The 2010 Malta Open has attracted a field of around 100 players this year, a number slightly down on the highly successful 2009 event due to a clash with the European Women's Championships in Latvia. The 2009 event was won by WBW 2008-2009 Bowler of the Year Dominic Barrett, but he is not on the roster for this year's Open.

Now the favorite is another Englishman, this time in the form of Stuart Williams from the Wirral on the north-west coast of his homeland. Williams has been spending a lot of his time on the 2009-2010 Professional Bowlers Tour and had success with three top ten results. On the international stage, he won the Bahrain Open, walking away with $20,000, and cashed in several Middle East events.

"I like to compete in the Malta Open because of the fun times we have as well as enjoying some good bowling conditions," commented Williams, who won this event in 2007.

All players will bowl 12 qualifying games with the option of a re-entry to replace a six-game block. A prize of €2,500 awaits the winner.

But with a huge entertainment area here in St Julians and St Georges Bay, there are so many outside attractions as well as a superb beach just a couple of hundred yards down the road, featuring pristine sands and warm seas. The area is so vibrant and the islands of Malta so idyllic it is very hard indeed to come here solely to compete in the annual Open and also the Senior Open in October.

For live web streaming throught the tournament, see: www.talktenpin.net and click on Malta Open.

For full results, see: www.edenleisure.com/superbowl and click on 'tournaments'.