LAS VEGAS — Osku Palermaa of Finland defeated Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., by a score of 203-177 to take the 2011 PBA World Championship title at South Point Casino and Hotel on Saturday.

The two-hander got off to a tough start when he opened the title match with a pocket 7-10 split for an open frame, but Shafer struggled with carry throughout the game and failed to convert the 3-6-10 spare at a crucial moment in the seventh frame in a losing effort.

“It was a great feeling,” Palermaa said of the moment he clinched the title by converting the 3-6-9-10 spare in the 10th frame. “I knew I had gotten the first strike in the tenth and just had to keep it around the pocket after that. It was just a great feeling.”

The 2011 PBA World Championship is Palermaa’s second PBA title and first major.

Shafer, now in his 25th season on the PBA Tour, was making his 13th career appearance in the championship round of a major tournament, and has now finished runner-up in five of those appearances.

The PBA World Championship finals featured an elimination format in which all four finalists bowled at once. The bowler with the lowest score each game was eliminated until a lone survivor remained.

Earlier in the day, 16 PBA World Championship finalists vied for four spots in the championship round. The players were divided equally among four divisions—The Carter Division, the Aulby Division, the Petraglia Division, and the Hardwick Division. The player who survived elimination in each division advanced to the championship round.

Palermaa barely survived game one of the championship round when he tied fellow two-hander Jason Belmonte of Australia 203-203. Belmonte left the bucket for a six count in the roll-off, while Palermaa struck to move on. Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., the tournament’s top seed, also survived elimination in game one with a 245.

In game two, Rash left a crushing pocket 7-10 split in the ninth frame and was eliminated with a final score of 193, making the PBA World Championship the sixth consecutive championship round appearance at the 2011 World Series of Bowling in which Rash failed to come away with a title. After leaving the 7-10, Rash paused at the foul line in disbelief before walking back to the ball return.

Palermaa’s victory continues the dominance that international bowlers have enjoyed at this event, as no American player has won a title thus far.

2011 PBA World Championship
South Point Casino and Hotel

Las Vegas

Championship Round
Title Match
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y. — 177
Osku Palermaa, Finland — 203
Ryan Shafer eliminated

Game 2
Ryan Shafer — 222
Osku Palermaa — 217
Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill. — 193
Sean Rash eliminated

Game 1
Ryan Shafer—236
Jason Belmonte, Australia—203 (6)
Osku Palermaa—203 (10)
Sean Rash—245
Jason Belmonte eliminated


Aulby Division
Game 3
Jason Belmonte, Australia — 196
Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio — 179
Jason Belmonte advances to championship round

Game 2
Jason Belmonte — 300 ($10,000 bonus)
Mike Fagan, Dallas — 220
Brian Kretzer — 231
Mike Fagan eliminated

Game 1
Jason Belmonte — 188
Mike Fagan — 194
Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz. — 139
Brian Kretzer — 231
Josh Blanchard eliminated


Petraglia Division
Game 3
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo. — 222
Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill. — 247
Sean Rash advances to championship round

Game 2
Pete Weber — 268
Sean Rash — 278
Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y. — 219
Ryan Ciminelli eliminated

Game 1
Pete Weber — 279
Sean Rash — 257
Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan. — 236
Ryan Ciminelli — 267
Nathan Bohr eliminated


Hardwick Division
Game 3
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y. — 191
Andres Gomez, Colombia — 177
Ryan Shafer advances to championship round

Game 2
Andres Gomez —219
Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela —180
Ryan Shafer — 207
Ildemaro Ruiz eliminated

Game 1
Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich. — 194
Andrews Gomez —222
Ildemaro Ruiz —258
Ryan Shafer — 267
Tom Smallwood Eliminated


Carter Division
Game 3
Osku Palermaa, Finland — 223
Dominic Barrett, England — 188
Osku Palermaa advances to championship round

Game 2
Stuart Williams, England — 170
Osku Palermaa — 188
Dominic Barrett — 201
Stuart Williams eliminated

Game 1
Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y. — 169
Stuart Williams — 215
Osku Palermaa — 187
Dominic Barrett — 258
Jack Jurek eliminated