Laurynas Narušis and Aidas Daniūnas from team LTU won gold medals at the IBF Super World Championships 2021 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). On the way to the highest rung of the awards, Lithuanians defeated two Swedish doubles, with James Blombgren in one of them, who had just become world champion in Singles and best European player at this moment – Jesper Svensson.
Lithuanians successfully completed the first two qualifying rounds in the doubles competition this week, and defeated a strong Malaysian national team in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, Lithuanians competed against the Swedish duo William Svensson and James Blomgren, who were considered to be the favorites of this duel. However, the Lithuanians had a different opinion – having started the semi-final party with four strikes in a row, team LTU took the lead. Although Swedish national team had the opportunity to return the intrigue after an inaccurate roll in the 9th frame of Lithuania’s game, they couldn’t make it – Lithuania’s vice-champion Aidas Daniūnas and 16-year-old Laurynas Narušis, reached the finals of the IBF Super World Championships – 243:226.
In the final, where the winner was determined by the result of two games, Lithuanians met another Swedish double – Jesper Svensson and Pontus Andersson – who beat the United States bowling superstars Kristopher Prather and Andrew Anderson in the semifinals. Lithuanians started the first game with four strikes out of five and gained a minimal advantage. Although, Swedes were better in the second half of the game, which seemed to celebrate victory and first point of the final, but the unsuccessful last roll by Pontus Andersson gave the Lithuanians a unique opportunity and they took it. Lithuanian double won their first victory by one pin – 224: 223.
Starting with confidence, Lithuanians forced Swedes to chase them again. However, it was very difficult for them to do so – the leader of the Swedish duo Jesper Jenssen could not make his ball to make to the pocket, and the Lithuanians were throwing strikes one after the other, leaving no opportunity for their opponents to resist – 237:176. For the first time in the history, Lithuania won gold at the IBF Super World Championships 2021.
Finals of the championship took place in a very unusual environment – bowling alleys and stands for spectators were installed outdoors, in the territory of the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Aidas Daniūnas and Laurynas Narušis Caption: Strikecloud 
Aidas Daniūnas Caption: Strikecloud 
Laurynas Narušis Caption: Strikecloud 
Lithuanian national team
