Andrew Anderson claimed his fifth Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title at the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic after defeating EJ Tackett 237-181 in a 2025 U.S. Open final showdown.
In the first stepladder finals match, No. 5 seed Jesper Svensson, the 2024 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters winner, faced No. 4 seed Alec Keplinger, who qualified for the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic through pre-tournament qualifiers. Both bowlers started with urethane balls.
Svensson opened strong with three strikes, while Keplinger struggled early, leaving a 4-6-7 split in the first frame and not striking until the third—giving the early lead to the 'Ice Man.' However, Keplinger quickly bounced back, making four strikes before the commercial break, setting up an intense second half of the match.
After the break, Svensson missed his target, leaving a 3-6-7 split, but immediately recovered by converting it and adding a spare in the seventh frame. Meanwhile, three-time Junior Team USA member Alec Keplinger caught fire, striking in the seventh and eighth frames to extend his lead to 25 pins, putting pressure on Svensson. Although the Swede responded with a strike in the eighth, a stone-nine pin in the foundation frame ended his hopes of a comeback. Keplinger sealed the deal with a 257-214 victory.
In stepladder match two, Keplinger faced No. 3 seed Ethan Fiore, who also advanced through the PTQ, finished third in qualifying, and maintained his position during the 12 Advancer Round games to secure his PBA Tour stepladder finals debut. Fiore’s first shot on TV was a bit off, resulting in an open frame, but he quickly recovered by changing balls and rolling a triple from the second to fourth frames. Keplinger, however, wasn’t waiting for his young opponent to settle in, starting strong with a triple of his own. A 10-pin leave in the fourth frame tied the game. In the fifth and sixth frames, Fiore made a spare and a strike, heading into the commercial break with a narrow 11-pin deficit—setting up a tense remainder of the match.
After the break, Keplinger responded with two spares, while Fiore continued his quest for the PBA title by striking frame after frame, taking the lead into the tenth. Needing two strikes and a single pin to shut down Keplinger, Fiore delivered the first strike but left a 10-pin standing on his second shot, giving Keplinger a slim chance to survive. Unfortunately, Keplinger couldn't capitalize, losing the match 226-247.
Two wins away from the PBA Tour title, Fiore faced No. 2 seed EJ Tackett, the reigning Player of the Year, with two PBA Tour titles already this season and 25 overall. But Fiore started a game as authorities did not exist - he made four strikes in a row to open up a match to take an early lead by 10 pins moving into the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Tackett made a double to regain the lead but then left the 3-6-9-10 spare, allowing Fiore to take control again as he struck in the eighth and ninth frames.
Tackett did everything he could to put pressure on the young Fiore, closing with three strikes and a nine-count in the final two frames. To shut out EJ Tackett, Fiore needed a strike on his first shot in the tenth, but he missed slightly, leaving a 7-pin. He converted it and then struck to force a 238-238 tie. The match was decided in a one-frame roll-off.
Tackett struck. Fiore responded.
Tackett struck again. Fiore matched him.
Tackett made another. Fiore did too.
And again. And again. And again!
After six roll-off frames, even the author of this article—who usually shows no emotion watching bowling on TV—was on the edge of his seat. Finally, EJ Tackett delivered his seventh consecutive strike, but when Fiore's seventh shot left a stubborn 7-pin standing, it was over. Nevertheless, 20-year-old played a key role in one of the best matches in bowling history, while EJ Tackett had secured yet another TV championship match this year—this time, a 2025 U.S. Open rematch against Andrew Anderson.
Both bowlers started strong, combining for seven strikes through the first eight frames, promising a high-scoring match. However, in the fifth frame, Tackett missed right and failed to convert the 1-2-8-10, a costly mistake. Meanwhile, Anderson was nearly flawless, throwing nothing but strikes until the seventh frame, where he converted a 10-pin spare.
Tackett’s struggles continued as he made another poor shot on the right lane, sealing his fate. The seven-year wait was finally over—Andrew Anderson claimed victory, 237-181.
The PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic, presented by Pilgrim’s, held its finals during the PBA World Series of Bowling XVI in Reno. Tomorrow, the competition will shift to the PBA Scorpion Championship Match Play Rounds and stepladder finals, starting at 5 p.m. local time on FS1.
This tournament is named after PBA Tour legend and Hall of Famer Mike Aulby, who ranks ninth in all-time PBA Tour titles with 29. He was also the first bowler to win all five majors, accumulating a total of eight major titles—placing him fourth all-time behind Jason Belmonte (15), Earl Anthony (10), and Pete Weber (10).
The total prize fund for the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic was $200,000.
2025 Mike Aulby Nevada Classic Stepladder Finals Scores:
Match 1: No. 5 Jesper Svensson - No. 4 Alec Keplinger, 214-257
Match 2: No. 4 Alec Keplinger - No. 3 Ethan Fiore, 226-247
Match 3: No. 3 Ethan Fiore - No. 2 EJ Tackett, 238-238 (69-70)
Match 4: No. 2 EJ Tackett - No. 1 Andrew Anderson, 237-181
