Top 8 from squads 1-9 earn automatic berth into Sunday's finals
For the second consecutive day, Yoan Alix, France, led a qualifying squad in the Brunswick Euro Challenge Tuesday at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France. The French national team member, who posted a 1248 series on Monday leaped from eighth to third place after totaling 1268 in Squad 9. The top 8 after the first nine squads will automatically earn berths into Sunday's finals if they don't finish among the top 52 in the overall qualifying standings. Qualifying continues on Wednesday, March 9 with Squad 10 and 11.
Now live from Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France
Another 35 players took to the lanes at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France on Monday evening for the seventh qualifying squad of the Brunswick Euro Challenge. French national team member Yoan Alix (l.) had games of 183, 189, 220, 214, 258 and 184 to lead the squad with 1248 and to move into eighth place in the overall qualifying standings. Jouni Helminen (r.) held on to the lead with 1435. Qualifying continues on Tuesday with Squad 9.
Finn Jouni Helminen still 163 pins ahead of the rest of the 141-player field
Finn Jouni Helminen (l.) remained unchallenged during Sunday's qualifying squads 5, 6 and 7 and continued to lead the qualifying of the Brunswick Euro Challenge with 1435 six-game total and an average of 239.17. Helminen held a 163-pin lead over his nearest competitor, Olivier Braine (r.) of Belgium, who was second with 1272. Five players moved into the top ten during Sunday's qualifying Squads 5-7. Qualifying continues on Monday, March 7 with Squad 8.
Tanya Cuva wins Women's Rankings in Tilburg; Paul Moor overtakes lead in Men's Rankings
Four-time European Bowling Tour ranking champion Gery Verbruggen (pictured) of Belgium won his 11th career EBT title in the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. The lefty rolled games of 221 and 252 in the sixth and final round to beat out Dane Jesper Agerbo for the title and the 8.000 Euro top prize by mere two pins, 473-471. Tanya Cuva, Germany, finished in seventh place en route to win the women's rankings in Tilburg.
Jouni Helminen (l.) got off to a great start into the 2011 Brunswick Euro Challenge Saturday at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France when the Finn knocked down 1435 pins to take a 163-pin lead after four qualifying squads. Helminen outaveraged his nearest competitor, second place Olivier Braine (r.) of Belgium, by more than 27 pins per game. Qualifying continues on Sunday, March 6 with Squad 5-7.
The top 8 receive three byes; qualifiers 9-16 earn two byes for Sunday's finals
PBA champion Osku Palermaa (pictured) of Finland led a field of 48 players into finals of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. The two-hander won the qualifying with 1478 six-game total and an average of 246.33. Karsten Aust, Germany, took the 38th and last qualifying spot with 1322. Joining the top 38 in Sunday's finals are six players from a separate leaderboard of Squads 1-4 and the top 4 of the Desperado Squad.
Dutch Ron van den Bogaard leads first of 25 qualifying squads
The 2011 Brunswick Euro Challenge got underway Friday evening at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin near Paris, France. Dutch bowlers dominated the opening squad. Long-time Ron van den Bogaard (pictured) set the pace with 1226 and was followed by Louis Hendriks in second with 1222, Michell Stinissen in third with 1204 and Wendy Kok in fourth with 1182. The BEC is the fourth tournament on the 2011 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of just two "Platinum" events, the EBT's highest category.
Squad 9-11 leaders overtake top six positions heading into last qualifying day
Two-hander Osku Palermaa (pictured) of Finland, who has won his first PBA title in the PBA World Series of Bowling in the GEICO Shark Championship last November, overtook the lead in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Friday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. Palermaa, who has won the EBT rankings in 2007-09, had games of 249, 227, 218, 279, 278 and 227 to win Squad 9 and a 500 Bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer with 1478 six-game total and an average of 246.33.
