2007 European ranking champion and last year's runner-up, Kirsten Penny (pictured left), England, has withdrawn from the 2009 World Ranking Masters and will be replaced by 11th ranked, Wendy Kok, Netherlands.

The 2009 WRM will be held at Oltremare Bowling Arena in Naples, Italy from April 27 through May 3, 2009.

Since its inception in the year 2001, the WRM concludes the ranking season of the three WTBA zones - America, Asia and Europe. The tournament should feature the top 8 men and the top 8 women of the American, Asia and European rankings.

With no host or sponsor for the 2010 World Ranking Masters on the horizon, the 2009 edition could be the last event of its kind.

The American qualifiers aren't determined yet as the top 12 men and the top 12 women from each of the five regions have bowl for the spots in the American Zone Ranking Final from February 18th to 22nd, 2009 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

The 2008 Asian ranking season concluded with the Bahrain Open, but the Asian Bowling Federation has not yet announced the roster for Naples.

Penny is the fourth top 8 player from Europe who has withdrawn from the tournament. No. 4 Martin Larsen and No. 5 Peter Ljung, both from Sweden, on the men's side as well as women's No. 6 Britt Brøndsted, Denmark, have announced earlier that they will not participate.

Here is the tentative list of the European participants for the 2009 World Ranking Masters: