The Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress has announced a new equipment rule thatwill affect local competitions across the region. Starting March1, 2026, urethane bowling balls will no longer be allowed in local tournamentsorganized by the governing body. The decision was shared in an official statement released aon January 31st. According to the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress, the movefollows discussions and consultations focused on lane conditions, competitivefairness, and long-term athlete development. In its statement, the federation explained that concerns had been raised abouthow slow oil-absorbing urethane equipment can change lane conditions morequickly. This, according to the federation, may affect fairness betweenplayers using different styles and ball types. The statement also noted thatthe decision was made after reviewing global trends and considering theoverall skill development of athletes. The reasons outlined in theHong Kong statement closely mirror those shared by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress earlier in January, when it introduced a similar ban onurethane bowling balls in its sanctioned competitions. shared by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress earlier in January, The ban applies only to local tournaments organized directly by the Hong KongTenpin Bowling Congress. It does not apply to international tournamentsorganized by the federation or to local tournaments that are only sanctionedby the HKCTBC. In addition, players competing in Under-12 divisions are exemptfrom this restriction. The HKTBC added that it will continue to monitor the situation and may reviewor adjust the regulations in the future if needed. Bellow is the official statement of the HKTBC regarding urethane bowling ballban.

PBA Tour player Keven Williams recently shared an open message on social mediaquestioning why bowling continues to resist change while other sports haveembraced evolution. In his post, Williams asked why bowling is often compared to “the old days,”when scores were lower, equipment was simpler, and different styles dominatedthe lanes. He pointed out that nearly every major sport has seen steady growthin performance numbers over the past decades, and bowling should not betreated differently. Williams compared bowling to sports such as basketball, football, golf,baseball, and tennis. He highlighted how scoring averages, throwing speeds,and distances have increased in those sports since the 1990s. According toWilliams, higher numbers are now accepted as part of natural progress, drivenby better training, improved technology, and greater access to information. “Why is it that bowling won’t accept evolution/change like other sports?”Williams wrote. He added that bowling has also changed in many ways, includinghigher rev rates, advanced ball technology, modern oil patterns, updated lanesurfaces, and easier access to knowledge through social media. Williams acknowledged that the game looks different today, but stressed thatthis does not mean the sport is worse. Instead, he argued that higher scoresreflect better athletes competing with better tools, similar to what hashappened across the sports world. “Why cant we accept scores are just higher in today’s game?” he asked, callingfor a more open mindset toward modern bowling. The post quickly gained attention within the bowling community.

Stefanie Johnson has been selected as the recipient of the Dick WeberAmbassador Award, an honor presented to individuals who promote the sport ofbowling in a positive and lasting way. The award will be presentedduring the International Bowl Expo this year in Nashville, the event thatbrings together bowling professionals, industry leaders, and organizationsfrom around the world. The Dick Weber Ambassador Award was created in 2005 to honor the memory andlegacy of bowling legend Dick Weber. The award recognizes bowlers whorepresent the sport with professionalism, respect, and dedication, both on andoff the lanes. It reflects Weber’s lifelong role as a global ambassador forbowling and his commitment to growing the game for all ages. Johnson was chosen for her continued involvement in bowling and her efforts topromote the sport beyond competition. The award focuses on conduct,visibility, and positive representation of bowling within the community.

Kimberly Pressler will no longer be part of Professional Bowlers AssociationTour telecasts. Pressler shared the news through a personalmessage posted on hersocial media, confirming that her on-air work with the PBA has come to a close asbroadcast changes take effect for the 2026 season. social media Pressler has been a well-known voice on PBA broadcasts for 15 years. She made her debut as a laneside reporter during the 2010 WorldSeries of Bowling and continued in that role throughout the ESPN era. When PBA Tour coverage moved from ESPN to FOX Sports ahead of the2019 season, Pressler remained part of the broadcast team and continuedworking on PBA telecasts through FOX. Now, the change comes as the PBA concludes its television partnership withFOX. Beginning in 2026, PBA Tour events will move to The CW Network under anew multi-year agreement. new multi-year agreement The PBA Tour season kicks off with the PBA Players Championship on January 16,with the televised finals set for February 22 on the CW Network. CW Network

