Swedish bowlers take control of the leaderboard at 6th Sofia International Open

    10/29/15

    Bulgaria

    Mattias Olsson, Daniel Fransson, Pontus Andersson lead a field of 165 bowlers after 16 of 28 qualifying squads

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    2015EBT14MathiasOlsson.jpg2015SofiaOpenChrisSloan.jpgThree Swedish bowlers sit atop leaderboard of the 6th Sofia International Open 2015 after the conclusion of 16 qualifying squads at bowling center Joy Station (pictured above) in Sofia, Bulgaria.

    Mattias Olsson (pictured left) leads the field of 165 players from 21 countries with 1515 and an average of 252.50 for six games. Olsson started his series with 279 and 278 followed by a low game of 201 before he closed out with 244, 258 and 255.

    His compatriots Daniel Fransson and Pontus Andersson were 51 and 52 pins behind in second and third place with 1464 and 1463, respectively.

    Chris Sloan (right), a two-handed player from Ireland, slipped to fourth place with 1447, including high games of 278, 269 and 257. Fifth place belonged to Cheska Tomas, Netherlands, who is the best of 23 women in the field with 1408, including eight pins handicap each game.

    2015SofiaOpenRomeoGagenoiu300.jpg2015MaltaOpenBjornEinarRudshagen.jpgRomeo Gagenoiu (left) of Romania, who had the tournament's first 300 game on the second day of qualifying (Oct. 25), improved his 1372 by 25 pins to move into sixth place with 1397.

    Rounding out the top 8, who will receive two byes at the end of the qualifying, were Gheorghe Nicolae, Romania, and Zoran Banjac, Croatia, with 1389 and 1385, respectively.

    Antonis Bekas is the best Bulgarian bowler in 9th place with 1381 (230.17). Former European champion Bjørn Einar Rudshagen (right) of Norway holds the 44th and last spot to advance to Sunday's finals with 1296 or an average of 216.00.

    Qualifying continues Thursday, Oct. 29, with Squads 17-20 scheduled to start at 10 a.m., 2, 6 and 9.30 p.m. Central European Time (CET).

    2015SofiaOpenLogo.jpg The 6th Sofia International Open 2015, a non-European Bowling Tour event, will be held from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1 at bowling center Joy Station in Sofia, Bulgaria. The tournament offers total prize fund of 55.000 Euro with 7.000 Euro going to the winner and a last-to-cash payout of 350 Euro for 56th place.

    Qualifying of the Sofia Open began Saturday, Oct. 24, and concludes Saturday, Oct. 31 with Squad 28 scheduled to start at 9.30 p.m. CET followed by the one-game Desperado Squad. Women receive 8 pins handicap each game (maximum is 300).

    Total 56 players will advance to the finals on Sunday, Nov 1, including the top 44 qualifiers, the top 6 from the Oct. 24-27 and the top 2 from the Oct. 28-29 leaderboards, and the top 4 of the Desperado Squad. The top 8 qualifiers will earn two byes and qualifiers 9-16 receive a first-round bye.

    The other 40 players will advance to the first of four 4-game rounds (rounds 1-3 starting from scratch). The field will be trimmed to 36, 20, and then 10 players who bowl a final four-game round with the pinfall from Round 3 being carried forward. The top 4 will determine the champion in a stepladder final.

     


    6th Sofia International Open 2015 - Standings after Qualifying Squad 16/28


    Top 44 qualifiers, top 6 from the Oct. 24-27 and top 2 from the Oct. 28-29 leaderboards, and top 4 of the Desperado Squad will advance to Sunday's finals.

    300 games - (1) Romeo Gagenoiu.