Frederik Øhrgaard wins 1.000 Euro Hammer Big Bonus; Jouni Helminen achieves perfection
Michael Krämer (l.), Germany, rolled a 1371 series in Squad 6 Thursday morning at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands en route to overtake the lead in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament. Krämer beat out Frederik Øhrgaard (r.) for the top spot by four pins. The Dane, however, who had received a 1.000 Euro bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer. Qualifying continues on Friday, March 4 with Squad 9-11.
BEDC and Advanced Lane Maintenance Seminar have been cancelled
The 2011 Brunswick Euro Challenge is the fourth tournament on the 2011 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of just two "Platinum" events, the EBT's highest category. The BEC, which will be held from March 4-13, 2011 at 28-laner Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin near Paris, France, offers total prize money of 106.000 Euro or approx. US $143,000. Bowlingdigital.com will cover the event live commencing Tuesday March 8 all the way through to the finals on Sunday, March 13.
Four Dutch women move into the top 10 in qualifying
Remco van Dommelen and Ellen Jansen, both Netherlands, missed the top qualifying position in the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament by just one pin as the duo tied at 1367 in Wednesday's Squad 5 at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. Dave Wouters (l.), Netherlands, leads since day one with 1368 six-game total and an average of 228. Besides Jansen, another three Dutch women, Lisanne Breeschoten, Nicole Sanders and Ghislaine van der Tol moved into the top 10 during Squad 5.
Kok fails to make the top 6 who earn automatic berths into Sunday's finals
Dutch veteran Eric Kok (pictured) led the fourth qualifying squad of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Tuesday evening at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands with 1285 six-game total en route to earn a 250 Euro bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer. However, Kok failed to crack the top six in the overall standings after Squad 4 who earned automatic berths into the Sunday's finals. Qualifying continues on Wednesday, March 2 with Squad 5.
Top 6 after first four squads earn automatic berths into Sunday's finals
Dutch Michell Stinissen (l.) and Dirk Dreyer (r.), Germany, led the third qualifying squad Monday evening at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands en route to move into the top 5 in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament. Day one leader Dave Wouters, Netherlands, continued to lead the 71-player field with 1368 six-game total and an average of 228. Qualifying continues on Tuesday, March 1 with Squad 4.
Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands (Feb., 27 - March 6, 2011)
The 2011 Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament got underway Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands with the first two out of 14 qualifying squads. Dave Wouters (l.), Netherlands, rolled games of 237, 226, 203, 257, 233 and 212 in Squad 2 to lead the overall qualifying standings with 1368 and an average of 228. Four-time EBT ranking champion Gery Verbruggen (r.), Belgium, led Squad 1 to sit in second place with 1356.
Daria Pająk wins women's rankings at Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland
Paweł Bielski, seeded fourth, won three consecutive matches to claim the title in the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer Sunday en route to become the first EBT champion from Poland. In the title match, Bielski topped No. 1 seed Oliver Blase, Germany, 471-416, to earn the 4.250 Euro top prize. Blasé finished second with Dennis Eklund, Sweden, in third and Alessandro Silletti, Italy, fourth. Daria Pająk, Poland, won the women's rankings.
Laura Beuthner shoots tournament's first 300 game; cut was 1268
Falco Gutsche of Germany won the qualifying in the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer to lead the top 40 players into Sunday's finals at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Gutsche posted a 1463 six game series in the third of total eighteen qualifying squads to pace the field of 118 players from ten countries with an average of 243.83. Göran Bergendorff, Sweden, took the 40th and last place to advance with 1268 or an average of 211.33.
Falco Gutsche holds on to the lead; cut for 40th place is 1257 after 14/18 squads
Paweł Bielski (l.) of Poland and Sweden's Dennis Eklund (r.) moved into second and seventh place in the qualifying of the of the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer Friday at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Adam Martin, Poland, holds the 40th and last place to advance
with 1243 (207.17). Qualifying ends on Friday, Feb. 19, with Squads 15
through 18 scheduled for 10 a.m., 1.30, 5 and 8.30 p.m. CET.