Nasser Alkanderi captured the title at the Muscat International Open BowlingChampionships after the tournament concluded with a full stepladder final onMonday evening in Muscat, Oman. The Muscat International Open brought together a strong international field,with qualification rounds completed on Sunday before all final stages wereplayed on Monday. After several elimination phases, the topplayers advanced to the stepladder finals to decide the champion. The stepladder opened with a three-player match featuring Finland’s TomasKäyhkö, Malaysia’s Mohammed Syazirol, and Oman’s Musaab Aladwi. Käyhkö postedthe highest score in the opening game with 224 and advanced to the next match,while Syazirol and Aladwi were eliminated with scores of 202 and 210,respectively. In the second stepladder match, everything was decided in the last frame.Käyhkö needed a strike and a good count, but unfortunately left a split andEngland’s Ben Robinson earned a place in the championship match with 238-217final result. Robinson had already been one of the standout performers earlier in the finalsby scoring a 300 game in the Final Step 1. In the championship match, Ben Robinson took on Kuwait’s Nasser Alkanderi, thetop seed who would have needed to lose twice for Robinson to claim the title.That scenario did not unfold, as Alkanderi produced the highest game of thestepladder, securing the win with a 245–217 victory.With thevictory, Alkanderi secured the Muscat International Open title and thetournament’s top prize of $22,000. Robinson was awaded with almost $12,000,while Käyhkö earned almost $8,000 for a third place.155 playersparticipated in this year's event in Oman.

Lori Mraz has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America. The appointment will takeeffect on February 1, 2026. Mraz takes over the role from Barb Peltz, who led the organization after thepassing of longtime Executive Director Bill Supper in 2023. Peltzserved in the position during a transitional period and supported the processof selecting the next leader for the association. Mraz brings long-standing experience from within the bowling industry. Shepreviously served on the BBIA Board of Directors between 2003 and 2008 and waselected BBIA President in 2007. During that time, she was involved in shapingthe structure of the association’s annual convention, including the meetingformat that is still used today. In addition to her work with BBIA, Mraz has spent more than three decades withTurbo 2-N-1 Grips, where she has held several leadership roles since thecompany was founded in 1991. She served as company president until 2020 andcurrently works as Director of Marketing. Her industry involvement also includes long-term service with several bowlingorganizations. Vice Chairman of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame Board of Trustees since 2008. She has also contributed to advisory boards and committees connected to proshops, league bowling programs, and major tournaments. Mraz is also a member of PBA League Bowler Certification Advisory Board.

Three-time world bowling champion Esther Cheah has officially announced herretirement from professional bowling. The 39-year-old confirmed her decision, closing a long chapter in Malaysianbowling history. "As a national athlete, Esther not only brought pride to Malaysia on theinternational stage but also served as a role model of perseverance,discipline and fighting spirit for the younger generation," said MohammedTaufiq Johari, Minister of Youth and Sports of Malaysia. Cheah is Malaysia’s first Singles world champion, a milestone she achieved atthe 2005 World Bowling Championships in Aalborg, Denmark. After two years, Cheah went on to add another gold medal, winning gold in theteam-of-five event at the 2007 World Championships in Monterrey and laterclaimed another teams gold in Las Vegas in 2017. Malaysian bowler also collected multiple gold medals at the Asian BowlingChampionships, winning doubles titles in 2008 and 2016, masters in 2019, andtrios in 2019. She also played an important role in Malaysia’s bowling achievements at theAsian Games. In 2006, Cheah won singles and team-of-five gold, and addedsilver in trios, all-event and masters. In 2018 she added another gold intrios. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Esther Cheah (@estherrcheahh) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Esther Cheah (@estherrcheahh) In addition to her international team career, Cheah competed on theProfessional Women’s Bowling Association Tour after joining in 2016. In 2024,she earned her first PWBA Regional title by winning the PWBA OklahomaRegional, adding another milestone in her competitive career. For the past two decades, Cheah is seen as one of the most experienced andsuccessful female bowlers Malaysia has ever had on the international scene.

