14 local bowlers in the top 24 of the Malta Open Championships

The 21st edition of the Malta Open Championships was recently held at the Eden SuperBowl, where 44 tenpin bowlers from no fewer than 11 European countries participated for the title, and a share of the €5,000 in prize money.

Among those nations were Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and of course, Malta.

The exciting and successful tournament format introduced to include a ‘re-entry’ system in 2009, and amended slightly in 2011 was again adopted for this year’s event.

While bowlers would qualify on a twelve-game round one total, they had the chance to play six-game re-entries in the hope of replacing the lowest of their initial series of six to improve their qualifying position.

This is worthwhile for competitors, as those who make the top six from round one, would be rewarded with ‘byes’ in the final stages, meaning less games to play on the otherwise grueling final day.

Another popular feature is the Desperado Squad, played immediately after the final qualifying squad, before the final stages.

Those who failed to get into the top 21 from round one, are given one last chance to make the cut, by playing a single game. The top three ‘Desperados’ would make it through at this last ditch attempt.

Qualifying Round

Maltese dominate Top 24

After all qualifying squads were completed, and the low sets weeded out to be replaced by any re-entry scores, it was local ace Kenneth Arpa who topped the standings, on an excellent 2,802 tally (233.5 average).

Malta Open regular Christian Vandamme from Belgium was second on 2,757 (229.7), while 2012 national champion, Mark Spiteri was third on 2,751 (229.2). Ireland’s Paul Stott Jr. went through in fourth place on 2746 (228.8).

There were no less than 14 local bowlers among the 24 qualifiers, the remaining ones being Justin Caruana Scicluna (5th), Rankin Camilleri (6th), Neil Sullivan (9th), Mauro Anastasi (10th), Joana Attard (11th), Danial Swift (12th), Sue Abela (13th), Mark Muscat (14th), Paul Baldacchino (15th), Dennis Mercieca (18th), Philippe Vancell (21st), and Desperado qualifier, Tiziana Carannante (24th).

Final Stages One/Two

Sue Abela on top

Sunday is always Final Day and first up, bright and early, was the four-game Final Stage 1 for qualifiers 9 to 24.

Sue Abela was fast to hit form, banging in a 216-225-171-220 set for an 864 total (832 net, plus her eight-pin ladies game bonus).

The top eight from this stage would go on to Final Stage 2 for another four games, and Abela was joined by (in order, 2nd – 8th); Darragh McLoughlin (EIR), Mauro Anastasi, Neil Sullivan, Mark Muscat, Jos Bakker (NED), Danial Swift and Helmut Kein (AUT).

Sue kept up her blistering pace in Final Stage Two, again placing first with an even better tally of 915 (883 scratch, 220.7 average).

In fact it was a Maltese 1-2-3-4 in this stage, with Neil Sullivan in second on 871, Justin Caruana Scicluna third on 824 and Rankin Camilleri in fourth on 823. Bigi Manico (SWI) qualified in fifth with her 822 gross effort, while Mark Muscat finished sixth to claim the final qualifying spot in Final Stage 3.

Final Stage 3

Round Robin thriller

This was the penultimate stage, where the top four qualifiers from Round One would make their first appearance of the day.

Those were Kenneth Arpa, Christian Vandamme, Mark Spiteri and Paul Stott Jr. The ten survivors played a very exciting nine game ‘Round Robin’, where apart from their game scores and any ladies’ bonus, there were also extra bonus points up for grabs for game wins, draws, and also high games of over 200.

Irishman Paul Stott Jr. lost his first two with scores of 195 and 174, but was soon to make amends for that slow start with a run of three high scoring victories (234-248-269) to rack up some valuable bonus points.

He stayed well over the 200 mark for the remaining four games, winning two of them to claim the top spot on a 2,262 stage total, thus guaranteeing his place in the Grand Final.

The Maltese contingent performed well yet again, led by an excellent display from Mark Spiteri, who put in a phenomenal eight from nine victories, placing second with 2,214 points, ahead of formidable Belgian, Vandamme on 2197 having won five from his set.

Rankin Camilleri also had a brilliant session, bagging the first seven to make sure of fourth place, and the last spot in the Stepladder Finals.

Stepladder Finals

Stott clinches victory

– Malta’s head held high

Rankin Camilleri was floating on air, having already made the finals of the Malta Open for the first time in his career, but now there was the added personal thrill of going head-to-head in match one against one of his bowling heroes, Christian Vandamme.

Rankin managed to keep his head against his awe-inspiring opponent, and came out on top with an edgy 189 – 202 victory.

Camilleri would then meet good friend Mark Spiteri for another battle of wits in the semifinal.

While the majority of the substantial crowd of spectators found it tricky which one of these popular locals to root for, Mark took control of the matter, rising to the occasion with a fantastic 246, to easily beat Rankin’s 190 effort, and so head on to the final against Paul Stott Jr.

Unlike the previous two single-game clashes, the Grand Final between top seed Stott, and Mark Spiteri was played to a ‘best of three’ format.

The vociferous crowd were split for support between the diminutive young man from Dublin, and popular local Mark Spiteri, but it was the former who gained the early advantage with a 218 – 195 opening win, meaning Spiteri needed two wins to claim this year’s title.

He did step his game up a gear in the second, but it just was not to be, as Paul took it 254 – 223, to be deservedly named Malta Open champion – 2012, in excellent style.