Bowling will not return to The World Games in 2029, having beenleft out of the confirmed programme of 36 sports in Karlsruhe, Germany. left out of the confirmed programme of 36 sports in Karlsruhe, Germany Yet the specific reasons behind that decision are still not fully clear. Evenfor the International Bowling Federation (IBF) itself. In April,bowling was still under consideration. According to a statement shared with BowlingLife by IBF CEO MichaelSeymour, the federation received a letter on September 2, 2026 fromInternational World Games Association (IWGA) President Anna Arzhanovaconfirming that bowling would not be included. bowling was still under consideration The letter explained that the IWGA had spent more than four months trying tosecure bowling’s inclusion, but the Karlsruhe organisers had rejected itsproposals. The reasons for their decision are what the IBF is still trying to understand. “I have requested a meeting with the IWGA to better understand the reasonsbehind the Organising Committee's position and, in particular, the principalfactors that prevented Bowling from being accommodated,” Seymour toldBowlingLife. What does the IWGA say about the reasons? IWGA Communications Director Camille Bastin said to BowlingLife's ErikasJansonas that the assessment involved sporting, operational, strategic andorganisational considerations. “The final programme was determined jointly by the IWGA and the LocalOrganising Committee, with the LOC’s input and considerations around theoverall programme and local context forming part of the process.” “Ultimately, bowling was not included in the final programme. This reflectsthe overall assessment and balance of the programme, rather than a singlerequirement that the sport or its governing body failed to meet.” Maybe the same issues as before? This is not the first time bowling has been left out of The World Games.Therefore the natural question was whether this was similar circumstancessurrounding bowling’sexclusion from the 2025 Games, when the IWGAcited an inability to communicate with the IBF during the debriefing andapplication processes. exclusion from the 2025 Games cited an inability to communicate with the IBF during the debriefing andapplication processes “While lessons from previous editions are naturally part of the IWGA’sexperience, we would not characterise the decision as being based on the samespecific issues that arose in relation to the 2025 programme.” The IWGA also described changes in its relationship with the federation: “There were improvements in the relationship and communication between theIWGA and the IBF during the selection process for The World Games 2029. TheIBF also underwent organisational and structural changes between the selectionprocesses for 2025 and 2029, including changes within its staff, whichcontributed to a different working relationship.” IBF SEO also said the IBF had fulfilled its obligations to the IWGA. “Throughout, we responded to all requirements, provided the informationrequested within the applicable deadlines and engaged in meetings anddiscussions with the IWGA in relation to both our application and thepotential inclusion of Bowling in Karlsruhe 2029,” Seymour said. Can bowling work towards a return? The World Games train has left Karlsruhe station without bowling on board. Allthe sport’s leaders can do now is consider how to secure a place at the nextWorld Games. Asked what concrete changes would secure a return, the IWGA made clear thatthere is no guaranteed route back. "For bowling, as for any sport seeking inclusion, it will therefore be important to demonstrate continued alignment with these criteria and with the strategic direction of the IWGA, while maintaining strong engagement with the IWGA and providing complete and timely information throughout the application and selection process.""The programme selection also takes into account the overall composition and balance of the Games, including the sporting, operational and strategic considerations relevant to each edition and each Host City. As such, meeting the applicable criteria does not in itself guarantee inclusion in a particular edition," IWGA Communications Director Camille Bastin said. IWGA assured that it remains committed to dialogue with its member federations andto considering bowling for future editions. For now, one key question remains: how can the IBF identify what needs to change for a future return without clear feedback on the specific reasons for bowling’s exclusion? Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowling-world-games-2029-ibf-seeks-answers/#article","mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowling-world-games-2029-ibf-seeks-answers"},"headline": "IBF Seeks Answers on Why The World Games Train Has Left Without Bowling","description": "BowlingLife asks the IBF and IWGA why bowling missed The World Games 2029, with Michael Seymour confirming the IBF is still seeking clarity.","datePublished": "2026-09-11T23:54:52+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-11T23:54:52+03:00","inLanguage": "en","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "International Bowling Federation"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "International World Games Association"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Michael Seymour"}]}]}

