Ville Häggman (27) continued the march forward of the young bowlers in the Ballmaster Open. With the top score of the third squad 1362 he took the third position of the qualification. Matti Knutar (19) and Jesse Lindholm (23) continue as the top duo.

So far the 40th anniversary tournament has advanced in the command of the young, even though old hand bowlers have also been on lanes. Ville Häggman toiled the four first games with ordinary pace 236, 182, 212, 211. A strong spurt with 276 and 245 raised his total to 1362. “It was quite playable; I made a stupid mistake about the ball change in the third and fourth game. I was hitting well, but got no strikes”, Ville Häggman scolded himself.

He found the solution in his ball bag. “For the fifth game I changed into the same ball I started with. I played inside and quite straight line. Don’t ask what break I used, I have no clue”, Ville pondered. Besides of that his idea was lost elsewhere, too. “I am going to play the next squad and get some feel on the lanes. I have to try to make it to the top eight”, Ville said remembering the old final format.

After hearing that the rank made no difference, as long as you make the top 44, Ville laughed. “Maybe I should read the tournament invitation”, he snapped.

He entered the squad anyhow, pursuing perfection. “Now I must go for the 300-game”, said Ville, who entered the 300-eXtra, when people around were laughing to him. “You are like the Finnish cross-country skiers”. Skier Matti Heikkinen said after the World Cup competition that he thought there were only four laps instead of five. These things happen.

- seija lankinen