Finnish Home Victories

The 8th Finnish Open (9.-11.10) ended with a series of home victories. Above all Mikko Kärkkäinen won the Men Elite as well as the Men Doubles together with Ismo Rönkkö, who also took Bronze in the singles. Runnerup was Austrian Johannes Schubert. Men B - Advanced went to Olli Marjamäki, who beat Michaela Björnström in the final. In Seniors (55+) Sten Lindström was successful. Only the Seniors (45+) left the country, with Christian Alte not to beat. All results can be found on www.resultreporter.com or the tournament website.All pictures are now online on the FIR Picasa Webalbum

First time podium for Schubert and Rönkkö

Johannes Schubert and Ismo Rönkkö are the real winners of Finnish Open. Everybody knew that no one will beat Mikko Kärkkäinen and both took the opportunity to take their first places on the podium in the Men Elite on the FIR World Tour. On the stronger top half of the 16 player draw with a few late withdrawels Rönkkö kicked out number one seed Marcel Weigl already in round one. In his second match it was Emil Bergander, who lost to the Finn, who then lost to Kärkkäinen and won the third place play-off match against Norbert Stolicki from Poland. In the lower half four seed Johannes Schubert took the chance of his life to reach the semis after number two seed Stefan Jezler pulled out due to injury. Christian Alte and a Swedish alternate player were no problem, neither was Stolicki in the semis. In the final the Austrian youngster proved he will be one of the biggest challengers for world number one in the future and even won the Squash set against Kärkkäinen. “Joey can be number one in the next two years”, was Swedish president Lennart Eklundh impressed.

Double World Champs win again

Same picture in Men Doubles with the reigning world champions Kärkkäinen/Rönkkö never in trouble and easily beating making their way to the finals, where new pair Bergander/Hakansson were chanceless. Surprisingly third place went to Martin Björkryd who carried Bobi Wallenberg, a real doubles specialist to bronze.

Björnström Runnerup in Men B

Michaela Björnström proved how unbelievably strong she is. The World Champion made her way to the final of Men B – Advanced only to lose against Olli Marjamäki, the new number four on the Finnish national team. Men C – Amateur went to Marko Pietilä from the hosting country as well. With the favourite Sten Linström winning the Seniors (55+) it was up to Christian Alte to take the only non-Finnish title in Seniors (45+) with a prestigious win against Anders Lundström.

Brandnew venue

All in all Finnish Open was held in a brand new sports venue, which was only finished a month ago. The sportscentre was perfect as was the time schedule of the tournament. “If there is a players dinner and a Women draw next year, this can become one of the best tournaments on the World Tour”, says FIR President Marcel Weigl and thanked tournament director Poku Salo, Finnish President Martti Vottonen and their team for the great work.

WT Finnish Open

Kauniainen 9.-11. October

Men A – Elite
1. Mikko Kärkkäinen, Fin
2. Johannes Schubert, Aut
3. Ismo Rönkkö, Fin

Seniors (45+)
1. Christian Alte, Ger
2. Anders Lundström, Fin
3. Harri Kilpinen, Fin

Seniors (55+)
1. Sten Lindström, Fin
2. Markku Merta, Fin
3. Tapio Saari, Fin

Men B – Advanced
1. Olli Marjamäki, Fin
2. Michaela Björnström, Fin
3. Matti Karvonen, Fin

Men C – Amateur
1. Marko Pietilä, Fin
2. Axel Waris, Fin
3. Juha Sillanpää, Sco

>Men Doubles
1. Mikko Kärkkäinen/Ismo Rönkkö, Fin
2. Emil Bergander/Henrik Hakansson, Den/Swe
3. Bobi Wallenberg/Martin Björkryd, Swe

More Results and Pictures www.racketlon.fi
All Draws www.resultreporter.com
More Pictures in the FIR Picasa Webalbum

Finnish Open Winners

Men Elite
6x Mikko Kärkäinnen (Fin) 2002-2005, 2007, 2009
2x Magnus Eliasson (Swe) 2006, 2008

Women Elite
2 x Hanna Russila (Fin) 2003-2004
2 x Lilian Druve (Swe) 2005-2006
1 x Susanna Lautala-Nyäkki (Fin) 2002
1 x Linda Jansson (Swe) 2007

Men Doubles
1 x Rickard Persson/Roland Helle (Swe) 2007
1 x Pekka Kainulainen/Ismo Rönkkö (Fin) 2008
1 x Mikko Kärkkäinen/Ismo Rönkkö (Fin) 2009