Doha: Finnish bowler Tomas Kayhko on Saturday rolled to victory, capturing the title at the HH the Amir Cup Bowling Championships 2025, organized by the Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF).
According to Qatar News Agency, the tournament wrapped up with broad participation from Qatari athletes, alongside an elite field from 20 countries. Kayhko secured the crown after defeating French bowler Valentin Saulnier 238-225 in the final, with Saulnier taking second place. Swedish bowler Pontus Andersson claimed third.
In the U-21 International Youth Championship, held alongside this tournament, Qatari national player Musaed Al Muraikhi clinched the title, overcoming Finland’s Noah Vielokinen 269-222 in the final. Vielokinen placed second, while Canadian Mathis Blanchat finished third.
The day’s finals began from the second round, featuring 24 competitors over eight frames. The top five advanced to the third round, including Kayhko, who qualified directly for the final as the first-place finisher.
At the conclusion of the competitions, Abdullah Sultan Al Khatam, President of QBF, Bandar Mubarak Al Shafi, Secretary-General, Said Al Hajri, Tournament Director, and Ahmad Shahin Al Muraikhi, Board Member, capped off the event by handing over the trophies for both the HH the Amir Cup and the U-21 International Youth Championship.
Meanwhile, QBF allocated a substantial prize fund totaling USD 117,100. Kayhko received USD 25,000 for first place, Saulnier USD 16,000, and Andersson USD 12,000.
The closing day also featured a shield exchange between Abdullah Sultan Al Khatam and Fares Al Samadi, head of the Jordanian delegation. Al Khatam expressed gratification for the championship’s flawless orchestration, congratulating the winners. He noted that the record-breaking participation from top international players heralded them toward offering innovative solutions on the lanes, raising the overall competitive level.
He emphasized that HH the Amir Cup serves as a key platform to discover talent and guide athletes toward excellence locally and globally. The record performances came from players under 16 and under 18, indicating a strong pipeline of talent. Al Khatam also mentioned that next year’s edition may include a masters category for players over 50.