Team Europe (pictured) stand just three points away from reclaiming the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup as they enjoyed an excellent Sunday afternoon session that saw them win five of the six matches at the Barnsley Metrodome.

With three doubles, two singles and a Baker, the opener saw the Finnish duo of Koivuniemi and Palermaa bowl a 290 game to comfortably win. Tommy Jones, though, kept up his run of good form to level things for the USA.

That would prove to be it for the Americans as first Moor and Torgersen crept past Mack and Hoffman in a low scorer and then Torgersen won the match of the tournament, overcoming Barnes in a strike-fest.

Koivuniemi, who is proving to be one of the strong links for Team Europe, joined forces with Paul Moor to dispose of Tommy Jones and Doug Kent and finally the Baker game went to Europe to cap a memorable afternoon.


Team Europe produced a stunning start to the third day of the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup VIII.

A packed Barnsley Metrodome crowd were in good voice to create a fantastic atmosphere to the competition, which is being screened in the UK and Ireland live on Sky Sports.

The all-Finnish pairing of Osku Palermaa and Mika Koivuniemi produced a near-perfect performance as they recorded a 290-243 triumph over Chris Barnes and Doug Kent.

Europe's opening double scored a nine spare with the first ball of the match but then 11 successive strikes made for a 290 total. The Americans registered two strikes but a spare in the third and then an open frame in the ninth proved the difference.

The hosts had now won each of the first available points from each of the four sessions to regain their lead with the scoreboard now showing 10-9 in Europe's favour.


Team USA got back on level terms as Tommy Jones (South Carolina) won his third straight singles match, this time over European skipper Tomas Leandersson.

A tenth frame disaster for Leandersson allowed Tommy Jones to steal their singles match by a 13-pin margin with a score of 222-209 in a game of fluctuating fortunes.

Jones admitted that he had got lucky to win the point for America. He said: "I didn't bowl very good, I just got fortunate that Tomas didn't strike out in the tenth so he gave me that one.

"I don't know if there was a lot of pressure yet, it's early in the day but we definitely want to win the cup."

Leandersson had got off to a poor start, sparing the first frame and leaving the second open. However, three strikes in succession saw him hanging on to Jones' coat tails, who lead by 16 pins after six frames.

Jones, who has looked in top form throughout this tournament, faltered in the ninth frame, giving Leandersson the opportunity to strike out for an unexpected victory. The Swede though, left a nasty split and could not complete the frame, allowing Jones to square things up for Team USA.


A six pin winning margin was all that was required for Team Europe to regain the overall lead following victory for Paul Moor and Tore Torgersen over Tim Mack and Bill Hoffman.

It was a low scoring albeit entertaining match that could have gone either way at the death. Paul Moor looked to have left a 7/10 split in the final frame that would have scuppered his sides chances but the 7 pin took its time and eventually toppled and Torgersen gleefully flattened the spare.

Earlier, the Americans had left three open frames which at this level over a single game format almost certainly guarantees defeat but Moor and Torgersen failed to cash in.

The US pair finished strongly with five strikes at the end but it was not enough to ensure the win.


In a sensational match at the Barnsley Metrodome, Norway's Striking Viking, Tore Torgersen showed incredible resolve to rattle home eleven consecutive strikes and edge past Chris Barnes to give his team a two point lead at the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup.

Barnes was also on top form and another maximum 300 game, to match Tommy Jones' first day feat, seemed on the cards after eight strikes.

A 9 spare though, in the ninth frame, allowed Torgersen to edge past him and the Norwegian struck out for victory.

Both players came into the match on a freshly oiled lane and it seemed to make all the difference as the two players battled each other strike for strike.

The big Metrodome crowd gave Torgersen a huge boost as they cheered his every move and the place went up when victory was claimed.


Paul Moor and Mika Koivuniemi completed three wins in a row for Team Europe to put the Americans in real trouble as they trailed the PartyPoker.com Weber Cup by 10-13 with just the Baker match to come.

With momentum firmly in their favour, the Europeans recorded three strikes in the first three frames whilst their opponents got off to a stinker with a spare and an open frame. 35 points was the lead and it was to prove conclusive.

In fact Moor and Koivuniemi spared the fourth and ninth frames but other than that it was strikes all round and they increased their lead to 47 as the Americans finished poorly.


In the final game of the Sunday afternoon session, there was more joy for Team Europe as they won their third consecutive Baker game to leave them four points clear of the Americans and three points away from regaining the Weber Cup.

Despite a very poor track record over the years in the team format game, the Europeans have upset the odds three times now and it could not have come at a better time.

Team USA led going into the seventh frame but an 8 spare damaged their hopes. They lost their way rather after that as the Europeans picked up the pace to overtake them and claim victory.

USA 10 – 14 EUROPE
Kent / Barnes 243 – 290 Palermaa / Koivuniemi
Tommy Jones 222 – 209 Tomas Leandersson
Mack / Hoffmann 195 – 201 Moor / Torgersen
Chris Barnes 268 – 290 Tore Torgersen
Jones / Kent 208 – 255 Moor / Koivuniemi
USA 224 – 238 Europe