The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) has announced a major equipment rule change, confirming that slow oil-absorbing high-performance urethanebowling balls are now disallowed in all tournaments hosted by MTBC and itsstate affiliates in Malaysia. has announced a major equipment rule change The decision takes effect immediately and applies to all MTBC-sanctionedcompetitions across the country. According to the MTBC, the ruling followed an extensive review process thatincluded discussions with technical experts, coaches, and elite athletes. MTBCalso considered global trends, local lane conditions, and research conductedby the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). In its official statement that was shared on Monday morning, the MTBCexplained that the move is intended to protect competitive integrity andsupport long-term athlete development within Malaysia. The MTBC stated that slow oil-absorbing urethane equipment can alter laneconditions more quickly than intended, which may affect fairness for playersusing different styles and equipment types. MTBC also highlighted concerns related to equipment governance andenforcement. The governing body noted that changes in urethane balls over timecan make it difficult to distinguish natural wear from intentionalmodification, creating challenges for consistent tournament control. MTBC added that the situation will continue to be monitored and may bereviewed again in the future. In September 2025 USBC announced, that beginning January 1, 2026, slowoil-absorbing high-performance balls will face strict new limits atnational tournaments. In some events, they will be banned entirely; in others, only modelsmanufactured at a minimum 78D hardness will be allowed. In September 2025 USBC announced, that beginning January 1, 2026, slowoil-absorbing high-performance balls will face strict new limits atnational tournaments

The 2026 USBC Team USA Trials concluded on Tuesday night at Gold Coast BowlingCenter in Las Vegas, as Round 5 brought five days of competition on fivedifferent oil patterns to an end. The final round was contested on a 40-foot condition and proved decisive indetermining the overall standings in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Based on ranking points accumulated across all five rounds, the top four menand top four women earned automatic spots on Team USA for the 2026 season. In the men’s division, Ryan Barnes delivered the top score of Round 5. Barnesposted a six-game total of 1,313, highlighted by games of 257 and 279. Thestrong finish helped last year’s Team USA Trials champion secure second placein the overall standings after five rounds. Derrick Lewandowski finished second on Day 5 with a total of 1,296, whileKaven Massey placed third at 1,283. Matthew Mesecher followed with 1,279, andPerry Crowell rounded out the men’s top five for the final round with 1,270.Bryce Oliver remained close behind, finishing sixth, but that was enough forhim to claim the first place in the overall standings. With finishing 7th in Round 1, 10th in round 2, 26th in round 3, 8th in round4 and 6th in round 5, Oliver accumulated 57 points and became the 2026 USBCTeam USA Trials champion. Last year's winner Ryan Barnes finished second with63 points, followed by Julian Salinas in third with 66. Cameron Crowe placedfourth overall with 75 points, while Dawson Peterson completed the men’s topfive with 94. Teuber Makes History in Women's Trials In the women’s division, Victorya White led Round 5 with a total score of1,290. McKenzie Mattice finished second at 1,259, followed by Bryanna Cotéwith 1,248. Jordan Snodgrass placed fourth with 1,242, while Gianna Brandolinocompleted the women’s Day 5 top five with a score of 1,239. After all five rounds were completed, Elizabeth Teuber claimed the top spot inthe women’s overall standings. Teuber’s consistency across all five roundsproved decisive, as she finished the trials with only 47 points.Kaitlyn Stull secured second place with 62 points, followed byBryanna Coté in third with 71. Avery Domaguin finished fourth with 72, whileGianna Brandolino rounded out the women’s overall top five with 73. But this wasn't all for Teuber. The conclusion of the Team USA Trials also alignedwith the finals of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championships. In the Amateurstepladder finals, Teuber made history by becoming the first bowler to winboth the Team USA Trials and the U.S. Amateur in the same night. Entering the U.S. Amateur Finals as the top seed, Teuber defeatedsecond-seeded Kaitlyn Stull 215–210 in the championship match. In the men’s U.S. Amateur Finals, Bryce Oliver also reached the title match asthe number one seed. However, Dawson Peterson claimed the championship with a221–210 victory, preventing Oliver from completing a double win on the finalnight. All 2026 USBC Team USA Trials results can be foundhere. here

