FC Bayern München defending their international title, this time “Europa League”-winner (in Bundesliga-Bowling in Singapore)

In a tournament overshadowed by injuries, sickness and other last minute drop outs, teams were reduced to 3 and even 2 players only, in otherwise 4 bowlers strong line ups featured in Bundesliga-Bowling in Singapore. In the end FC Bayern München “had the nose in front”, benefiting from the this time 5 rounds of bowling rather than only 4 rounds, and just having the stronger nerves towards the end. 

Starting shakily “The Star of the South” comprising veteran players Florian O. and Jörg S. lost their first league match against the “1. FC Dino Geißböcke” 115.0 to 113.5 while secret favourites “Bundesliga All-Stars” around last year’s runner-up “Torschützengkönig(-in)” Kell W. surprisingly lost against the “Boys from Cannstatt” 90.3 to 100.5. However, the second matches of the league phase saw fortunes turned around with the “Buli All-Stars” dispatching the “Dino Geißböcke” 128.3 to 96.7, not less thanks to Chali S.’s top score of the afternoon, and VfB Stuttgart losing against FC Bayern München in the Südschlager 103.0 to 136.5. With all teams level on 3 points, the third matches of the league phase proved decisive for the further fortunes in the knock-out phase. Jürgen W. stepped out of the family shadows scoring a solid 150 (vs. Kell W’s 140), but still not enough to beat FC Bayern München losing out 116.7 to 122.5. And, in the tightest game of the afternoon President Hartmut D. and Vice President Logan of our Fanclub secured a 112.0 to 111.3 against the Dino Markus B., accompanied by the two Geißböcke Felix F. and Volker C..

With FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart level on 6 points as well as “Buli All-Stars” and “Dino Geißböcke” on 3 points, the average score had to decide final placements in the league table putting the Bavarians on top with 124.2 before the Swabians on 105.7, while however third placed “Buli All-Stars” with 111.8 and even the dead last “Dino Geißböcke” with 107.7 had outscored the team of the organizers.

Due to the small teams it was exceptionally possible to fit in semifinals before the final showdowns pitching FC Bayern München against the “Dino Geißböcke” and VfB Stuttgart against the “Buli All-Stars”. In one of the lowest scoring games of the afternoon the “Rekordmeister” managed a 98.0 to 96.3 over the newly first leaguers whereas in the highest scoring game of the day the “Buli All-Stars” prevailed over VfB Stuttgart 128.3 to 120.0. So, despite this stellar performance the hosts played against the “Dino Geißböcke” for third place winning although the “air was out” with 97.0 to 88.7 as the “Dino Geißböcke” showed finally apparent fitness deficits. In the first place match FC Bayern München took full advantage of their longer rest periods than the “Buli All-Stars” taking a 123.0 to 107.7 to win the title.

Actual scores against X-Scores showed a mixed picture as especially new signed players were not up to the presumed average levels yet. However, most of the other players actually managed to improve their X-Score. The SNBBF will continue to develop the X-Score system with all stakeholders to ensure that motto “Gottes grösste Gabe, ist und bleibt der Schwabe” faces fair competition favouring Swabian teams over others.

The “Torschützenkönig” table is led by Kell W. with 701 pins followed closely by her hubby Jürgen W. with 670 pins Hartmut D. in a distant third place with 623 pins. But, the season has just started and with Marcus H. having been absent from this match day, the heat on Kell W. will be on again latest on the next match day. Talking about it, “Meisterschaft” is scheduled for end February / early March and “DFB Pokal” for end April / early May next year. Watch out for more details soon and wax your bowling balls, tie your bowling shoe laces and practice your one-armed arm rises (for the beers).

Detailed results see https://www.vfbasia.com/league-standings 

IMPORTANT!!! Nominations for the "Friedenspreis in Bundesliga-Bowling in Singapore" aka "Markus B. Gedenkmedaille" please send directly to the SNBBF.

For the tech geeks: In the 2024/2025 season X-scores were calculated as the expected score for a match day based on the average of the last 3 match days results per player. For the 2025/2026 season this has changed to the expected score per game based on the average of the last 3 match days results per player, thus leading to visibly reduced, but materially unchanged, X-scores.

Disclaimer:

SNBBF = Swabian National Bundesliga-Bowling Federation operates under the motto “Gottes grösste Gabe, ist und bleibt der Schwabe” to ensure fair competition favouring Swabian teams over others.