Players positioned 9-56 after qualifying,
- the leaders of Squad 1 through 6 not among the top 56,
- and the top 6 from the Desperado Squad.

All but the top 8 qualifiers will bowl 6 games starting from scratch to cut to the top 24. Those 24 will be seeded 9-32 in the play Round of 32.

Match Play Rounds of 32, 16 and 8 are in a best-of-three games format, highest seeded player vs. the lowest seeded player, the second-highest seeded player vs. the second-lowest seeded player, etc.

The semi-finals and the championship match will be decided in one game. The Vienna Open champion will receive the 7.000 Euro top prize (approx. $8,758).

As every year, lane maintenance is done by Kegel, the official lane maintenance partner of the European Tenpin Bowling Federation. 2005 USBC Open Singles and All Events Champion John Janawicz is the Kegel lane man in Vienna for the third consecutive year.