Day 4 of the USBC Team USA Trials was completed on Tuesday at Gold CoastBowling Center, with both the men’s and women’s fields producing standoutperformances. In the men’s division, 2024 PBA Cheetah Championship winner Deo Benarddelivered the top performance of Round 4. Benard rolled a six-game total of 1,554, the highest score of the day amongthe 175 competitors. Second place in the men’s standings for the day went toSpencer Robarge, who finished with 1,468. Jacob Bockstie placed third with1,455, followed by Derrick Lewandowski with 1,452. Bruno Brandao completed themen’s top five with a total of 1,447. Luke Switalski, who led the men on Day 3, scored the only perfect game of theround. Cameron Crowe leads the overall standings after four rounds with 43 points.Bryce Oliver follows with 51 points, ahead of Julian Salinas at 57. Defendingchampion Ryan Barnes sits fourth with 62 points, while Jacob Bockstiecompletes the top five with 80 points. On the women’s side, Gianna Brandolino moved to the top of the standings forthe day. Brandolino posted a six-game total of 1,441 to lead the 132-playerwomen’s field. Avery Domaguin followed closely with 1,430. Elizabeth Teuber finished thirdwith 1,415, while Maggie Thoma placed fourth with 1,401. Melia Mitskavichrounded out the top five with 1,398. After four rounds, the overall standings are determined by ranking pointsearned each day. Elizabeth Teuber continues to lead the women’s standings with22 points. Kaitlyn Stull follows with 42 points, ahead of Avery Domaguin with45. Breanna Clemmer sits next with 67 points, while Bryanna Coté and GiannaBrandolino are tied with 68 points as the field heads into the final day. Full results can be foundhere. here Round 5, the final qualifying round of the USBC Team USA Trials, will bebowled on Wednesday. At the conclusion of play, the top four men and top four women based onranking points will earn automatic spots on Team USA for the 2026 season.

Trevor Roberts has announced a change in his bowling ball sponsorship as heprepares for the upcomming PBA Tour season. Roberts confirmed through social media that he has signed a new deal with Motiv Bowling. confirmed through social media “I’m excited to announce that I have signed with MOTIV Bowling.” Roberts saidon social media. Earlier in January, Motiv also confirmed new signings with Nate Purches andNick Pate.In his announcement, Roberts thanked his previouspartners for their support over the past few seasons. Nate Purches Nick Pate announcement “I want to thank Brunswick and Turbo for everything they’ve done for me thelast few years!” Roberts wrote. 29-year-old joined the PBA Tour in 2016. He finished in the top ten three times during the last PBA Tour season. Motiv later confirmed that Roberts will represent the brand in the PBA LeagueBattle of the Brands for the first time next season.

Nate Purches has announced a change in his bowling ball sponsorship as heprepares for the upcomming PBA Tour season. Purches confirmed through social media that he has signed with Motiv, ending a four-yearpartnership with Brunswick and DV8. In his message, Purches thanked the Brunswick brands and several team membersfor their support during his first years on tour. He noted that the decisionto change brands was not easy, but explained that the move presents a newopportunity. "This will be a new chapter in my bowling career and I can’t wait to see whatthese pages have in store for me!” Purches wrote. Purches is the winner of the 2024 PBA Rookie of the Year award and owns twocareer titles on the PBA Regional Tour. He also came close to earning his first national PBA title at the 2025 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Sweden. 2025 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Sweden