The European Bowling Tour (EBT) announced its 2007 schedule, with 21 stops - 13 Majors and 8 Challengers - in 16 countries, Austria, Belgium, Denmark (2), England, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands (2), Norway, San Marino, Spain (2), Sweden (2) and Turkey (2) included in the January to December season.

The EBT Tour will return to 18 venues from the 2006 season, and will feature an expanded schedule from last season with additional 21st event. New hosts on the PBA Tour include Paraske Bowl in Haine-St-Paul/La Louviere, Belgium; Rollhouse Bowling Center in Ankara, Turkey; and Lakeside Superbowl in Nuneaton, England. The EBT will not return to the Irish Open and the Olympia tournament in Sweden.

Founded in the year 2000 under the name "European Zone World Ranking System" the EBT is heading into its eighth season. The 21 tournaments offer total prize money of more than 1.14 million Euro or more than 1.5 million U.S. Dollar.

The 13 major tournaments offer abot 800.000 Euro, an average of more than 60.000 Euro, while the eight Challengers contribute 340.000, an average of 42.600 Euro. The top prize range from 5.000 to 25.000 Euro and the most of the tournaments pay out to 48th place, some even to 68th.

In addition the top 50 men and top 50 women in each EBT tournament receive points towards the European Rankings. Major tournaments offer double ranking points. The top 8 men and top 8 women in the rankings at the end of the season qualify for the season-ending World Ranking Masters to determine the top-ranked bowler in the world.

The 2007 European Bowling Tour will begin with the Brunswick Ballmaster Open at Tali Bowling Stadium in Helsinki, Finland (January 6-14, 2007). The 'Methuselah' of the European bowling tournaments with the 37th annual event is a member of the EBT since the first year and one of its Majors. Total prize fund is 54.000 Euro with 10.000 for the winner. Low-to-cash is 48th place, worth 600 Euro. With about a month before the first ball will be rolled, the organizers have registered some 270 players and 450 entries. For the first time in its long history, there will be a side tournament open to all amateur bowlers entering the Brunswick Ballmaster Open. The '300 autoXtra' organized by bowling club 'Grankulla Bowlare' offers a Ford Fiesta to the winner. You need a 300-game to win the car. If more than one 300 autoeXtra contestant manages to roll a perfect game, they will play a one ball roll off until the tie is broken.

The Ballmaster will be followed by two Challengers the Hammer Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament 2007 at Dolfijn Bowling in Tilburg, Netherlands (February 14-18, 2007) and the Ebonite International Luxembourg Open at Inter Bowling in Foetz, Luxembourg (February 21-25, 2007). The Schietspoel Tournament is considered as a 'test event' by the European Tenpin Bowling Federation (ETBF) as it will be conducted on dual lane condition. Therefore double ranking points will be awarded in this event. Both tournaments feature a 5.000 top prize.

The Tour continues with four Majors, two in March and two in April. The V Catalonia Open - Trofeo Galasa will now be held at Bowling Pedralbes in Barcelona, Spain (February 28 - March 4, 2007).

One week later, the Brunswick Euro Challenge takes place at Strike Bowling Club in Thessalonica, Greece (March 9-18, 2007). The BEC offers the second-highest prize fund of all 21 events with 90.000 Euro including special prizes for women and local bowlers. The winner walks away with huge 16.000 Euro check. Bowlingdigital will cover the event live from Thessalonica.

After a two-week break the Tour will head to Jönköping Bowling Arena in Jönköping, Sweden (April 2-8, 2007) for the Husqvarna International followed by the 4th Istanbul Bowling Open at Timeout Bowling Center in Istanbul, Turkey (April 23-29, 2007). Both stops offer nearly the same prize fund (55.000 to 60.000 Euro) with 10.000 each to the winner.

