Finnish skittles, also known as Karelian skittles, outdoor skittles or kyykkä, is a centuries-old game of Karelian origin. The aim in Finnish skittles is to throw wooden skittle bats at skittles, trying to remove them from the play square using as few throws as possible. Skittles can be played with four-person teams, in pairs or as an individual game. Finnish skittles is one of the three skittles games played in the World Championships of Gorodki Sport. The other games include Classic Gorodki and Euro Gorodki.
The Finnish Champion in men's individual game in 2007, Mika Peiponen (Nurmes Skittles Club), playing in Finnish Championships in Äänekoski, 2003.
President of Finland Urho Kekkonen playing kyykkä (Finnish skittles) in Seurasaari in 1974
Finnish skittles playing at Lappeenranta
Left: Veli-Pekka Juvonen playing individual skittles in Äänekoski, 2002. Right: Esko Rautiainen playing in a team event in Imatra, 2003.
Skittles is a historical lawn game and target sport of European origin, from which the modern sport of nine-pin bowling is descended. In regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland the game remains as a popular indoor pub game.
Skittle Players outside an Inn by Jan Steen.
Traditional lawn skittles, played in Twyning Green, England, with pins resembling short candlepins
A traditional and, in this case, much battered pub game in Oundle, England
Well looked-after Nine Pin Bar Skittles at The Cock, Broom, Bedfordshire