David Krol won the 28th DSD Samho Korea Cup International Open on Monday,defeating Mexico’s Arturo Quintero 237-197 in the championship match atBowltopia in Yongin, South Korea. The American opened the final with a double and took control early beforeclosing out the victory on September 7. Krol earned over $44,500 from thetournament’s $222,800 individual prize fund. Six bowlers reached the televised finals, where they were divided into twothree-player shootouts. The winner of each group advanced to the championshipmatch. Krol won the first shootout with 205, finishing ahead of South Korea’s LeeJeongsik with 193 and Kim Yeonghwan with 172. Quintero moved on from the secondgroup after facing Chris Via and South Korea’s Lim Seungwon. The tournament brought together 400 bowlers from 17 countries. The competition was held fromSeptember 3-7 at Bowltopia. Krol finished seventh in PBA Tour points this season. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/david-krol-wins-28th-dsd-samho-korea-cup/#article","headline": "David Krol Wins 28th DSD Samho Korea Cup","description": "David Krol defeated Arturo Quintero 237-197 to win the 28th DSD Samho Korea Cup and its 60 million won top prize in South Korea.","datePublished": "2026-09-07T14:57:58+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-07T14:57:58+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/david-krol-wins-28th-dsd-samho-korea-cup"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "David Krol"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Arturo Quintero"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/david-krol-wins-28th-dsd-samho-korea-cup/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/david-krol-wins-28th-dsd-samho-korea-cup/#event","name": "28th DSD Samho Korea Cup International Open Bowling Tournament","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-09-03","endDate": "2026-09-07","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Bowltopia","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Yongin","addressCountry": "KR"}},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "David Krol"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Arturo Quintero"}],"description": "David Krol defeated Arturo Quintero 237-197 to win the 28th DSD Samho Korea Cup International Open at Bowltopia in Yongin, South Korea."}]}

Bowling will not return to The World Games in 2029 after being left out of theconfirmed sports programme for Karlsruhe, Germany. The International World Games Association announced the full programme forKarlsruhe, Germany. It features 36 sports and 62 disciplines, with around4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries expected to compete from July19-29, 2029. Unfortunately, bowling is not among them. The decision ends the possibility of a comeback that appeared in April. When the first 31 sports were announced,bowling remained under consideration alongside baseball/softball, racquetball and sambo. bowling remained under consideration alongside baseball/softball, racquetball and sambo At the time, the IWGA told BowlingLife that no decision had been made and thatthe remaining candidates would be considered separately. IWGA told BowlingLife “At this stage, the inclusion of bowling in the TWG 2029 programme has not yetbeen confirmed. However, it is on the list of sports that will still beconsidered, and a decision on those will be communicated by 1 July,” said AnnaJacobson, Head of Social Media and Digital Engagement. Of those four candidates, baseball/softball was added to the final programmethrough the Baseball5 discipline, while sambo was also included. Bowling andracquetball do not appear on theconfirmed list. confirmed list Bowling will now miss The World Games for the second consecutive edition afteralso being absent from Chengdu 2025. The sport had previously appeared at everyedition since the inaugural Games in 1981. Karlsruhe will host The World Games for the second time, 40 years after theGerman city first staged the event in 1989. Competition schedules, qualification systems and medal events for theconfirmed sports will be announced later. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews - all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowling-left-out-world-games-2029-programme/#article","headline": "Bowling Left Out of The World Games 2029 Programme","description": "Bowling has been left out of The World Games 2029 programme and will miss the multi-sport event for a second consecutive edition.","datePublished": "2026-09-05T08:11:03+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-05T08:11:03+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowling-left-out-world-games-2029-programme"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "International World Games Association","url": "https://www.theworldgames.org"},{"@type": "Thing","name": "Bowling"}]}]}

Australia has selected four men and four women to represent the country at the 2026 IBF World Cup in Germany this October. Brianna Walsh, Dena Buxton, Samantha Clifton and Siarn Ottaviano make up theAustralian women’s team. Callum Borck, Jackson Buckingham, Liam Cochrane and Seth Gray have beenselected for the men’s competition. The eight bowlers earned their places through Australia’s nationalhigh-performance pathway. Men and women will compete for world titles in singles and team competition. The event will be played at the 30-lane Max Munich Bowling center, with stringpinsetters. Teams arrive on October 12 before official practice and the opening ceremonythe following day. Singles competition runs from October 14–17,followed by the team events from October 18–21. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/australia-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#article","headline": "Australia Names Eight Bowlers for 2026 IBF World Cup","description": "Australia has selected four men and four women for the 2026 IBF World Cup, taking place October 12–21 at Max Munich Bowling in Germany.","datePublished": "2026-09-03T21:22:37+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-03T21:22:37+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/australia-team-2026-ibf-world-cup"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "Team Australia"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/australia-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/australia-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#event","name": "2026 IBF World Cup","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-10-12","endDate": "2026-10-21","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","url": "https://bowling.sport/2026-ibf-world-cup/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Max Munich Bowling – Brunnthal","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Brunnthal","addressRegion": "Bavaria","addressCountry": "DE"}},"organizer": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "International Bowling Federation","url": "https://bowling.sport/"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "German Bowling Federation"}],"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Callum Borck"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Jackson Buckingham"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Liam Cochrane"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Seth Gray"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Brianna Walsh"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Dena Buxton"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Samantha Clifton"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Siarn Ottaviano"}],"description": "The 2026 IBF World Cup brings national teams to Max Munich Bowling in Brunnthal, Germany, for men’s and women’s singles and team competition."}]}

