Team USA got the better of the afternoon session as they won it 4-2 to open up a two point lead over their European counterparts as the 2007 PartyPoker.com Weber Cup continued on Saturday afternoon.

The European pair of Moor and Torgersen got their side off to the best possible start before Chris Barnes narrowly defeated Oscar Palermaa to signal an undefeated run of four games for the Americans.

They looked set to increase their lead to four points before Tommy Jones (pictured) uncharacteristically failed to strike out to claim the point in the Baker game.

There are six more matches through Saturday evening.


The team European pairing of Paul Moor and Tore Torgersen took the opening game of the Saturday afternoon session as they made the most of a couple of American errors to build a good lead and then held off a late charge from the US duo of Doug Kent and Bill Hoffman.

With the overall score tied up at three points each, a good start was crucial for both sides but Kent disastrously missed the ten pin in the third frame to leave it open which put his side at am immediate disadvantage.

Then Hoffman left his colleague a very tough four pin split which despite his best endeavours, he could not complete.

With the Europeans continuing to strike, it left the Americans an uphill struggle. They closed the match with five consecutive strikes but Moor and Torgersen had too much in the bank to let the victory escape them.

"The two open frames really settled us down," said Paul Moor after the match. "We kept the pressure on with four strikes and although they came back at us, we held on."


America's Chris Barnes put his side on an even keel following a hard-fought encounter with Osku Palermaa of Finland. 12 points was the winning margin but it could have gone either way.

It was close throughout - both bowlers started out with strikes and spares but Barnes just had the edge and was ten pins ahead after five frames.

Taking place at the Metrodome in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup features two five-man teams from Europe and America doing battle in a series of singles and doubles matches – all live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Barnes maintained his ten pin lead into the eighth frame before increasing in the next as he struck and Palermaa spared.

The American held on to close out the game but it was a close run thing.


It took eight frames for the first strike to materialize in the second doubles match of the afternoon session at the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup between Tim Mack and Tommy Jones (USA) and Mika Koivuniemi and Tomas Leandersson of Europe.

When all ten pins finally scattered it was the American pairs cue to step up the pace as they delivered five strikes in a row to put some space between themselves and their European opponents.

Koivuniemi and Leandersson's hopes were derailed in the eight frame as they left a 3, 6, 7, 10 split and the spare attempt left two pins standing. It was something they could not recover from as Team USA went on to win by 19 pins.

"It's nice to be in the lead," said Mack. "This is the first time we've had the lead all tournament and it feels good.

"The lane has been done a little bit differently today so the guys are finding out what balls to use and how to attack it.

"Myself and Tommy hit some strikes together and it was a great result. I feel really good. Now we have Doug out against Mika and we feel comfortable but there's a long way to go - this is just one step closer to 17.

"The person that makes the changes the quickest and best will have the advantage."


In a match of fluctuating fortunes Doug Kent stole the point for Team USA as he nipped past Mika Koivuniemi at the last two take their Weber Cup contest by a four pin margin.

The win gives Team USA a two point winning margin as they lead 6 – 4 in the first to 17 point tournament.

It could all have been so different for the Europeans as the lanky Koivuniemi overcame a 29 pin deficit after four frames and then a 17 pin deficit after eight.

That was soon reduced to just six pins but the Finn could only finish with a 9 spare and a 7 as Kent did just enough at the close to hang on for the win.

"It was a tense game and bowling against Mika you know it's going to be a great match," said Kent.

"It's important to get off to a good start and I threw pretty well but I gave him the opportunity to throw a double and that let him back in the match.

"I didn't bowl too well in the double so I was just glad that I could contribute and keep this team ahead."


There was more USA joy in the penultimate game of the afternoon as Tommy Jones and Chris Barnes enjoyed a comfortable 48 pin victory over Paul Moor and Osku Palermaa.

That means the Americans lead by three points and with their speciality Baker match to come there could be more bad news for the Europeans.

Jones and Barnes were always on top and a burst of nine consecutive strikes did all the damage as the Euros dropped a few spares among their strikes.

Palermaa and Moor in fact lead after four frames but a 7 spare in the fifth derailed their momentum to leave Team USA to runaway with it.

In Tommy Jones, the Americans have the player of the tournament so far as he has followed up his perfect 300 game yesterday with some flawless play today.


In the final game of the afternoon, Team Europe overturned the form book as they pinched the final point with a four pin win in the Baker format match.

Ironically, it was Tommy Jones who needed to strike out to seal the win for the USA but for once his unerring ability to strike deserted him.

That gave the Europeans just the boost they needed as they reduced the deficit to just two points to end what was a dismal afternoon session on a high.

USA 7 – 5 EUROPE
Hoffman / Kent 215 – 236 Moor / Torgersen
Chris Barnes 239 - 227 Osku Palermaa
Mack / Jones 226 – 207 Leandersson / Koivuniemi
Doug Kent 212 – 208 Mika Koivuniemi
Jones / Barnes 279 – 231 Moor / Palermaa
USA 210 – 214 Europe