Weber Cup

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The Weber Cup Logo
The Weber Cup Logo

The Weber Cup, named after bowling legend Dick Weber, is the Ten-pin bowling equivalent of Golf's Ryder Cup. It consists of two teams, Team Europe and Team USA competing over three days in a series of singles, doubles and team (baker) matches.

Contents

[edit] History/Background

The Weber Cup is the annual Europe vs USA ten-pin bowling championships and is broadcast live from start to finish on Sky Sports in the UK and in many other international channels around the world. It takes place in October every year.

For the first 7 events, from 2000 to 2006, 35 matches were played. Each match worth 1 point. The first team to 18 points won the tournament.
In 2007, the tournament has been reduced slightly to 33 matches, again each match is worth 1 point so the first team to 17 will win.

All matches are played in a single lane arena, with banked spectators on both sides, which is specially constructed for the event.

[edit] 2003

In 2003, missing their inspirational captain Tim Mack, and up against some vociferous northern support, Team USA were never in contention as the Europeans went into the lead early on day one and never relinquished it.

After three barren years of total United States domination, Team Europe finally overcame the odds in November 2003 to lift the hallowed Weber Cup for the first time. It was a total triumph for captain Tomas Leandersson, who led from the front for all three days, putting in a sterling performance that saw his side over the line.

[edit] 2004

Following on from Europe’s recent success in golf’s Ryder Cup earlier in the year, it was the tenpin bowlers’ turn as they defeated their American counterparts in what was ultimately a one-sided battle at the Altrincham Leisure Centre.

The final score line of 18–11 was a fair reflection as Team Europe pulled away on the final day after the Americans kept them pinned back to a one point lead at 11–10 after two days of play.

[edit] 2005

In 2005, the Europeans staged a dramatic comeback after falling 14-16 behind. In front of a packed audience and live TV cameras, they won the first 4 singles games in the final session of play and took the title for the 3rd successive year, 18-16. As in the previous year, Team Europe Captain, Tomas Leandersson won the decisive point with a win over Team USAs Tony Manna Jr.

[edit] 2006

In the closest tournament to date, Team USA won on the final evening of the contest, by 18-17.

Team Europe

Team USA

[edit] 2006 results

After the first days play, Team USA led 4-2 and Europe's Paul Moor bowled the first perfect game in the Weber Cup to start the competition against Jason Couch. The only other European win in the first session came from Tomas Leandersson against Chris Barnes. Tommy Jones defeated Mika Koivuniemi, Tim Mack beat Tore Torgersen, Bill Hoffman triumphed over Jens Nickel and the Baker system game was won by Team USA.

After day two Team USA led with what looked like an unassailable 12-6 lead. Europe took the final days first session 5-0 to get back into contention at 11-12, before leading 14-13 going into the final evening session.

Both teams were tied 17-17 going into the final decisive baker system game - at one point Team Europe led by over 30 pins, with Mack and Hoffman failing to strike. The game became close (11 pins) and then in the 9th frame Tore Torgersen left an extremely difficult split. Despite a fantastic attempt one pin remained standing giving Tommy Jones the opportunity to step up and seal the victory for the Americans, and he duly obliged.

[edit] 2007

The 2007 Weber Cup, will take place from October 19th to 21st at the Barnsley Metrodome. USA and Europe teams as follows.

Team Europe
Team Europe

Team Europe (Left to Right)

Team USA
Team USA

Team USA (Left to Right)





With the overall score standing at 4-3 to the Americans, there will be everything to play for following last year’s nail-biting epic which saw the destiny of the trophy decided in the final few frames of the deciding match.

The Europeans are once again skippered by Sweden’s Tomas Leandersson who has opted for a Nordic influenced line-up which includes veteran Tore Torgersen of Norway, PBA star Mika Koivuniemi (Finland) playing in his second Weber Cup and 3-time EBT champion, Paul Moor (England). The new boy on the team is two-handed Finnish star Osku Palermaa, who currently tops the EBT rankings.

For Team USA, Weber Cup stalwart Tim Mack again captains Team USA. He is joined by another Weber Cup veteran, Bill Hoffman and two of the PBA stars who helped secure the trophy last year, as Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones make their second appearances in the competition. The American debutant in October is PBA Player of the Year Doug Kent, the current PBA Denny's World Championship title holder.

