Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen, the reigning World Champions in Doubles were targeting another Doubles title at the 2007 Men's European Championships in Vienna, Austria. However, local favorites Thomas Tybl and Thomas Gross had other plans as they defeated the Swedes, 495-446, in the title match to claim the first gold medal of the event. L-R Coach Helmut Amstätter, Thomas Tybl and Thomas Gross. Click on the image to enlatge it.

After three long days in which 102 doubles from 35 countries bowled twelve games of qualifying - six games on short oil (35 feet) and six games on long (45 feet) - the top four teams advanced to the one-game match play finals.

Andersson/Larsen (l-R) earned the No. 1 seed for the finals with 5450 and an average of 227.08. Gäbler/Grabowski were 144 pins behind in second place at 5306 (221.08), with Gross/Tybl in third at 5280 (220.00) and Agerbo/Pedersen fourth 5262 (219.25).

The higher seed in any match could choose the lane condition (short or long oil) to play on.

The Swedes started out their semi-final match against fellow Scandinavians from Denmark (L-R Jesper Agerbo, coach Christer Backe and Bo Winther Pedersen) commandingly.

Andersson started with the front five and Larsen converted a 4-9 split in his first frame before he reeled off five consecutive strikes to put the match away well before the final frame, 454-382.

The second semi-final match was decided in the very last frame. The Germans (Achim Grabowski, left, and Tobias Gäbler, right) had two match balls to shut out the hometown favorites, who were supported by the noisy home fans who created their own Kop (pictured right).

But they missed them both.

Grabowski, a multiple European champion and three-time World Championship silver medalist left the "big five" on his fill ball to keep the Austrian hopes alive and when Gäbler, the 2001 World Games champion failed to double in his tenth frame, Thomas Gross, Austria's No. 1 bowler, needed two strikes and a 9 count to advance to the title match.

Gross, who had struggled the entire match on the left lane buried three balls in the pocket to seal the victory with three strikes, 421-419.

Both teams started the championship match with a double and two spares.

The Swedes took a slim advantage in frame #3 as Gross opened and Larsen connected for the front four. However, Tybl, a former Austrian national coach for youth, women and men, started to strike in frame #3 and reeled off nine consecutive strikes. Gross opened another time in the sixth frame but when he rebounded with five consecutive strikes the match was practically over.

The underdogs from Austria (pictured right with the Austrian flag) defeated the reigning world champions, 495-446, to win the first ever gold medal for the Austrian men's team in the history of the European Championships.

Sweden won the silver medal and Germany and Denmark shared the bronze medal.

Short before the victory ceremony, ETBF president Addie Ophelders (sitting), Netherlands, ETBF General Secretary Rune Widell, Sweden (center) and ETBF Board member Sergei Lisitsyn (left), Russia, ordered a taxi "because the ETBF president was tired" and left the building.

But nobody noticed … the only thing that mattered was that Ophelders has brought the medals with him.

The bowlers, their fans and officials celebrated the medal winners in an joyful but tearful victory ceremony at Plus Bowling. The championship will continue on Thursday and Friday with the Trios event.

Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria (June 30 - July 10, 2007)


Championship Round:
1. Thomas Tybl and Thomas Gross, Austria, 916 (4 games)
2. Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen, Sweden, 900 (4 games)
3. Achim Grabowski and Tobias Gäbler, Germany, 419 (2 games)
(tie) Jesper Agerbo and Bo Winther Pedersen, Denmark, 382 (2 games)

Click on the image to enlarge it.


Playoff Results:
Semi-final Match #1 (on long oil):
Andersson (220)/Larsen (234) def. Agerbo (187)/Pedersen (195), 454-382
Semi-final Match #2 (on short oil):
Tybl (228)/Gross (193) def. Grabowski (197)/Gäbler (222), 421-419
Championship Match (on long oil):
Tybl (275)/Gross (220) def. Andersson (188)/Larsen (258), 495-446.