Melvin Ocando, Spain, claimed his second gold medal after winning in All Events at the 11th Mediterranean Challenge Cup in Crete, Greece, when he defeated three opponents, all matches two-games-to-one, to win the men's Masters competition. In the title match against Maurizio Celli, Italy, Ocando won the decider, 203-163. On the women's side,
Marie Gauton, France, the No. 5 seed, eliminated her team mate Elise Bretteville, both won gold in doubles, then ousted No. 1 seed Sue Abela, Malta, and topped Daniela Pialino, Italy, 2-0 in the title match.
In the first quarterfinal match in the 11th World Tenpin Masters, Guy Caminsky (l.) reached the semi-final of a major tournament for the first time in his career. The South African, who has competed in the Masters on six previous occasions, had never advanced past the quarterfinals.However, he ended that record as he gained a 449-428 victory over James Tidd, England. The the last two matches of Round 1, Kirsten Penny became the fifth bowler from England to qualify for the quarterfinals as she defeated Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang 504-480. PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes, the 2006 Masters Champion, elimnated Or Aviram, Israel, 449-405. 
England's Dominic Barrett and Stuart Williams won their first round matches in the 2008 PartyCasino.com World Tenpin Masters at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday afternoon to keep the hopes for an English winner alive. While Barrett has set up an all-English quarterfinal against Paul Moor, Williams will now meet Osku Palermaa (pictured left), who produced the best performance of the tournament so far in his opening round. In a match between two former World Cup champions, the Finn cruised to a 516-461 victory over Michael Schmidt, Canada.
Trailing France by one pin heading into the final game Turkey with Habib Dogan, Mithat Siveliol, Ebru Ozogluuntur and Gulhan Aksular (pictured) rolled a huge 874 game en route to claim the gold medal in the team event at the 11th Mediterranean Challenge Cup with 4808 six game total. France earned silver with 4771 while Cyprus secured the bronze medal with 4728. Sue Abela, Malta and Melvin Ocando, Spain won the titles in women's and men's All Events. 
The 11th World Tenpin Masters currently underway at Barnsley Metrodome in England lost one of its biggest attractions Friday when debutant James Tidd (left), England, caused the first major upset of the 2008 event as he sent defending champion Jason Belmonte tumbling out of the competition in the opening game. In the other matches on Friday, South African Guy Caminsky sidelined Dutch Ghislaine van der Tol and England's Paul Moor defeated Alex Liew, Malaysia. 
Peter Ljung, Sweden and defending women's ranking champion Kirsten Penny, England, have positioned themselves atop the men's and women's European Bowling Tour rankings after one-third of the season. Ljung (r.), who won the title in Paris and finished second yesterday in Istanbul, the 6th of 18 events, overtook fellow countryman Martin Larsen, 267-234 points. Penny (l.) finished fourth in the women's rankings in Istanbul to move up two spots with 246 points. 
Lasse Lintilä (l.), Finland, denied Peter Ljung's bid for back-to-back European Bowling Tour titles when he defeated the Brunswick Euro Challenge winner (r.), 268-228, in the title match of the 5th Istanbul Bowling Open. In his semi-final match against Ljung's compatriot Dennis Eklund, both Sweden, Lintilä almost rolled the seventh perfecto of the tournament when he flew past the No. 1 seed, 298-225. In the other semi-final, Ljung ousted Stuart Williams, England, 268-226. 
Swedish national team member Helén Johnsson won her first career Super Six title in the Swedish Super Six Series when she defeated fellow countryman Christer Eklund in the title match of the Djurgardens Internordiska, 202-199. Johnsson received 40 000 SEK for accomplishing the feat (app. $6,700). "It was nice to win since I have reached the semi-finals twice before. It also give me a strong inspiration for the upcoming Women's European Championships", said the reigning European Masters Champion.
