Morningside Arena, Leicester | October 14 – 16 2021
Established in 2000, the Weber Cup is the annual USA v Europe tenpin bowling challenge. Named after American bowling legend Dick Weber, the man who helped shape modern bowling, the event features two five-man teams competing over three days in a series of singles and doubles matches.
This year’s edition is being held at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, England from the 14th to 16th of October.
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Europe have reclaimed for Weber Cup for the first time since 2017 from 11-15 down in a nail-biting final day 18-17.
Leicester is the city of the underdogs, but nobody could quite predict what unfolded at the Morningside Arena, Leicester with Europe looking like they were down and out doing into the evening session.
The evening started with the penultimate doubles contest where Anthony Simonsen and Chris Barnes edged the USA closer to the finish line at 15-11 but that’s where the USA started to falter.
Thomas Larsen has grown into the week at his first Weber Cup with fans and squeezed past Tom Daugherty as the bowling gods looked down on him in a tight encounter. Larsen made a key spare in the sixth whilst Daugherty made an uncharacteristic shot in the seventh leaving Larsen on top. As it closed in, Larsen struck in the ninth to look like he would wrap up victory, late drama saw the Dane leave three standing after his first ball in the last frame, but Daugherty failed to take advantage giving Europe a vital point at 12-15.
Jesper Svensson and Richard Teece formed a formidable duo to beat Kyle Troup and Chris Via as the momentum swung from one side to the other.
Arguably the match of the tournament came when Williams clashed with good friend Barnes. In regulation, it finished in a tie forcing the first roll-off of the week. After two throws each, it was level at 60-60 going into the third frame where Williams made 19 meaning a strike would seal a win for Barnes and the USA. Barnes made nine too before missing what looked like a simple spare to give Williams a vital win 79-69 and reduce the gap to one frame.
Nine strikes from Via sealed a convincing win over Svensson at 278-246 to put the USA back on track at 16-14. With momentum in the USA’s favour once again, Simonsen came up against a buoyed Teece who struggled early on allowing Simonsen in to put his side just one point away from retaining the Weber Cup.
Larsen replicated an earlier win over Daugherty by downing him for a second time in the session, this time 254-213 where it did seem like Larsen was struggling and Daugherty was ready to deliver the winning moment for the USA. At frame seven, Daugherty had the advantage and could bowl a maximum of 278 whilst Larsen could only make 265. It turned at this point with late mistakes opening the door for Larsen to claim another point and keep Europe in the hunt at 15-17.
Svensson bowled the MVP match against Simonsen with very little to separate the pair, so much so a roll-off was to settle matters after a draw in-game at 256 all. Simonsen bowled well all week but just couldn’t see it over the line as Europe rallied in front of a packed home crowd.
Europe went into the decider knowing they’d won both baker matches so far and with that mental advantage, they took their first leg up towards victory in the sixth frame. Troup left one pin hanging and from then on, Europe seized on it. Captain Barrett delivered when it mattered most with two strikes. Barrett’s opposite number Barnes faltered, and it meant Svensson deservedly bowled the winning strike picking up the MVP trophy in the process.
Barrett: “Just look at these guys, as a team, unbelievable. These guys, the whole weekend have been unbelievable. Stu really got us started. Jesper is our backbone. What a debut for Richie. I don’t know how Thomas finds the heart and digs deep.”
“Hats off to the Americans they’re a fantastic team with great bowlers. I said before, they’re the hardest team we’ve ever played, and I think that stands true. To come all this way and to be a part of this atmosphere, isn’t easy.”
Barnes: “I couldn’t be prouder of my team. They bowled great the whole time. Some fantastic moments and they gave us things to remember. We took advantage the last day and a half. It seemed every time we had the chance to put them away, we left a little sluther of a crack in the door and the Europeans walked straight through it. They came up big in every situation in the last 10 or 12 matches and they stole this one away. It was unbelievable how good they were down the stretch.”
Follow the Weber Cup on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on bowling’s famous Europe vs. USA battle and subscribe to Matchroom Multi Sport on YouTube to enjoy highlights from each day of the action.
USA close in on 2021 Weber Cup titleThe USA are four points away from retaining the Weber Cup title for a fourth consecutive year after a pulsating afternoon of action to lead Europe 14-11 at the Morningside Arena, Leicester going into the final session.
Much like in the first baker match of the week on Thursday, the USA struggled to get out the blocks as Stuart Williams bowled the decisive strike to peg the USA back and put Europe one back.
Europe averaged 261 in the early encounters, but it didn’t prove to be enough against an imperious USA side that grew in confidence as the morning session went on with Richard Teece losing out to Tom Daugherty 266-255 as the two newcomers did battle.
