Ronnie Russell claims his first career PBA title in 10th Brunswick Euro Challenge

    03/24/13

    2013 EBT #4 / 2013 WBT #7

    PBA Touring pro earns berth in next week's PBA Tournament of Champions

    2013EBT04WinnerRonnieRussellBrentPerrier.jpgPBA Touring pro Ronnie Russell, United States, defeated James Gruffman of Sweden, in the championship match of the 10th Brunswick Euro Challenge, 224-210, to claim the title and the 15.000 Euro top prize.

    Russell receives the 15.000 Euro check from Brent Perrier, right, President of Brunswick Bowling Products.

    Russell, who secured the No. 1 seed for the three-player stepladder finals with a 279 last game in the match play round, earned his first European Bowling Tour title, his first World Bowling Tour title and, due to an agreement between the PBA and the WTBA, his first career PBA international title.

    2013EBT04DominicBarrett.jpg2013EBT04JamesGruffman.jpgBy winning his first PBA title, Russell knocked Brian Himmler out of the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions and will participate in the TOC, which gets underway Wednesday at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

    In the opening match of the stepladder finals, Gruffman, seeded third, defeated No. 2 seed, one-time PBA champion Dominic Barrett (left) of England, with a double in the tenth frame, 210-207.

    Gruffman (right) had a chance to shut Russell with a strike in the ninth frame of the title match but left a big 4-6-7 split instead, which resulted in an open frame. Russell sealed his victory with a strike on his first ball in the tenth frame.

    Photo Album

    BowlingdigitalBanner.gif Bowlingdigital.com provided Live Coverage and Live Streaming of the Brunswick Euro Challenge commencing Thursday, March 21, all the way through to the stepladder finals which were broadcasted live on Bowlingdigital TV.

     


     

    2013BECLogo.jpg The Brunswick Euro Challenge was the fourth tournament on the 2013 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of only two "Platinum" events this season, the EBT's highest tournament category. The BEC was also the seventh stop of the World Bowling Tour and the second of three WBT events in Europe in 2013.

    For the first time in 10 years of BEC competition, Europe's richest tournament was contested at Europe's biggest bowling center, 52-lane Dream-Bowl Palace in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.

    The 106.000 Euro tournament ran from March 19-24 and offered a 15.000 Euro top prize and a PBA International title (if won by a PBA member).

    Click here for more detailed Tournament Information; EBT & WBT Schedule and Ranking and to review a video of the 2012 BEC stepladder finals.

     


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    Brunswick Euro Challenge - Tournament Preview

     


    10th Brunswick Euro Challenge 2013 - Stepladder Finals


    Dream-Bowl Palace in Munich, Germany (March 19-24, 2013)

    2013EBT04JamesGruffmanRonnieRussell.jpgPlayoff Results:
    1. Ronnie Russell, United States, 224 (1 game), 15.000 Euro
    2. James Gruffman, Sweden, 420 ( 2 games), 7.500 Euro
    3. Dominic Barrett, England, 207 (1 game), 5.000 Euro
    Championship Round:
    Semifinal Match: No. 3 Gruffman def. No. 2 Barrett, 210-207
    Championship: No. 1 Russell def. Gruffman, 224-210.

     


    2013 Brunswick Euro Challenge - Round Robin Match Play


    30 pins bonus per win, 15 for a tie. The top 3 advance to the stepladder finals.

    300 games (8) - Jason Belmonte, Australia; Joonas Jehkinen, Finland; Manuel Mrosek, Germany; Richard Teece, England; Glenn Morten Pederse, Norway; Chris Loschetter, United States; Chris Barnes, United States (qualifying); Osku Palermaa Finland (Round of 64).

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