Tomas Leandersson estimates that he has participated around 25 times in AIK Tournament at Bowl-O-Rama, Stockholm. The traditional and popular event celebrated its 30th anniversary with the finals on January 6 and for the first time it was Leandersson who walked away with the winner´s trophy.

It was about time. The Swedish standout missed by close margin last year when he was runner-up to Mattias Olsson and fell in the semifinal two years ago to Pergamon team mate Martin Larsen.

“This time I found the strike pocket immediately in the step ladder. That is what it is all about in a step ladder format, to quickly find your game on both lanes”, said Tomas after defeating his eternal rival, Norwegian star Tore Torgersen, in the final match.

During the earlier stages of the final day it looked as if it was going to become an all-Pergamon affair. Before the last game of the quarterfinal, top 4 consisted of Torgersen, Leandersson, Martin Larsen and Robert Andersson. However, in the 12th and last game, Larsen and Andersson struggled and were narrowly defeated by Ivan Ljungholm and Gärda Lind.

In the stepladder Lind, the best woman of the tournament, defeated Ljungholm 232-198. Next, Leandersson safely cruised to victory against Lind, 235-187, to set up the championship match with Torgersen.

While Tomas hit the pocket with almost all of his shots, Tore Torgersen never found the striking touch which had given him the first seed position earlier in the day. Leandersson lead by 32 pins in the fifth frame and controlled the game after that. He won it by 215-193.

For the first time on the Super Six Tour a new lane pattern was introduced, namely the WTBA medium pattern Montreal. According to Super Six officials the tour intends to use WTBA lane patterns on all stops in 2010.

Photo credit: Jonas Brändström/Swebowl

Report by Hans Karlsson, Press officer, Swedish Bowling Federation

Helén Johnsson made history as she defeated Tore Torgersen 255-204 in the title match of this year´s last stop of the Swedish Super Six Tour at the Baltic Bowling Center in Malmö. It was Helén´s second Super Six victory thus making her the first woman to win twice on the tour, her first triumph being in Vårby in April 2008.

“I consider this one of my biggest wins, especially considering the tough lane conditions in the tournament”, said Helén.

It was one of the lowest scoring tournaments ever on the Super Six Tour which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The first tournament was played in August in 1999. The PBA lane pattern Chameleon was a demanding test for the 265 participants, and to reach top 30 (finalists) was needed only 1252 (208,7 average).

After 12 games of the final day, the four step ladder finalists were Tore Torgersen, Dennis Eklund, Rebecka Larsen Jr and Helén Johnsson. Helén started at the bottom of the step ladder as number four and advanced all the way to the top. “Sometimes it is an advantage as you warm up and get used to the lanes”, said Helén.

She started out by defeating Rebecka Larsen 213-199, continued by narrowly overcoming Dennis Eklund 179-176 to set up the title match against top seeded Tore Torgersen. “I didn´t play well against Dennis Eklund and then decided to change for a ball with a duller surface. It was a good decision”, said Helén, who opened the final match with a six-bagger and never looked back. “My confidence grew with each strike”, she said.

Torgersen struggled from early on, leaving the 2-8-10 split in the second frame, and had to settle for second place. It was his third top 4 finish during 2009, earlier claiming fourth and third place finishes.

The Super Six finals of 2009 will be played on January 6, in connection with the first stop of the 2010 tour, AIK International in Stockholm.

According to the 2009 tour ranking, the following six players are qualified for the Super Star final: Tomas Leandersson, Martin Larsen, Dennis Eklund, Tore Torgersen, Helén Johnsson and Raymond Jansson.

The six finalists for the final of the VBS Ladies Tour are Helén Johnsson, Gärda Lind, Malin Glendert, Nina Flack, Victoria Johansson and Rebecka Larsen Jr.

Text and photo by Hans Karlsson

Martin Paulsson, Kulladal, won the Nyköping Super Six after final victory against Mattias Olsson, Joker. Martin did a terrific steady contest and showed that he was also the best in the moment of truth with a whole 269 of the final round.

Outstanding into the very final

Martin instantly took command with five strikes in frame 2-6. He were ahead with 40 points in the fifth frame and he never let Mattias into the game.

- I got a good start and was very self-confident thanks to my results earlier in the competition, Martin Paulsson explains.

Martin plowed on and won the final with a clear 269 points against 217 and a seldom seen well-deserved victory i a Super Six tour stop.

