Reigning PBA Player of the Year, Sean Rash (pictured left) of Montgomery, Ill., USA, defeated Mika Koivuniemi (right), Finland, 234-201, in the title match of the World Bowling Tour's 10th Kuwait International Open 2013 to win the PBA International title and the $25,000 top prize.

Rash claimed the No. 1 seed with a victory against Koivuniemi and defending champion Osku Palermaa (below left), Finland, in the position round match of the modified match play Round of 15. According to the tournament rules, the No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.

Rash struck eight times and took advantage of a big split by Koivuniemi in the 10th frame to seal the victory in the first game. The seeding of the top five players remained unchanged in the stepladder finals.

In the opening match, No. 4 seed Sandra Andersson of Sweden topped No. 5 seed, Ronnie Russell (right), United States, 226-185. Palermaa, seeded third, flew past Andersson in the second match, 279-176.

In the all-Finnish semifinal match, second-seeded Koivuniemi finished with six consecutive strikes to deny Palermaa's bid for back-to-back Kuwait Open titles, 238-228.

Fresh off his victory in the Bahrain Open last weekend, Koivuniemi, who was looking for this 12th PBA title, was consoled with $12,000. Palermaa received $8,000 for third place while Andersson and Russell received $6,000 and $5,000 for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Prior to the open tournament finals, Andersson (left) won the women's stepladder finals against Tannya Roumimper (right), Indonesia, 278-172, to win the $2,800 of the $7,000 women's extra prize fund.

Roumimper rolled the 12th 300 game of the tournament in her 300-209 semifinal win against Andersson's compatriot Joline Persson-Planefors. Roumimper pocketed $1,850 for second place and Persson-Planefors took $1,400 for third place.

The 10th Kuwait International Open 2013 was the sixth event on the World Bowling Tour and ran from March 13-17, 2013 at 16-lane Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. The offered total prize fund of $130,500 U.S. Dollar.

Due to an agreement between the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), the Kuwait International Open awarded a PBA International title, if won by a PBA member.

The top 16 Asian bowlers in the final standings advance to the second leg of the 2013 Asian Bowling Federation Tour on Monday, March 18.

 

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10th Kuwait International Open 2013

Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait (March 13-17, 2013)

Championship Round:
1. Sean Rash, United States, 234 (1 game), $25,000
2. Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 439 82 games), $12,000
3. Osku Palermaa, Finland, 402 (2 games), $8,000
4. Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 507 (2 games), $6,000
5. Ronnie Russell, United States, 185 (1 game), $5,000

L-R Palermaa, Andersson, Koivuniemi, Russell and Rash

Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 4 Andersson def. No. 5 Russell, 226-185
Second Match: No. 3 Palermaa def. Andersson, 279-176
Third Match: No. 2 Koivuniemi def. Palermaa, 238-228
Championship: No. 1 Rash def. Koivuniemi, 234-201.

According to the tournament rules, the No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title. Andersson receives five pins handicap per game.

300 Games (12) - Mansour Al-Awami, Qatar; Tim Mack and Ronnie Russell, United States (Block 1). Mansour Al-Awami, Qatar; Mohammad Ibrahim, Kuwait; and Rickle Kam, Hong Kong (Block 2); Mika Koivuniemi, Finland (Round 4), Sean Rash, United States, Shaker Al-Hassan, UAE, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland (Round 5); Osku Palermaa, Finland (Match Play); Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia (Women's Stepladder).