400 bowlers will compete for 300 millionwon (approx. 220,000 USD) when the 2026 DSD Samho Korea Cup opens in South Korea this week. The 28th edition of the international tournament will run from September3-7 at BOWLtopia in Yongin, near Seoul. The 44-lane center will welcomeprofessional and amateur players from South Korea, Japan, the United States,Europe and other parts of Asia. Prize money will be awarded down to 64th place. The champion will receive 60 million won, (approx. 44,000 USD). An additional four million won is listed for the special team event duringMonday’s television finals. Official practice and ball inspection will take place Thursday, September3, before the main competition begins Friday. The field will be divided into four squads of 100 players. Each squad willbowl five games Friday and another five Saturday, with the ten-game totaldeciding who moves on. The top 16 players from each squad will advance,reducing the field from 400 to 64. The entry list brings together seeded and priority players from the KoreaProfessional Bowling Association, invited professionals from Japan andoverseas, players who advanced through Korea’s mid-year trials and 20amateurs who earned their places through qualification. Women will receive six pins of handicap per game during the ten-game openingstage and Sunday’s elimination rounds. The handicap will not apply duringthe television finals. Format Changes on Sunday The tournament will take a very different shape once the remaining 64players return Sunday. Instead of chasing a total score, bowlers will faceeach other in best-of-three matches, with the first player to win two gamesadvancing. Three rounds of head-to-head matches will reduce the field to eight. Thoseeight players will then be divided into two groups of four and bowl two gamesfor total pinfall on a new pair of lanes. The lowest-scoring player in eachgroup will be eliminated, leaving six bowlers for Monday’s television final. Six-Player TV Final Set for Monday Monday’s program will begin at 12:58 p.m. local time with a three-playerBaker team event featuring KPBA, PBA and JPBA representatives. The eventguide states that the overseas lineup will come from the highest-rankedeligible players who did not reach the singles television final. The six-player singles final is scheduled to begin on Monday, at 1:35 p.m. local. Tournament action is scheduled to be shown through theofficial KPBA YouTube channel. official KPBA YouTube channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-dsd-samho-korea-cup-format-prize-schedule/#article","headline": "400 Bowlers Chase 60 Million Won at 2026 DSD Samho Korea Cup","description": "The 2026 DSD Samho Korea Cup brings 400 bowlers to South Korea for a 300 million won prize fund and a six-player TV final.","datePublished": "2026-09-02T13:16:45+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-02T13:16:45+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-dsd-samho-korea-cup-format-prize-schedule"},"about": [{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-dsd-samho-korea-cup-format-prize-schedule/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-dsd-samho-korea-cup-format-prize-schedule/#event","name": "28th DSD Samho Korea Cup International Open Bowling Tournament","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-09-03","endDate": "2026-09-07","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "BOWLtopia","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "B2, 41 Seokseong-ro 521beon-gil, Giheung-gu","addressLocality": "Yongin","addressRegion": "Gyeonggi-do","addressCountry": "KR"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Korea Professional Bowling Association"},"description": "The 2026 DSD Samho Korea Cup brings 400 professional and amateur bowlers to BOWLtopia in Yongin to compete for 300 million won in singles prize money."}]}

Sean Rash has announced his first signature bowling ball, created incollaboration with SWAG Bowling. Rash revealed the new ball on social media with a first-look image. The ballwill be named the “Virtue.” Its technical specifications, price and releasedate have not yet been announced. SWAG later confirmed that the Virtue is planned as an international releasefor Asia, at least initially. “It’s truly an honor to be partnering up,and we can’t wait to share more as this one starts making waves,” SWAG Bowling said on social media. Sean Rash is a member of both the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame and has won 18PBA Tour titles, including two majors. His most recent PBA Tour victory came at the2025 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Sweden.Rash defeated Finland’s Juho Rissanen to claim his 18th career title despitestruggling with a hand injury during the championship match. 2025 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Sweden {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/sean-rash-virtue-bowling-ball/#article","headline": "Sean Rash Unveils His First Signature Bowling Ball","description": "Sean Rash and SWAG Bowling have unveiled the Virtue, the PBA Hall of Famer’s first signature ball, initially planned for the Asian market.","datePublished": "2026-08-13T21:31:15+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-13T21:31:15+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/sean-rash-virtue-bowling-ball"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Sean Rash","url": "https://www.pba.com/players/sean-rash"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "SWAG Bowling","url": "https://www.swagbowling.com/"},{"@type": "Product","name": "Virtue Bowling Ball"}]}]}