Gutsche, Friedrichs, Matthies in 1, 2 and 3; cut for 40th place is currently 1222 (203.67)
Falco Gutsche, Tim Friedrichs and Tilo Matthies of Germany hold the top three places in the fifth International Wroclaw Open by Hammer as the qualifying has passed the halfway mark Thursday at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Gutsche leads the 89-player field from nine countries since the third out of 18 qualifying squads with 1463 six-game total or an average of 243.83. Qualifying continues on Friday, Feb. 18, with Squads 11 through 14 scheduled for 10 a.m., 1.30, 5 and 8.30 p.m. CET.
Alessandro Silletti, Łukasz Zjawiony move into third and fourth place on Wednesday
Falco Gutsche and Tilo Matthies, both of Germany, remained atop the leaderboard after day three qualifying in the fifth International Wroclaw Open by Hammer underway at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Gutsche leads the field of 57 players from five countries with 1463 six-game total and an average of 243.83. Matthies sits in second place with 1424. Alessandro Silletti started the fifth qualifying squad on Wednesday with a huge 288 game en route to jump into third place with 1422.
Falco Gutsche overtakes qualifying lead from compatriot Tilo Matthies
Falco Gutsche of Germany overtook his compatriot and day one qualifying leader Tilo Matthies by 39 pins to take the lead in the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer Tuesday at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Gutsche started Squad 3 (of total 18) with games of 267, 275, 236, 246 and 237 for 1261 five-game total and an average of 252.20. Needing a 239 final game to crack the magic 1500-mark, the German posted his low game of 202 but easily took the lead with 1463 total and an average of 243.83.
For the second consecutive day, Yoan Alix, France, led a qualifying squad in the Brunswick Euro Challenge Tuesday at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France. The French national team member, who posted a 1248 series on Monday leaped from eighth to third place after totaling 1268 in Squad 9. The top 8 after the first nine squads will automatically earn berths into Sunday's finals if they don't finish among the top 52 in the overall qualifying standings. Qualifying continues on Wednesday, March 9 with Squad 10 and 11. 
Another 35 players took to the lanes at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France on Monday evening for the seventh qualifying squad of the Brunswick Euro Challenge. French national team member Yoan Alix (l.) had games of 183, 189, 220, 214, 258 and 184 to lead the squad with 1248 and to move into eighth place in the overall qualifying standings. Jouni Helminen (r.) held on to the lead with 1435. Qualifying continues on Tuesday with Squad 9. 
Four-time European Bowling Tour ranking champion Gery Verbruggen (pictured) of Belgium won his 11th career EBT title in the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. The lefty rolled games of 221 and 252 in the sixth and final round to beat out Dane Jesper Agerbo for the title and the 8.000 Euro top prize by mere two pins, 473-471. Tanya Cuva, Germany, finished in seventh place en route to win the women's rankings in Tilburg. 
PBA champion Osku Palermaa (pictured) of Finland led a field of 48 players into finals of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. The two-hander won the qualifying with 1478 six-game total and an average of 246.33. Karsten Aust, Germany, took the 38th and last qualifying spot with 1322. Joining the top 38 in Sunday's finals are six players from a separate leaderboard of Squads 1-4 and the top 4 of the Desperado Squad. 
The 2011 Brunswick Euro Challenge got underway Friday evening at Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin near Paris, France. Dutch bowlers dominated the opening squad. Long-time Ron van den Bogaard (pictured) set the pace with 1226 and was followed by Louis Hendriks in second with 1222, Michell Stinissen in third with 1204 and Wendy Kok in fourth with 1182. The BEC is the fourth tournament on the 2011 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of just two "Platinum" events, the EBT's highest category.