[edit] 2007 results

[edit] Day 1, evening session

Paul Moor once again opened for Team Europe, this time against Chris Barnes for Team USA. Moor and Barnes were never matched up in the 2006 tournament, and this was the first time they had gone head-to-head since Barnes beat Moor in the final of the 2006 World Tenpin Masters. Moor avenged this defeat with a comfortable 232-201 victory, to set Team Europe on their way. Barnes missed 2 single pins during the match.
Match 2 saw Mika Koivuniemi up against Team USA Captain Tim Mack. Koivuniemi started with the first 7 strikes, and won 267-240, to put Team Europe 2-0 ahead.
Team Europe debutant Osku Palermaa was able to stretch the lead even further, with a 237-206 win over Weber Cup veteran Bill Hoffman.
Match 4 brought together Tore Torgersen and Team USA's debutant Doug Kent. The match went right to the wire, with Kent edging it 264-258 to gain Team USA's first point.
Tommy Jones was then able to narrow the gap further, rolling only the 2nd ever perfect game in Weber Cup History. Jones opponent, Tomas Leandersson managed just 204, but was able to finish with 4 strikes in a row.
The final match of the session was the team baker game. Historically this has been a strong game for Team USA, and they were able to level the tournament at 3-3, winning the match 234-215, snatching it at the end with Tommy Jones rolling 3 strikes in the 10th frame, taking his total to 16 strikes from a possible 16.

Match no. Match Type Team Europe Score Team USA Progressive Total
1
 Singles Paul Moor 232 - 201 Chris Barnes
1 - 0
2
 Singles Mika Koivuniemi 267 - 240 Tim Mack
2 - 0
3
 Singles Osku Palermaa 237 - 206 Bill Hoffman
3 - 0
4
 Singles Tore Torgersen 258 - 264 Doug Kent
3 - 1
5
 Singles Tomas Leandersson 204 - 300 Tommy Jones
3 - 2
6
 Baker Team Europe 215 - 234 Team USA
3 - 3

[edit] Day 2, afternoon session

The afternoon session was made up of 3 doubles, 2 singles and 1 baker team match to finish. Up first for Team Europe were Paul Moor and Tore Torgersen, against Bill Hoffman and Doug Kent. The European pair ran out winners 236-215. Chris Barnes brought the overall score level at 4-4 with a 239-227 singles victory over Osku Palermaa. Barnes needed to spare to win in the 10th, and despite leaving a tricky 4 pins after his first ball, was able to convert the spare to win.
Team USA captain Tim Mack, together with Tommy Jones, put the Americans in front overall for the first time, with a 226-207 win over Team Europe's captain Tomas Leandersson and Mika Koivuniemi. This lead was extended by Doug Kent who was victorious over Mika Koivuniemi in the next match, in a close-fought singles, Kent won 212-208.
The final doubles game of the day saw the current EBT number 1 and 2, Osku Palermaa and Paul Moor up against Tommy Jones and Chris Barnes. Jones and Barnes put together one of the highest doubles scores ever recorded in the Weber Cup, and won comfortably 279-231. The final match of the afternoon was the baker team game, which was won by Team Europe 214-210. Team USA anchorman Tommy Jones needed 2 strikes and at least 3 pins with the 3rd ball to win, but after his first strike, was denied with the second.

Match no. Match Type Team Europe Score Team USA Progressive Total
7
 Doubles Paul Moor / Tore Torgersen 236 - 215 Bill Hoffman / Doug Kent
4 - 3
8
 Singles Osku Palermaa 227 - 239 Chris Barnes
4 - 4
9
 Doubles Tomas Leandersson / Mika Koivuniemi 207 - 226 Tim Mack / Tommy Jones
4 - 5
10
 Singles Mika Koivuniemi 208 - 212 Doug Kent
4 - 6
11
 Doubles Paul Moor / Osku Palermaa 231 - 279 Tommy Jones / Chris Barnes
4 - 7
12
 Baker Team Europe 214 - 210 Team USA
5 - 7