Lucky Strike Entertainment announced new upgrades aimed at improving theexperience for regular league bowlers while also making leagues easier todiscover for new players. Lucky Strike plans to improve lane conditioning and oil patterns across 270bowling centers. These upgrades will touch more than 300,000 bowlers whocurrently take part in leagues across the United States. The goal is to createmore consistent playing conditions for bowlers competing week after week. Lucky Strike said league bowling remains an important part of its business andits connection with local bowling communities. To promote leagues and bringnew people into the sport, the company will hold League Open Houses at 244participating centers nationwide. The events are designed to introduce newbowlers to local leagues and give current players more information aboutupcoming seasons and league benefits. The League Open Houses will continue through July 30. Visitors can meet otherbowlers, learn about available leagues and try two hours of free bowling withshoe rental included. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now Lucky Strike Vice President of Leagues Trista Kimmes said the company wants tosupport longtime league players while making the format more accessible topeople who have never joined a league before. "League bowling has always been an important part of who we are, and we'recommitted to continuing to invest in the experience for the bowlers who makeour leagues so special. We're focused on making leagues more accessible tofirst-time bowlers and anyone looking for a fun, social activity they canenjoy week after week. Our League Open Houses are a great way for guests toexperience that community and see firsthand what league bowling is allabout," Kimmes said. Earlier in July, Lucky Strike Entertainment introduced a refreshed identity for AMF. Lucky Strike Entertainment introduced a refreshed identity for AMF {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/lucky-strike-entertainment-league-bowling-upgrades/#article","headline": "Lucky Strike Entertainment Announces Nationwide Lane Upgrades and League Open Houses","description": "Lucky Strike Entertainment is upgrading lane conditioning across 270 centers to benefit over 300,000 league bowlers, while hosting League Open Houses with free bowling across 244 venues.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-07-28T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-07-28T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/lucky-strike-entertainment-league-bowling-upgrades"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "Lucky Strike Entertainment"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/lucky-strike-entertainment-league-bowling-upgrades/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "What upgrades is Lucky Strike Entertainment bringing to league bowlers?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Lucky Strike is upgrading lane conditioning and oil patterns across 270 bowling centers, aimed at providing more consistent playing conditions for over 300,000 league bowlers across the United States."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is included in the Lucky Strike League Open Houses?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Running through July 30 at 244 participating centers nationwide, the League Open Houses give visitors an opportunity to learn about upcoming league seasons, meet local bowlers, and try two hours of free bowling with shoe rental included."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who is leading the league bowling programs at Lucky Strike Entertainment?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Trista Kimmes serves as the Vice President of Leagues at Lucky Strike Entertainment, overseeing initiatives to enhance the experience for existing league members while attracting first-time bowlers."}}]}]}

AMF is getting a new look. Lucky Strike Entertainment announced a refreshed identity for the brand onJuly 21. The LSE said the update will connect the brand’s century-long historywith its future as a modern bowling center. The most visible change is a redesigned AMF shield logo. It keeps the familiarshape but introduces new lettering and a new, brighter red color. The widervisual identity will use red together with varsity blue, white and gold. The refreshed brand will operate under the platform “A Classic Since Always.”The message is designed to place more focus on AMF’s history while continuingto present its centers as places for league bowling, open play, youthprograms, parties and social events. Customers will first see the changes across AMF’s website, social mediaaccounts and selected materials inside the centers. More updates will beintroduced over time. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now Lucky Strike Entertainment founder and CEO Thomas Shannon described theproject as an investment in AMF’s future. He said the company plans to growthe brand while continuing to support league play and affordable bowling forfamilies and local communities. "This is more than a brand refresh. It's an investment in the future of AMF,"said Thomas Shannon. "We are building on the strength of an iconic brand andpositioning it for long-term growth. As we expand the AMF brand across thecountry, our focus remains the same: delivering great bowling experiences,supporting league play, and providing an affordable destination for familiesand communities." The AMF name will also remain part of professional bowling. Its centers hostPBA Tour competition, including the Tournament of Champions and the PBA WorldChampionships. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/amf-unveils-brand-refresh-and-new-logo/#article","headline": "AMF Unveils Brand Refresh and Redesigned Logo Under 'A Classic Since Always' Platform","description": "Lucky Strike Entertainment announced a modernized visual identity for AMF bowling centers, featuring a redesigned logo, vibrant new colors, and a commitment to long-term growth and league bowling.