Two-hander Osku Palermaa (pictured) of Finland, who has won his first PBA title in the PBA World Series of Bowling in the GEICO Shark Championship last November, overtook the lead in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Friday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. Palermaa, who has won the EBT rankings in 2007-09, had games of 249, 227, 218, 279, 278 and 227 to win Squad 9 and a 500 Bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer with 1478 six-game total and an average of 246.33.
Michael Krämer (l.), Germany, rolled a 1371 series in Squad 6 Thursday morning at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands en route to overtake the lead in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament. Krämer beat out Frederik Øhrgaard (r.) for the top spot by four pins. The Dane, however, who had received a 1.000 Euro bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer. Qualifying continues on Friday, March 4 with Squad 9-11. 
The 2011 Brunswick Euro Challenge is the fourth tournament on the 2011 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of just two "Platinum" events, the EBT's highest category. The BEC, which will be held from March 4-13, 2011 at 28-laner Le Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin near Paris, France, offers total prize money of 106.000 Euro or approx. US $143,000. Bowlingdigital.com will cover the event live commencing Tuesday March 8 all the way through to the finals on Sunday, March 13.
Remco van Dommelen and Ellen Jansen, both Netherlands, missed the top qualifying position in the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament by just one pin as the duo tied at 1367 in Wednesday's Squad 5 at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands. Dave Wouters (l.), Netherlands, leads since day one with 1368 six-game total and an average of 228. Besides Jansen, another three Dutch women, Lisanne Breeschoten, Nicole Sanders and Ghislaine van der Tol moved into the top 10 during Squad 5.
Dutch veteran Eric Kok (pictured) led the fourth qualifying squad of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Tuesday evening at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands with 1285 six-game total en route to earn a 250 Euro bonus by tournament sponsor Hammer. However, Kok failed to crack the top six in the overall standings after Squad 4 who earned automatic berths into the Sunday's finals. Qualifying continues on Wednesday, March 2 with Squad 5. 
Dutch Michell Stinissen (l.) and Dirk Dreyer (r.), Germany, led the third qualifying squad Monday evening at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands en route to move into the top 5 in the qualifying of the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament. Day one leader Dave Wouters, Netherlands, continued to lead the 71-player field with 1368 six-game total and an average of 228. Qualifying continues on Tuesday, March 1 with Squad 4.
The 2011 Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament got underway Sunday at Dolfijn Bowling Tilburg in Tilburg, Netherlands with the first two out of 14 qualifying squads. Dave Wouters (l.), Netherlands, rolled games of 237, 226, 203, 257, 233 and 212 in Squad 2 to lead the overall qualifying standings with 1368 and an average of 228. Four-time EBT ranking champion Gery Verbruggen (r.), Belgium, led Squad 1 to sit in second place with 1356.
Paweł Bielski, seeded fourth, won three consecutive matches to claim the title in the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer Sunday en route to become the first EBT champion from Poland. In the title match, Bielski topped No. 1 seed Oliver Blase, Germany, 471-416, to earn the 4.250 Euro top prize. Blasé finished second with Dennis Eklund, Sweden, in third and Alessandro Silletti, Italy, fourth. Daria Pająk, Poland, won the women's rankings.
Falco Gutsche of Germany won the qualifying in the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer to lead the top 40 players into Sunday's finals at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Gutsche posted a 1463 six game series in the third of total eighteen qualifying squads to pace the field of 118 players from ten countries with an average of 243.83. Göran Bergendorff, Sweden, took the 40th and last place to advance with 1268 or an average of 211.33. 
Paweł Bielski (l.) of Poland and Sweden's Dennis Eklund (r.) moved into second and seventh place in the qualifying of the of the 5th International Wroclaw Open by Hammer Friday at bowling center Galeria Rozrywki Miraz in Wroclaw, Poland. Adam Martin, Poland, holds the 40th and last place to advance
with 1243 (207.17). Qualifying ends on Friday, Feb. 19, with Squads 15
through 18 scheduled for 10 a.m., 1.30, 5 and 8.30 p.m. CET.