Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2010 will be bowled in festive feelings in January 2.10.2010. The tournament will take place for the 40th time and it will be the first EBT Platinum Tournament. To celebrate the occasion Kimmo Lehtonen is giving out 105.000 Euros.

The Ballmaster Open is something new, but is also returning to its roots. The prize sum, the first prize and also the prize for the last finalist is bigger than ever. On the other hand the format returns to the good old round robin, which was unique in Finland in those days.

A lot of water has passed in the river Vantaa since the times when Ballmaster Tournament was introduced in Finland in the Urheilutalo bowling centre. Timo Suviranta, the “father” of the tournament has long since passed away, but the BM spirit is alive and well. Erkki Lariola was working alongside with Timo to build the tournament. He is still active bowler and will most likely celebrate the 40th anniversary tournament with us.

The format and prize fund is OK and the reservation system is open. There have been some expectations about the return of the old round robin and now they came true. Kimmo Lehtonen and the Ballmaster Open team look forward to the tournament confidently.
“I wish the tournament will gather as many different level bowlers from around Finland, Europe and the World as possible. In Ballmaster Open the feeling always comes through our old and new visitors. The spirit of Tali is always there, but bowling personalities and meeting old friends give it the finishing touch”, Kimmo Lehtonen mentions.

Some sort of history is also the format returning to the “old times”: there will be 16 player round robin and stepladder final. 48 qualifiers start with eight game squad, after which the top 16 continue with the round robin. Best four bowlers will play the stepladder final where the fourth seed will meet the third, the winner meets second and the winner again the top seed.

”I think round robin is a good way to bowl and with that it is great to return to the roots of the tournament. I believe it brings some change to the routine tournament play for the bowlers, because not even here in Finland do we play it very often. It is nice to wait for the coming tournament. Even if it is only May 2009, the time flies so fast and soon we are near to the celebration”, Kimmo ponders.
“After this year tournament we got feedback from the senior bowlers, who wanted their own squad, as the youth has. Now it comes, I hope the seniors will answer their challenge, Kimmo grins.

We will get the exact rules on our web pages next week. The qualification will be bowled from January 2 to January 9 and the final will be bowled on the 10th.

In the evening of the final there will be a Brunswick Ballmaster Open banquet, where all the participants are welcome for free, all others can join the fun with 30 € entry fee.

The tournament will start with already traditional youth squad. The squad at January 2 at 11 AM ic only for bowlers under 24 years with a 110 € entry fee. All bowlers who have not turned 24 before January 2 are eligible.