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-07-21T15:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-07-21T15:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/amf-unveils-brand-refresh-and-new-logo"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "AMF Bowling"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Lucky Strike Entertainment"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/amf-unveils-brand-refresh-and-new-logo/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "What changes are included in the AMF brand refresh?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The rebrand features a redesigned AMF shield logo with updated lettering, a brighter red color, and an expanded visual palette including varsity blue, white, and gold—all anchored by the new platform tagline 'A Classic Since Always'."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who announced the AMF brand update?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The update was announced on July 21, 2026, by Lucky Strike Entertainment (LSE) founder and CEO Thomas Shannon as part of a long-term strategic investment in the AMF brand."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Will AMF centers still support league bowling and pro events?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Yes, Lucky Strike Entertainment confirmed that AMF will continue supporting league play, family open play, and hosting major professional PBA Tour events, including the Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championships."}}]}]}

Selected PBA ELITE Regional Tour events will be broadcast live on Bowling TV this autumn, with the season-ending PBA Regional Players Invitational also exclusive to the channel. Bowling TV The announcement covers 12 PBA and PWBA regional broadcasts from September through December 2026. Six PBA ELITE regional stops and the RPI will be exclusive to Bowling TV, while five PWBA events will also be available on BowlTV. The announcement Coverage begins September 13 with qualifying and the stepladder finals of the PWBA Twin Cities Regional at Cedarvale Lanes in Eagan, Minnesota. The first PBA ELITE broadcast follows September 19–20, when the South Regional 1 takes place in Rocky Mount, Virginia. How to Watch Bowling TV Bowling TV is a free, ad-supported channel, separate from the USBC’s BowlTV subscription service. We wrote an article on how U.S. and international viewers can watch this bowling channel. We wrote an article on how U.S. and international viewers can watch this bowling channel Bowling TV’s 2026 Regional Broadcast Schedule All dates below are broadcast dates in 2026. The schedule is subject to change; check local listings for start times. September 13 — PWBA Twin Cities RegionalEagan, Minnesota — Bowling TV and BowlTV. September 13 — PWBA Twin Cities Regional September 19–20 — PBA ELITE South Regional 1Rocky Mount, Virginia — exclusively on Bowling TV. September 19–20 — PBA ELITE South Regional 1 September 27 — PWBA Albany RegionalSouth Glens Falls, New York — Bowling TV and BowlTV. September 27 — PWBA Albany Regional October 3–4 — PBA ELITE Central Regional 1Bluffton, Indiana — exclusively on Bowling TV. October 3–4 — PBA ELITE Central Regional 1 October 10–11 — PBA ELITE Southwest Regional 2Houston, Texas — exclusively on Bowling TV. October 10–11 — PBA ELITE Southwest Regional 2 October 17–18 — PBA ELITE Midwest Regional 1Lincoln, Nebraska — exclusively on Bowling TV. October 17–18 — PBA ELITE Midwest Regional 1 October 24 — PWBA Greater Cleveland RegionalLorain, Ohio — Bowling TV and BowlTV. October 24 — PWBA Greater Cleveland Regional October 31–November 1 — PBA ELITE Central Regional 3Fort Wayne, Indiana — exclusively on Bowling TV. October 31–November 1 — PBA ELITE Central Regional 3 November 14–15 — PBA ELITE Midwest Regional 3St. Charles, Missouri — exclusively on Bowling TV. November 14–15 — PBA ELITE Midwest Regional 3 November 22 — PWBA Greater Pittsburgh RegionalPittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Bowling TV and BowlTV. November 22 — PWBA Greater Pittsburgh Regional December 4–5 — PWBA Regional ShowdownOrlando, Florida — Bowling TV and BowlTV. December 4–5 — PWBA Regional Showdown December 11–13 — PBA Regional Players Invitational presented by USBCReno, Nevada — exclusively on Bowling TV. December 11–13 — PBA Regional Players Invitational presented by USBC The two season finales will take place at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando and the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, respectively. All action from the PBA Regional Players Invitational will be shown exclusively on Bowling TV. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/pba-elite-regional-tour-bowling-tv-schedule-2026/#article","mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/pba-elite-regional-tour-bowling-tv-schedule-2026"},"headline": "PBA ELITE Regional Tour Heads to Free Bowling TV: Full Schedule","description": "Selected PBA ELITE Regional Tour events and the RPI will air exclusively on Bowling TV. See the full 2026 schedule, including PWBA regional broadcasts.","datePublished": "2026-09-10T19:42:40+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-10T19:42:40+03:00","inLanguage": "en","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association"},{"@type": "TelevisionChannel","name": "Bowling TV","url": "https://www.watchbowling.tv/"}]}]}

EJ Tackett has become the first bowler in PBA history to win Player of the Year in four consecutive seasons, claiming the 2026 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year award. The 34-year-old from Bluffton, Indiana, received 85.46% of the votes cast by PBA members and media. It is his fifth career Player of the Year award, following victories in 2016 and from 2023 through 2025. Only Jason Belmonte and Walter Ray Williams Jr., with seven each, and Earl Anthony, with six, have won more. Tackett moves ahead of Mark Roth, who earned four. Record Average This season, Tackett set a PBA Tour single-season average record of 229.79 across 438 games. He also led the tour in points with 32,335 and earnings with $324,075. His consistency produced 10 top-five finishes, 13 top-10 finishes and 17 cashes in 18 title events, leading the tour in all three categories. The new average record adds to an already strong run. His 229.37 average in 2024 and 228.60 in 2025 rank third and fifth, respectively, on the all-time list. Tackett’s clinched the POY award winning the 2026 AMF PBA World Championship for the fourth consecutive year. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-fourth-straight-pba-player-of-the-year-2026/#article","headline": "Four in a Row: EJ Tackett Makes PBA Player of the Year History","description": "EJ Tackett becomes the first bowler to win four straight PBA Player of the Year awards after a record average and another World Championship title.","datePublished": "2026-09-10T09:10:03+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-10T09:10:03+03:00","mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-fourth-straight-pba-player-of-the-year-2026"},"author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "EJ Tackett"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association","url": "https://www.pba.com"}]}]}