Barrett was involved in a slog of a match against Chris Via taking it to the last frame by a single point where it was the latter who dealt the blow of eight consecutive strikes to give the USA victory 268-267 and create a three-point advantage for the first time in the USA’s favour.
Thomas Larsen struggled in the double’s encounter with the Dane leaving plenty of spares or open frames on the lane with Jesper Svensson having to pick up the pieces. When it got to the fifth frame, the USA rallied with Daugherty and Kyle Troup whilst Larsen still struggled, leaving an awkward split for his counterpart to deal with. It was a scrappy affair but in the end the contest swung firmly towards the USA as they opened a four-point lead 235-213.
The captain’s match between Dominic Barrett and Chris Barnes saw a battle of the two Weber Cup veterans as Barnes lead from the front for the Americans to seal their fourth win of the session at 255-235. Barrett had his moments, but Barnes kept the pressure on to deliver another point for the USA.
There needed to be a turning point for Europe as the USA gathered momentum and it was provided by Williams who faced off with Anthony Simonsen for the third time in as many days in what was his best and Europe’s best performance of the week so far when they needed it most.
With the USA tide stemmed, Larsen went out searching for his first point of the 2021 Weber Cup against Troup who was also looking for that elusive first point for his team. Larsen has struggled in recent matches on the lane but bowled the shot of the tournament so far in the fourth sending a messenger to get the split and make Troup feel the heat. Troup was left frustrated in the seventh frame when he left it open and despite having the chance to level in the eighth, Larsen pulled away to secure another European point and leave them trailing by three.
Svensson has been Barrett’s go-to when he needs a big performance, and he took on Simonsen knowing the USA had their tails up. Simonsen reinstated the four-point advantage with a 256-244 win for his third singles victory of the week.
When it came to the last match of the session Williams and Teece united against Barnes and Via to put in a clutch performance where Teece held his nerve to bowl the strike and make it 256-244 meaning the USA have a three-point lead going into the last session.
The final session of the 2021 Weber Cup gets underway from 6:00 pm live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, and Viaplay in Scandinavia. See where you can watch the Weber Cup in your country here.
Follow the Weber Cup on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on bowling’s famous Europe vs. USA battle and subscribe to Matchroom Multi Sport on YouTube to enjoy highlights from each day of the action.
Photo credit – Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
USA rally back to lead at 2021 Weber Cup after Day 2
The USA rallied to a 6-2 session victory over Europe to assert their dominance on Europe for the first time and lead 9-7 overall going into the final day of the 2021 Weber Cup at the Morningside Arena, Leicester, live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, and Viaplay across Scandinavia.
Europe started off the evening from where they finished last night with another Jesper Svensson victory as he overcame close friend Kyle Troup for the second time within 24 hours 235-197 with the hosts opting for the scimitar oil pattern in their first pick of the week.
Svensson was back out with Stuart Williams in the first doubles action of the evening against Chris Barnes and Troup where it was the American’s who stopped the Europe bounce of four on the trot 245-213. It didn’t start off the best for Europe after Williams and Svensson left an open frame which Troup soon made them pay for. Barnes had struggled so far but delivered the vital blow in the last frame to win it.
Williams beat Simonsen yesterday as Europe rallied but it was a different story on day two as it was Simonsen this time who came out on top to claim his first point of the week and continue the USA fightback. In truth, Williams had his chances early on though after Simonsen left it open in the third frame as the nine clung on.
It was left up to Thomas Larsen and Richard Teece to stem the USA flow against Barnes and Tom Daugherty and what’s that they did in emphatic fashion for Europe’s best showing of the session. Teece has thrived on the Weber Cup stage so far and with Larsen showed again why he got the nod by Dominic Barrett.
Simonsen bowled his first Weber 300 last year in Coventry and came within one frame of replicating it against Barrett to pull the USA just one away from Europe at 6-7. He admitted after the match that he had bowled better than last year’s 300 as he delivered the USA’s third point of the day.
The USA levelled for the first time since 3-3 at 7-7 with Simonsen and Chris Via dispatching Teece and Barrett after the Europeans left two frames in a row open to hand them the gap, they needed to take the point.
Debutant Daughterty has embraced the Weber Cup crowd like a duck to water and he put on a feast for them dominating against Svensson for a 289-256 win with nine strikes as the Rebel revelled in the moment and put the USA ahead for the first time since 3-2 yesterday.
Via is having a debut to remember so far, and he ensured the USA would go ahead into the last day of play beating Larsen 254-221.
Via said: “This year’s Weber Cup is really close. It’s a back-and-forth battle so we had some momentum going with a couple of wins going so I wanted to make sure I kept that going. I am trying to follow in his (fellow debutant Daugherty) footsteps. We’re settling each other down and we have good team chemistry. It’s an awesome team to be a part of and it makes it easier to throw those shots.”
