International Ballmaster Tournament - 1995
25th Ballmaster Open
6.-8.1.1995, Tali, Helsinki, 432 participants
Winner: Kai Virtanen
Club: GB, Helsinki, Finland
Age at that time: 25-years
Occupation: Engineer
Right-handed
Facts: The tournament was the memorial tournament of Timo Suviranta, who was the “father” of the Ballmaster Open. Suviranta died in January 1994. He made an extensive career in bowling both as a player and as a visionary. His memory will live permanently in the history of the Ballmaster Tournament.
Positioned 4th before the stepladder finals
Virtanen’s scores:
8 games 1737
6 games 1380
Round Robin (12) 2698
Bonus 150
Total 5965
Average 223,7
Stepladder finals:
Kai Virtanen – Anders Hermansson 234 – 184
Jaana Puhakka – Kai Virtanen 235 – 236
Göran Bergendorff – Kai Virtanen 228 – 278
Olli Hossi – Kai Virtanen 199 – 233
Picks from the press:
”Kai Virtanen of GB was the star when the TV-audience was presented top bowling from Ballmaster Open in Tali in the beginning of January. Virtanen took the sympathies of the audience, both present and via TV, with his unparallel final playing that left nobody cold.
Virtanen, who picked up the first prize, also made sure that lady bowlers would not repeat the humiliation of their male counterparts. This was with the smallest possible difference, though, when Jaana Puhakka lost in the second stepladder match only in the last frame – with a single point.”
”… Later Virtanen kept bombing the pocket accurately and effectively and luck did not play a role in his bowling. In fact in the second match both Virtanen and Jaana Puhakka did get some lucky strikes, until Lady Luck at the end forsake Puhakka. Virtanen, who had fallen back, closed the gap with a five-bagger and forced Puhakka to strike once more on top of the one she had in the ninth frame. An unsuccessful shot left one pin standing and the Ballmaster scepter fell back in male hands…
Olli Hossi, who dominated the Round Robin, could not get a grip of the other lane on the final pair and he only struck in every second frame. Virtanen took the pot with a two triples-game 233-199.” Keilaaja-magazine 1/1995