Spencer Robarge added another trophy this year bywinning thePBA QubicaAMF Mark 3One Midwest Openat Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska. PBA QubicaAMF Mark 3One Midwest Open Robarge earned his fourth PBA Regional title of 2026 and the $3,000 top prize.He ended 47 pins ahead of runner-up Kai Evans. Ryan Burton finished only seven pins behind Evans in third place with 4,577.Jacob Bockstie and Gavin Unger completed the top five. Robarge Moves From Second to First Robarge opened the tournament with 1,698 over seven qualifying games,placing second behind Evans. The top third of the field advanced to four moregames before the leading eight moved into round-robin match play. Robarge then posted a 5-3 match-playrecord, collected 150 bonus pins, and moved past Evans andfinish in the first position. Along withfour regional titles, Robarge has already won twice on the national PBA Tour this year,claiming the PBA Ohio Classic and the Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles with Annalise OBryant. PBA Ohio Classic Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-fourth-regional-title-2026/#article","headline": "Spencer Robarge Wins Fourth Regional Title This Year at PBA QubicaAMF Mark 3One Midwest Open","description": "Spencer Robarge finished 47 pins ahead of Kai Evans in Lincoln to win the Mark 3One Midwest Open and his fourth regional title of 2026.","datePublished": "2026-09-02T11:08:12+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-02T11:08:12+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-fourth-regional-title-2026"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Spencer Robarge"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-fourth-regional-title-2026/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-fourth-regional-title-2026/#event","name": "2026 PBA QubicaAMF Mark 3One Midwest Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-28","endDate": "2026-08-30","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Sun Valley Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "321 Victory Lane","postalCode": "68528","addressLocality": "Lincoln","addressRegion": "NE","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Spencer Robarge"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Kai Evans"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Ryan Burton"}],"description": "Spencer Robarge won the 2026 PBA QubicaAMF Mark 3One Midwest Open by 47 pins over Kai Evans."}]}

Raymond Teece once watched PBA telecasts over and over on videotapes sent fromthe United States, wondering what it would feel like to win a title of hisown. On Monday night in Sweden, he finally found out. The Englishman defeated Finland’s Tomas Käyhkö 195-191 at Olympia Bowling inHelsingborg to win the 2026 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters - the first PBA Tourtitle of his career. The childhood dream had come true with almost the entire family together. His parents, wife Sydney and seven-month-old daughter watched from behind thelanes. Even his brother Richie joined the celebration by phone.“It’s very hard to express in words. I feel just elation,” Teecetold Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife after the final. “I’m still trying toprocess everything that led up to it and what has actually happened.” Four Pins Between Teece and Käyhkö Teece reached the championship match with a commanding 235-179 semifinal winover Sweden’s Carl Eklund. Käyhkö earned the other place by defeating AlbinGullstrand 255-209. The final was much tighter. Teece found a clear look on the right lane, butthe left lane demanded a different answer. He covered four spares there beforefinally striking in the ninth frame. Teece had received information about the pair while preparing away from thetelevision set. Richie stayed in contact with him, while his Full House coachwas beside him in the warm-up area. “They were watching the match while I was warming up and giving me some intelon what Tomas was doing on the lanes,” Teece said. “We just felt like thatlane was getting tighter because the ball would lock up a little bit more whenyou got it out, whereas on the right lane you could get it there and it wouldrecover a little bit easier.” Käyhkö opened the door by missing a single 10-pin early in the game, but theFinn remained close. Teece then tripped the 9-pin in the ninth frame, givinghim his first strike on the left lane and completing a double at the mostimportant moment. “That still wasn’t the greatest shot that I wanted to throw,” Teece said. “Butit was good enough to get the job done.” Käyhkö struck in the ninth, but left a 10-pin on each of his first two shotsin the 10th and finished with 191. Teece needed only enough countafter his ninth-frame strike. His first ball left the 2-7-8, and the wholecrowd at the Olympia Bowling sighed loutdly. BUt only for a second - knockingdown two pins on the spare attempt secured a four-pin victory. From Videotapes to Dream Come True Teece’s dream began more than two decades ago, long before PBA broadcasts wereeasy to find online. “It’s insane to think back to the shows that I still remember watching when Iwas a teenager,” Teece said. “A guy that we knew would get videotapes sent tohim by a friend in the States every month, with all the telecasts from thatmonth. I’d just be watching them all the time, on video, over and over andover.” Those recordings showed