Larsen ends 2007 Super Six Series with his first career victory
12/13/07
Swedish national team member Martin Larsen (pictured with the trophy) won his first career title in the Swedish Super Six Series when he defeated 2007 European ranking champion Osku Palermaa, Finland in the title match of the sixth and final tour stop in Malmö, 217-170.
"It was a relief to finally win a Super Six tournament," said the two time team World Champion. "It was also one of my goals for 2007 and it was nice to finish my best year as a bowler with this win”.
Larsen bowls on the Super Six Tour since the very first tournament in Norrtälje in 1999 (winner was Bill Hoffman, United States). Since then some 50 tournaments have taken place. "and I have, probably, only been absent in a handful of them", Larsen added.
It was finally his day in Malmö, where led the field during the final day with a 234 average and entering the TV finals as the No. 1 seed.
In the semifinals (No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3), Larsen flew past Swedish international Magnus Andersson, 226-165, while Palermaa eliminated Swedish national team head coach Tomas Leandersson by the closet possible margin, 235-234.
L-R Palermaa, Larsen, Leandersson and Andersson. Photos Hans Karlsson
Leandersson had the chance to shut out the Finn but a spare in the final frame left the door open for Palermaa. The 2006 World Cup champion needed a double and a 9-count to win the match and that was exactly what he got.
In the championship match Palermaa struggled early on the right lane, leaving the 2-8-10 split twice in the first and in the third frame. Martin Larsen bowled a clean game and put the match away with a turkey in frames 6-8 and cruised to victory.
"I also had a few questionable shots but escaped the open frames this time. It was my day today”, said Larsen.
The Malmö Super Six Tournament has set two new Tour records for the number of participants (287) and for the total number of entries (514).
The top six men and the top six women from the rankings will advance to the Tour Finale to be held on January 6, 2008, in conjunction with the first stop of the 2008 Super Six Series, the AIK International Tournament in Stockholm.
The men's finalists are Larsen, Leandersson, Martin Paulsson, Anders Öhman, Andreas Fagerström and Tobias Karlsson.
The women finalists are Nina Flack, Diana Alfredsson, Åsa Wetterlund, Helén Johnsson, Malin Glendert and Ellinor Heneskär.
Sweden
Baltiska Bowlinghallen in Malmö, Sweden (Dec. 1-9, 2007)
Swedish national team member Martin Larsen (pictured with the trophy) won his first career title in the Swedish Super Six Series when he defeated 2007 European ranking champion Osku Palermaa, Finland in the title match of the sixth and final tour stop in Malmö, 217-170.
"It was a relief to finally win a Super Six tournament," said the two time team World Champion. "It was also one of my goals for 2007 and it was nice to finish my best year as a bowler with this win”.
Larsen bowls on the Super Six Tour since the very first tournament in Norrtälje in 1999 (winner was Bill Hoffman, United States). Since then some 50 tournaments have taken place. "and I have, probably, only been absent in a handful of them", Larsen added.
It was finally his day in Malmö, where led the field during the final day with a 234 average and entering the TV finals as the No. 1 seed.
In the semifinals (No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3), Larsen flew past Swedish international Magnus Andersson, 226-165, while Palermaa eliminated Swedish national team head coach Tomas Leandersson by the closet possible margin, 235-234. L-R Palermaa, Larsen, Leandersson and Andersson. Photos Hans Karlsson
Leandersson had the chance to shut out the Finn but a spare in the final frame left the door open for Palermaa. The 2006 World Cup champion needed a double and a 9-count to win the match and that was exactly what he got.
In the championship match Palermaa struggled early on the right lane, leaving the 2-8-10 split twice in the first and in the third frame. Martin Larsen bowled a clean game and put the match away with a turkey in frames 6-8 and cruised to victory.
"I also had a few questionable shots but escaped the open frames this time. It was my day today”, said Larsen.
The Malmö Super Six Tournament has set two new Tour records for the number of participants (287) and for the total number of entries (514).
The top six men and the top six women from the rankings will advance to the Tour Finale to be held on January 6, 2008, in conjunction with the first stop of the 2008 Super Six Series, the AIK International Tournament in Stockholm.
The men's finalists are Larsen, Leandersson, Martin Paulsson, Anders Öhman, Andreas Fagerström and Tobias Karlsson.
The women finalists are Nina Flack, Diana Alfredsson, Åsa Wetterlund, Helén Johnsson, Malin Glendert and Ellinor Heneskär.
Malmö Super Six
Baltiska Bowlinghallen in Malmö, Sweden (Dec. 1-9, 2007)
Championship Round:
1. Martin Larsen, Sweden, 40 000 SEK
2. Osku Palermaa, Finland, 25 000 SEK
3. Tomas Leandersson, Sweden, 12 000 SEK
3. Magnus Andersson, Sweden, 12 000 SEK
5. Robert Andersson, Sweden, 8 000 SEK
6. Tobias Karlsson, Sweden, 8 000 SEK
7. Fredrik Ohrgaard, Denmark, 8 000 SEK
8. Reine Mälström, Sweden, 8 000 SEK
Playoff Results:
Semi-final Match #1: Larsen def. Andersson, 226-165
Semi-final Match #2: Palermaa def. Leandersson 235-234
Title Match: Larsen def. Palermaa, 217-170.