Text and Photo by Jonas Brändström

After the first two final rounds of the Jönköping Super Six, World Cup medalists Helen Johnsson, Spader Dam, Helsingborg, and Norwegian Tore Torgersen, Pergamon, was in a league of their own. But after the last step final, Martin Flash, Göta also from Helsingborg and a World Championship medalist, received the victory trophy.

The final serie against Helen Johnsson, who won the Sunday's first two final rounds, became unbearably exciting for the audience. The match was settled in the tenth and final frame, where Martin eventually won with 214 to 209.

- It was exciting to play, too. But I did not think of it during the play, I focused on my own game, said Martin Blixt, who made a brilliant clearance of the contest.He went to the step finals as the fourth and last man after a tough battle with Mikael Roos, Joker.

Text and photo by Olle Assarsson

Jason Belmonte´s hot streak continued as the Australian two-hander won Örgryte International in Gothenburg, the third stop on the Swedish Super Six Tour.

- Finally I could win in Super Six. I have lost twice in semifinals before, but now they changed it to a stepladder final and I only needed one match, said Jason Belmonte.

It was a high-scoring tournament and Belmonte had to push himself to the limits to take the number 1 seed for the stepladder. He finished with 269 for a total of 2877 over 12 games, an average of 239,9. He narrowly defeated 2nd seed Tomas Leandersson at 2866 and 3rd seed Tobias Karlsson with 2856.

The fourth place to the stepladder went to 19-year-old Linus Carle, who withstood a late challenge by Martin Larsen. Martin had to settle for fifth place.

In the stepladder the three Swedish players struggled and were never close to their earlier performances. Tobias Karlsson defeated Linus Carle 192-189 and continued by winning against Tomas Leandersson 184-160.

In the championship match Karlsson continued to struggle and Jason Belmonte secured his victory when he put together three strikes in frames 6, 7 and 8.

The Super Six Tour continues its attraction and this time 269 players made altogether 480 entries. Next stop will be in Jönköping on September 20 through 27.

All results are available at http://supersix2009.strike-co.se/dynamic/start.asp

Text and Photo by Hans Karlsson

20-year-old Jim Lindstrand from Perstorp slammed and won Djurgårdens Inter Nordic in Vårby, beating Peter Sainio, Hammarby, with 201-177 in the Finals.

The young Scanian has to be considered the most surprising winner in the 10-year old history of Super Six. His track record includes some gains in the Junior Masters and a JSM-gold in the 4 man tream but not much more.

- I had played six Super Six races before, but never managed to move from the qualification, says Jim after the unexpected triumph.

This time he only needed one attempt, with a score of 1374 in the Early Bird start last weekend, he could calmly wait for Sunday's Finals.

Text and photo by Jonas Brändström

Mattias Olsson, BK Joker, surprisingly won the AIK International Tournament, the first tour stop in the 2009 Supersixxxxxx. The 25-year-old lefty player impressed with the excellent series suite 248, 249 and 214 in step finals where he defeated his much more experienced opponent.

Mattias started at the bottom of the ladder as number four. He managed to get to the step finals with a cry of distress with a single pin ahead of Peter Ljung, Team Pergamon.

- I played very well until the final series where my game stagnated slightly. I needed to get a strike and a spare in the last frame to keep away explains a satisfied Mattias Olsson.

First out of the ladder to feel the strength of Mattias was Martin Paulsson, Kulla Dals BS. Martin, who recently won the Malmö Supersix didn't have a chance and was defeated by 248-211.

The second match against Finlands Jussi Turtiainen was the toughest, but Mattias got the best of it again and won by 249-243.

In the final, it was time for Mattias to face the dominant player of the competition so far - national team captain Tomas Leandersson, Team Pergamon. The considerable less experienced player proved once more to have the best nerves of steel and won by 214-199.

- I felt pretty calm during the step finals. I only felt a little nervous in the second match as Jussi finished off strong, explains Mattias Olsson, whose major objective is take an ordinary place in the national team.

Immediately after AIK Supersixxxxxx, the super finals of Supersixxxxxxx 2008 and VBS Ladies Tour was settled. The Finnish international renowned player Osku Palermaa, Team Pergamon, became the Superstar of 2008. For the second year in a row the winner of VBS Ladies Tour was Malin Glendert, Spades Dam.