The 5th Brunswick Euro Challenge was the fifth stop on the 2008 European Bowling Tour and one of the Tour's "majors". The BEC offered total prize fund of 90,000 Euro. 405 players from 36 countries battled it out for the 16.000 Euro top prize. The 2008 Brunswick Euro Challenge sponsored by Brunswick Bowling was organized by Brunswick distributor Valcke Bowling. For those, who were unable to stream our high definition video of the title match between Peter Ljung, Sweden and Mike Fagan, United States, we have uploaded a low band version
Valérie Cornuz (Assens/VD) and Jean-Louis Grolhier (Lausanne/VD) claimed the women's and men's Division A titles in the 2008 Swiss National Championships at bowling center BeSeCo in Rümikon, Switzerland. Cornuz und men's runner-up Mathieu Bergès will represent Switzerland in the European Champions Cup (ECC) from Oct. 20-26, 2008 at Achim Grabowski's Treff Bowling in Duisburg, Germany. Grolhier is not eligible as he is not a Swiss citizen. 
Swedish national team member Peter Ljung defeated three great bowlers on his way to the title in the €90.000 Brunswick Euro Challenge at Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France. In the title match, Ljung, seeded fourth, defeated No. 1 seed, PBA champion Mike Fagan, 220-187, to win the fifth stop of the 2008 European Bowling Tour and the 16.000 Euro top prize. Missy Bellinder, United States, was the best of 94 women in 10th place overall to receive 1.280 € plus a 1.300 € bonus for the top woman. 
Stephanie Huijden defeated five opponents including defending champion Bianca Wiekeraad, both Netherlands, and the top 3 from All Events en route to claim the Girls Masters title in 21st European Youth Championships. In the title match, Huijden topped No. 3 seed, Emma Sandblom, Sweden, 221-212 in the deciding game, for a two-games-to-one victory. In the boys title match, No. 11 Perttu Jussila, Finland swept No. 2 Arturs Levikins, Latvia, who rolled a perfect game in Round Two, 2-0. After a 209-177 in game #1, Jussila cruised to the title with a 279-254 strike fest.
The Dutch "Meisjes" girls Bianca Wiekeraad, Ilona De Kuijer, Chantal Jacobs, Stephanie Huijden and Carmen Haandrikman defended the team title at the 21st European Youth Championships with 6288 six-game total and an average of 209.60. England (6130) was second and Sweden (6104) third. Carmen Haandrikman felled 3978 pins over 18 games (Doubles, Trios and Team) to win the gold medal in All Events with a 221 average. Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, took the silver medal with 3886, while Emma Sandblom beat out Joline Planefors Persson, both Sweden, fort he bronze due to the higher last game after both tied at 3850. Not a very sportsman-like rule from the ETBF, especially in youth bowling.
Joline Planefors Persson, Sandra Andersson and Emma Sandblom came from behind to win the gold medal in the Girl's Trios event in the 21st European Youth Championships. The Swedes, who started the second 3-game block on Thursday in fourth place, 113 pins off the pace for the gold medal, tossed games of 650, 631 and 689 (1970) to win the title with 3883 six-game total, an average of 215.72. Dutch Bianca Wiekeraad, Ilona De Kuijer and Stephanie Huijden earned silver with 3774, while Israel with Roni Aharonovich, Mor Dayan and Liat Vizenfeld took bronze with 3728. 
The 5th Brunswick Euro Challenge was the fifth stop on the 2008 European Bowling Tour and one of the Tour's "majors". The BEC offered total prize fund of 90,000 Euro. 405 players from 36 countries battled it out for the 16.000 Euro top prize. The 2008 Brunswick Euro Challenge sponsored by Brunswick Bowling was organized by Brunswick distributor Valcke Bowling. To watch our video of the opening match between No. 4 seed Peter Ljung, Sweden and defending champion and No. 3 seed Osku Palermaa, Finland
Teams from Denmark and Sweden hold a comfortable lead in the Boys Trios event after three of six games in the 21st European Youth Championships in Finland. L-R Danes Kasper Walther, Thomas Larsen and Anders Lousdal led the way with 2036 pinfall total, an average of 226.22. Doubles champion Joachim Karlsson and Kristoffer Hagelberg teamed with Johan Helldén to sit in second place with 2013 (223.67). Jord van Weeren, Xandel van Mazijk and Santino Jas, Netherlands, are a distant third with 1932. 