On tomorrow: “It’s more of the same. We didn’t really bowl our best in the first session. This was much more like us. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and just being us. Hopefully, we will have a pep in our step and be ready to go again tomorrow. I think everyone wants to throw a strike to win a match in this environment and Weber Cup. It’s super exciting to bring a point home for your team.”
The final day of the Weber Cup gets underway from 12:00 pm with the afternoon session live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, and Viaplay in Scandinavia. See where you can watch the Weber Cup in your country here.
Follow the Weber Cup on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on bowling’s famous Europe vs. USA battle and subscribe to Matchroom Multi Sport on YouTube to enjoy highlights from each day of the action.
Photo credit – Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
INSPIRED EUROPE TAKE EARLY LEAD AT 2021 WEBER CUP
Team Europe took an early advantage as the 2021 Weber Cup got underway at the Morningside Arena, Leicester live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, and Viaplay across Scandanavia.
Team Europe was buoyed by the return of fans for the first time on home soil since 2018 and took the opening baker match 242-213 with captain Dominic Barrett leading from the front with a confidence-boosting early strike and Jesper Svensson demonstrating why he’s one of the world’s best to give Europe an early advantage.
USA Captain Chris Barnes struggled in the baker match but found his feet midway through the first singles contest against Thomas Larsen putting in a four-bagger to put the pressure on the Dane when it looked like it would be Europe going into a 2-0 lead. Barnes’ strike in the last frame meant Larsen didn’t have much room for movement despite leading but it was the experience of the USA’s captain that prevailed 257-245.
Europe’s Stuart Williams made the first real breakthrough against Anthony Simonsen, a fixture where he lost out in last year as the USA steamrollered their way through. Williams has been nicknamed as Europe’s Ian Poulter by Barrett and it was clear he took that in his stride after Simonsen left the sixth frame open for Williams to deliver a point.
Barrett was back out for his 67th singles match in the Weber Cup against debutant Tom Daugherty but he struggled after leaving three open frames to hand the rookie a win and level for the USA for the second time on the night.
Momentum ebbed and flowed in the first doubles match after four frames, but it was the American’s who pulled ahead for the first time in the contest, with Barrett struggling to get to grips with the oil pattern for the night makhaira.
From watching on in the crowd a few years ago to a dream Weber Cup debut, Europe’s Richard Teece downed recent US Open champion Chris Via 234-204 with five strikes along the way to make it 3-3 with his family watching on. He set the tone early on with a strike to open piling early pressure onto fellow debutant Via. Via felt the pressure as Teece soaked in the atmosphere to record one of the biggest upsets in Weber Cup history.
Teece couldn’t have been happier with his day’s work: “I enjoyed myself. I got my emotions out of that game. I just went into the game with my own game plan. The advice I got was just to stay calm and repeat shots like I know I can do. I just had to bring all those emotions back. Especially when I throw a good shot, I love the crowd backing me up, I want them to make as much noise as humanly possible. The support we have here is incredible.”
Svensson was Europe’s shining light in 2020 and started off where he left off with the two highest scores of the night, firstly seeing off Kyle Troup 268-257 and then Barnes in the fans’ choice match where he delivered a second point inside the hour in a sublime night where he hit 15 strikes in 20 to assert his dominance. Svensson’s second victory against Troup was poignant with the pair close friends away from the lane but even more so given Troup’s PBA ranking list status as World No.1.
Barrett was happy with Europe’s day one efforts: “It was good, those pins haven’t typically fallen over in the past. We’ve learned from our mistakes, and we are getting stronger every year. We have a good team, and everybody got their feet wet and bowled well. Jesper saved the best until last.”
“It’s been good. The scoreboard reflects that. The main thing for us as a team is that we all bowled well. I started off ropey, but I got there eventually. It was a great performance by Richie, Thomas was good last year and got the experience of the crowd for the first time. Stu is our Poulter, and he will be our postman and deliver every match. Jesper is our anchor, and he is the biggest part of our team.”
Day two of the Weber Cup gets underway from 6:00 pm live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, and Viaplay in Scandanavia. See where you can watch the Weber Cup in your country here.
Follow the Weber Cup on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on bowling’s famous Europe vs. USA battle and subscribe to Matchroom Multi Sport on YouTube to enjoy highlights from each day of the action.
Photo credit – Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Send your Weber Cup messages
The fans are back this year at the Weber Cup but you can still send your video messages of support to Team USA or Europe ahead of the 2021 Weber Cup getting underway this Thursday and we could use it on our TV broadcast!
All you have to do is film yourself on your phone in landscape and upload your message below.
SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO MESSAGE HERE
Fan’s Choice
Once again the Weber Cup is putting the power in YOUR hands and this year with the Fans’ Choice Singles Match
The Fans’ Choice Singles Match will close out day one on Thursday. Vote here
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