[edit] Day 2, evening session

The evening session took the same format as the evening session on the first day, with 5 singles matches and a baker team game. First onto the lanes was Mika Koivuniemi and Bill Hoffman. Koivuniemi bowled 11 strikes out of a possible 12, to which Hoffman could not reply, losing 279-207. There was A similar scenario in the second match, but with the opposite result as Chris Barnes rolled 11 strikes against Paul Moor to win 290-203.
The two team captains were matched up next, with Tomas Leandersson edging past Tim Mack 223-220. Needing just 8 pins with his first ball in the 10th frame to win, Leandersson duly obliged, however he left a split, which he was then unable to convert. Tore Torgersen avenged his first day defeat to Doug Kent, winning 234-208. Kent was left needing two strikes in the 10th frame to win, but only rolled a 7 with his first ball, handing the match to Torgersen.
Another close fought singles followed, with Tommy Jones victorious over Osku Palermaa 212-204. In the 7th frame both bowlers left the difficult 2-8-10 split, which Palermaa was able to convert with his two-handed 'backup' delivery. However needing two strikes and 9 pins in the 10th frame to win, Palermaa only managed the first strike, failing with the second, despite throwing a good shot. Onto the final match of the day, and Team Europe were able to win the session, bringing the overall score level at 9-9, with a hard fought 212-188 win in the baker team game.

Match no. Match Type Team Europe Score Team USA Progressive Total
13
 Singles Mika Koivuniemi 279 - 207 Bill Hoffman
6 - 7
14
 Singles Paul Moor 203 - 290 Chris Barnes
6 - 8
15
 Singles Tomas Leandersson 223 - 220 Tim Mack
7 - 8
16
 Singles Tore Torgersen 234 - 208 Doug Kent
8 - 8
17
 Singles Osku Palermaa 204 - 212 Tommy Jones
8 - 9
18
 Baker Team Europe 212 - 188 Team USA
9 - 9

[edit] Day 3, afternoon session

Match no. Match Type Team Europe Score Team USA Progressive Total
19
 Doubles Osku Palermaa / Mika Koivuniemi 290 - 243 Chris Barnes / Doug Kent
10 - 9
20
 Singles Tomas Leandersson 209 - 222 Tommy Jones
10 - 10
21
 Doubles Paul Moor / Tore Torgersen 201 - 195 Tim Mack / Bill Hoffman
11 - 10
22
 Singles Tore Torgersen 290 - 268 Chris Barnes
12 - 10
23
 Doubles Paul Moor / Mika Kouvuniemi 255 - 208 Tommy Jones / Doug Kent
13 - 10
24
 Baker Team Europe 238 - 224 Team USA
14 - 10

[edit] Day 3, evening session

Match no. Match Type Team Europe Score Team USA Progressive Total
25
 Singles Mika Koivuniemi 217 - 279 Chris Barnes
14 - 11
26
 Singles Osku Palermaa 217 - 244 Tommy Jones
14 - 12
27
 Singles Paul Moor 210 - 199 Tim Mack
15 - 12
28
 Singles Tore Torgersen 206 - 275 Doug Kent
15 - 13
29
 Singles Tomas Leandersson 176 - 258 Bill Hoffman
15 - 14
30
 Baker Team Europe 202 - 203 Team USA
15 - 15
31
 Singles Tore Torgersen 202 - 264 Chris Barnes
15 - 16
32
 Singles Osku Palermaa 196 - 235 Tommy Jones
15 - 17


[edit] Results table

Year Venue Winners Losers
2000 Warsaw, Poland Flag of the United States USA 18 Flag of Europe Europe 11
2001 Dagenham, England Flag of the United States USA 18 Flag of Europe Europe 12
2002 Sheffield, England Flag of the United States USA 18 Flag of Europe Europe 13
2003 Greater Manchester, England Flag of Europe Europe 18 Flag of the United States USA 14
2004 Greater Manchester, England Flag of Europe Europe 18 Flag of the United States USA 11
2005 Barnsley, England Flag of Europe Europe 18 Flag of the United States USA 16
2006 Barnsley, England Flag of the United States USA 18 Flag of Europe Europe 17
2007 Barnsley, England Flag of the United States USA 17 Flag of Europe Europe 15

[edit] Past events

[edit] Similar events in other sports

[edit] External links

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