him the best bowlers in the world lifting trophies andcelebrating moments he wanted to experience himself. “Watching those guys win their titles and some of their reactions, justthinking, ‘I want to be there. I want that to happen to me. I’ll do whatever Ineed to do.’” The opportunity had started to feel more urgent in recent seasons. Teeceadmitted that he could feel the window for winning at the highest levelbecoming smaller, which made Monday’s victory even harder to comprehend. “To have actually done it—it just means all of that time has been worth it,”he said. Mum and Dad Kept Their Promise Before the final,Teece told BowlingLife about a promise his parents madewhen he and Richie were young. If either brother reached a PBA Tour final,they would do everything possible to be there. Teece told BowlingLife about a promise his parents made They kept that promise when Richie won the 2017 PBA Shark Championship on hisfirst television appearance. Nearly nine years later, they travelled fromEngland to Sweden and watched Raymond join him as a champion. “They made a promise to us when we were younger and we were aspiring to it:‘If you ever make it, we will be there. As long as it’s not on the same day,we will be there,’” Teece said. “Maybe, maybe Mum and Dad are the lucky charm,” he said. “It’s nothing to dowith us.” Teece’s title completed a tournament that began with the first 300 game of theweek and included a difficult route through both Sunday final stages.He then defeated Teodor Samuelsson, qualifying winner Tomo GaberPinteric, Eklund and Käyhkö on his way to the trophy. “All the time, all the effort, all the dedication, and all the time that I’vekind of taken away from my own game to help others as well with coaching andeverything else—I wouldn’t change any of it,” Teece said. “I know that it ledhere and it led to me being able to do that.” Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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Ironically, Carl Eklund barely remembers the biggest match of his life yet. What remainsclear is the first ball of the 10th frame—and the wave of relief that followedwhen it found the pocket. The 20-year-old Swede had defeated Jesper Svensson 686-652 andearned a place in theStorm Lucky Larsen Masterssemifinals at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters Eklund will face England’s Raymond Teece in a one-game semifinal on Mondayevening. Two more wins would give him his first PBA Tour title, earned in theonly international event on the 2026 PBA Tour schedule. “It means the world to me,” Eklund said. “It was a really long road to gethere, and it was kind of tough, I would say.” Best Bowling of His Life Eklund improved his qualifying score several times during the week. His bestsix-game block of 1,459 earned him a direct place in Final Step 2, allowinghim to skip Sunday morning’s opening round. He then advanced from Final Step 2 as the eighth seed for match play. In theRound of 16, Eklund bowled games 248, 227 and 267 for a 742 total,defeating Norway’s Mathias Otting by 187 pins. “Probably some of the best decisions of my life I’ve made, and some of thebest bowling of my life,” Eklund said. “Everything I’ve done to get here, Ithink I’ve done almost everything the best way I could.” Jesper Svensson looked almost untouchable earlier on Sunday. He led Final Step 2 and then defeated Anton Andersson 785-636 in hisopening match. He also began the quarterfinal with 258 against Eklund’s 207. Eklund answeredwith 224 in the second game to cut the deficit, then took control with 255 inthe deciding game as Svensson closed with 194. “I have to say, he’s the best bowler in Sweden,” Eklund said. “I honestlydon’t know. I barely remember the finals. I wish I could walk you through it,but I only remember stepping up into the 10th.” Before his final frame, Eklund watched and waited for Svensson to finish. “I was sitting down and waiting for him to throw a shot in the 10th, and Iwas like, ‘I’m going to have to put one more on the board. He’s going tostrike out, because it’s Jesper.’” When the moment finally arrived, Eklund reduced the situation to one simpletask. “I was like, ‘Just relax now. Get into the pocket, just make a good shot andmove on with it,’” he said. “I got the first one in the 10th. It was such anice moment for me.” A PBA Title Chance on Home Soil Eklund’s reaction after the match showed how much the victory meant, but he istrying not to look beyond his semifinal against Teece. Every remaining playeris still searching for a first PBA Tour title. “It feels amazing,” Eklund said. “I don’t like to get ahead of myself, butjust being here is amazing for me. I want to win, but I have to get throughone guy first.” If he does, Eklund would bowl for the title in one of his home country’s mostfamiliar venues, with his father and coach watching from behind the lanes. “It’s one of the best bowling alleys in Sweden as well—the best staff, such anamazing facility,” Eklund said. “I’ll have my dad and my coach watching. Itwould be amazing, a dream come true.” Tomas Käyhkö and Albin Gullstrand will meet in the other semifinal. Monday’sshow begins at 7 p.m. local time, with the two semifinal winners advancing tothe one-game championship match. The finals will be streamed live on theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/carl-eklund-first-pba-title-home-sllm/#article","headline": "“It Means the World to Me”: Carl Eklund Chases PBA Title on Home Soil","description": "Carl Eklund reflects on beating Jesper Svensson, his emotional reaction and the chance to win his first PBA Tour title on home soil.","datePublished": "2026-08-31T16:26:02+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-31T16:26:02+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/carl-eklund-first-pba-title-home-sllm"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Carl Eklund"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Jesper Svensson"},{"@type": "SportsEvent","name": "2026 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters"}]}]}

