The European Tenpin Bowling Federation has decided at its July 5 meeting in conjunction with the European Bowling Championships in Vienna, Austria on the 2008 European Bowling Tour schedule.

The EBT 2008 will consist of 18 tournaments, 12 "Majors" and 6 "Challengers". For the first time in the history of the European Bowling Tour, which started in the year 2000, the Tour will have an event outside Europe.

The 18th and final event will be the 7th Qatar International Open 2008 in Doha December 4-13, 2008. There are two more newcomers on the 2008 Tour, 2nd Maribor Open Strike Tournament in Slovenia and the Lahti Open in Finland.

Three tournaments did not re-apply for 2008, the Husqvarna International, Sweden, the Malta Open and the Norwegian Open.

The Qatar Open will be the richest event on the 2008 EBT schedule and the richest ever in the history of the EBT, since the organizers have announced that they offer a total prize fund of 120.000 Euro, approx. 163,000 U.S. Dollar.

The total prize fund of the 2008 Tour will be 1.175.000 Euro or approx. 1.6 million U.S. Dollar.

The top 8 women and the top 8 men from the 2008 EBT rankings will qualify for the 2009 World Ranking Masters to be held from April 30th through May 6 at Senayan Bowling Sportainment Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In addition the top 16 women and the top 16 men will qualify for the inaugural EBT Masters 2009.

The EBT 2008 is open for all bowlers world wide, men and women, amateurs and professionals, and independent of their nationality.

For the fourth consecutive year Kegel is appointed as the official lane maintenance partner for the ETBF. The Kegel staff will be on sites and Kegel equipment will be used for many stops throughout the 2008 EBT season.