The season continues with a newcomer on the Tour, the 2nd Paraske Cup at Paraske Bowl in Haine-St-Paul/La Louviere, Belgium (May 12-20, 2007). According to the rules, no newcomer can become a Major in its first season. However, the Belgians offer the fourth-highest prize fund of the season with 64.400 Euro, a 12.000 top prize and payout to 68th place (300 Euro).

The ninth stop of the 2007 will be hosted by EBT Director and ETBF Vice President Kim Thorsgaard Jensen at his Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark (May 21-27, 2007). The Brunswick Aalborg International 2007 is a Major and offers 62.000 Euro and 10.000 to the winner.

The next stop, the Storm Dutch Open 2007, is another Major and takes place at Dolfijn Bowling in Scheveningen, Netherlands (June 6-10, 2007).

The first half of the year ends on an island in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta, most probably the nicest place in Europe to combine bowling and vacation. The Malta Open Championships at Eden SuperBowl in St. Julians, Malta (June 20-24, 2007) are the sole tournament on the Tour with men and women in two separate divisions. However, the tournament offers just 25.000 Euro including 4.000 and 3.000 for the men's and women's champion.

After a three-week break during the holiday season, the EBT will continue with the first of four consecutive Majors. The 3rd San Marino, which moved from its October slot to July, will be held at Rose’n Bowl in Serravalle, San Marino (July 13-22, 2007). One week later the second tournament in Barcelona, the 29th Trofeu Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona, takes place Bowling Pedralbes (July 24-29, 2007). Both stops are Euro 50.000-plus events and offer 10.000 each to the winner.

The next week the Tour will return to Denmark for sole stop in August, the Danish Masters Classic at World Cup Hallen in Rodoevre near Copenhagen (August 3-12, 2007). The Masters is another Euro 50.000-plus event with 8.000 to the winner.

The Tour then takes a four-week hiatus before the 'richest' event will be staged at Bowling Gutperle Viernheim in Viernheim, Germany (September 8-16, 2007). The 100.000 Euro 3rd Gutperle Viernheim Open 2007 is the 15th stop and still the only event with a six-digit prize fund. The winner will receive the 25.000 Euro top prize (minus tax). Tournament director Michael Lehman once again expects the largest number of participants on the Tour including some illustrious names from the PBA and PWBA Tour. Bowlingdigital will cover the event live from Viernheim.

The next week, the Tour will hold a Challenger event in Ankara, Turkey at Rollhouse Bowling Center (September 15-23, 2007). The Ankara Open is the second newcomer of the season and has a Major-like 66.000 Euro total prize fund and a 10.000 Euro top prize. The Norwegian Open scheduled for Petter Hansen's Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo (September 29 - October 7, 2007). The total prize fund is 351.000 Norwegian Kronor (app. 43.000 Euro) with a 60.000 NOK top prize (7.350).

The 18th stop of the 2007 season is the 5th Vienna Open in Austria. Bowlingdigital will cover live from Plus Bowling in Vienna from October 16 all the way through to the finals on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. The special event is truly a season highlight and will feature a Singles and Doubles event, a players party to celebrate the 5th anniversary and a TV final. It's a long trip for the defending champion, Wu Siu Hong from Hong Kong, but he has already promised to return. Check out our video casts from this year's tournament including the title match, Featuring Siu Hong and QubicaAMF World Cup champion Osku Palermaa. 68 players share in the payouts, from 7.000 Euro first place in Singles (the Doubles champions split an additional 1.400 Euro) to 350 Euro for 68th place.

The EBT season resumes with stops in England, Italy and Sweden. The 4th Oltremare Open will take place at Oltremare Bowling Arena in Naples, Italy (November 12-18, 2007), followed by the third newcomer, the Storm English Open at Lakeside Superbowl in Nuneaton, England (December 5-9, 2007) and the season-ending Kungsbacka International Tournament at Kungsbacka Bowling Center in Kungsbacka, Sweden (December 9-16, 2007). The Oltremare Open is Major, while the two others are Challengers. All three events pay out to 48th place.