FINNS RULE THE ROOST

Earlier today we saw Reija Lunden of Helsinki, Finland maintain her pole position after topping the leader board on the first eight games on the short oil pattern, and continue that fine bowling through today's long pattern.
When the 25 men took to the lanes this afternoon, it was Arturo Hernandez of Venezuela who was the front-runner, but that prime position didn't last long as another Finn, also from the capital Helsinki, hit a string of 181, 206, 268, 279, 258, 248, 248 and 218 for an eight-game series of 1906 and bag a commanding lead of 120 pins over local favorite John Janawicz, with Hernandez down to third.
Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong set off with a 290 in the first game of the second block to show that there was a strikefest to be had out there on the long oil pattern. This was reflected in the much higher overall averages as the games progressed. That 290 withstood the challenges of this talented group but looked like being beaten in the last game as Janawicz, a Kegel employee here in Lake Wales, hit the first ten strikes but then left the 7-pin on the eleventh delivery to finish with a 289, but that game brought him right up to second place and poses a serious threat if he qualifies for the top eight positions and the quarter finals.
Pasi Uotila, 28 next month, runs a couple of pro shops in the neighborhood of the nation's capital. Of course, he was very happy with the long condition today. "I found the right line for me and took advantage of that," he said, after the squad. "It was all working very well for me after the second game. I started out with some aggressive balls but after a 181 and 206 I decided to switch to some better equipment and that worked great for me."
The slim Finn was third in the World Ranking Masters in Moscow last year and then had seven months lay off because of a hand injury. "I found the short condition a lot more playable here, it was way too hard in Moscow. I think that the current settings are really good."
On Thursday the group will face the dual condition of short oil on one lane and long on the other, a situation that very few of the two dozen competitors have yet faced. Asked his reaction to the upcoming task, he replied: "Things could really turn out ugly if you get it all wrong. I'm going to play deep left on the long and far right on the short, using two different balls. It will certainly test my knowledge of the necessary bowling balls and my mental game."
The final blocks for men and women run from 9:00am on Thursday morning and the cut will be known at around 20:00 in the evening.
Friday will feature the quarter and semi finals and the tough schedule will finish with the grand final on Saturday.

Pic: Pasi Uotila with the squad prize of $1,000
presented by Tournament Director Kim Thorsgaard Jensen

MEN - SECOND BLOCK OF 8 GAMES
Long Oil Pattern