After a few years of being close, Raymond Teece has finally reached the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters finals and given himself a real chance to win the first PBA Tour title of his career. Teece reached the quarterfinals at Olympia Bowling last year before losing to eventual champion Sean Rash. This time, he made it through two Sunday final stages and two match-play rounds to become one of the last four players standing. Raymond’s run to the TV finals is no coincidence—he feels right at home in Sweden.When Teece walks onto the tv pair on Monday night, his Swedish League teammates will be behind him at Olympia Bowling, while his parents are travelling from England to keep a promise made to Raymond and his brother Richie when they were young. They promised their sons that if either of them reached a PBA Tour final, they would be there to watch. They kept their word when Richie won the 2017 PBA Shark Championship. Now, it is Raymond’s turn. Teece will face Sweden’s Carl Eklund in the semifinal, two wins away from joining his brother among PBA Tour champions.After years of work, near misses and what he calls “emotional torture,” the opportunity means far more than one night of bowling. A Tournament of Ups and Downs Teece made an immediate impact by bowling the first 300 game of the tournamentduring Squad 9. However, the perfect game did not lead to the six-game totalhe wanted. “The tournament, I feel like it’s had its ups and downs,” Teece said. “Itstarted early with the first 300 of the tournament. I didn’t take theopportunities that I had in that squad to start with. I played another squadand didn’t really make much of it.” Teece then took a few days away from competition and spent time with familyin Sweden. He returned on Thursday and produced the score he needed, helped bya big final game. Confident that it would be enough, he did not enter anotherqualifying squad. “I just thought, ‘Let’s just start on Sunday and see what happens,’” Teecesaid. “Just keep going until I don’t get any further.” His Sunday began in Final Step 1. Teece advanced through that round and FinalStep 2 before earning the fifth seed for match play. He defeated 2024 SLLM runner-up Teodor Samuelsson 699-614 and then ended qualifying leader Tomo Gaber Pinteric’s run with a 604-580 victory. 2024 SLLM runner-up Teodor Samuelsson qualifying leader Tomo Gaber Pinteric’s run “The Biggest Two Games of My Career” Teece reached the quarterfinals in Helsingborg last year before losing toeventual champion Sean Rash. This time, he has taken the next step and willcompete in his first SLLM tv finals. champion Sean Rash “Which leads into, as you say, two games now—the biggest, potentially twogames of my career,” Teece said. “It’s what you train for. It’s what you worktowards. It’s what your dream is, and it’s what you’re aiming to do.” He knows how much is at stake, but his plan is to narrow his attention to thethings he can actually influence. “I’m just going to try and focus on what I can control,” Teece said. “But ifit all goes well for me, if it works out for me, then it would be a dream cometrue. It would be a lifetime of dreaming, a lifetime of working and alifetime of, shall we say, emotional torture through my career to get here,and hopefully take it home.” The Messenger Came When It Mattered Teece joked that he did not receive his first messenger of the tournamentuntil the quarterfinal. It arrived when he needed it most, but he does notbelieve luck—or a lack of it—tells the full story of his week. “It was kind of sweet, because last year I got so close and I was using acompletely different set of skills,” Teece said. “This year, it’s almost likethe opposite, trying to use different angles, different speeds and differentball rolls to manage what’s in front of me.” Instead of waiting for the lanes to suit his game, Teece has focused onadapting to each situation and making the right decisions before the pinsdetermine the rest. “I’ve been able to control the pocket when I’ve got the ball off my hand,” hesaid. “It’s just been a matter of making sure I make the decisions at theright time and just staying out of my own way, as it would be for anyone inthat situation.” “It would be nice if the lanes, for lack of a better phrase, suited me, but inthis day and age, it’s not really possible, I don’t think, to properly suitone style of play because there are ways and means of attacking it. It’s justa matter of the pins falling the right way.” The one-game semifinal between Teece and Eklund begins as part of Monday’sfinal show at 7 p.m. local time. Tomas Käyhkö and Albin Gullstrand will meetin the other semifinal before the two winners bowl one game for the title.The entire show will be streamed live on theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel. Tomas Käyhkö Albin Gullstrand Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/raymond-teece-family-pba-title-sllm/#article","headline": "“A Lifetime of Dreaming”: Raymond Teece Chases His Brother Into PBA Winner’s Circle","description": "Raymond Teece discusses his family’s promise, his path through SLLM and the chance to join brother Richie as a PBA Tour champion.","datePublished": "2026-08-31T15:24:16+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-31T15:24:16+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/raymond-teece-family-pba-title-sllm"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Raymond Teece"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Richie Teece"},{"@type": "SportsEvent","name": "2026 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters"}]}]}

Sunday night’s quarterfinal at Olympia Bowling had the feel of David againstGoliath. On one side stood the three-time reigning PBA Player of the Year. Onthe other was a young Swede, backed by the home crowd and still chasing hisfirst PBA Tour title. But while some victories look almost impossible from the outside, Albin Gullstrand never saw his match against EJ Tackett that way. Gullstrand had already defeated Swedish League teammate Markus Jansson, andhe believed the same performance could take him past Tackett. Three gameslater, what seemed impossible to many had become reality. Gullstrand won714-639 and advanced to Monday’s Storm Lucky Larsen Masters semifinals. The victory carried even more weight after the difficult road that broughthim here. “It means everything to sit here today and bowl today, because I have had areally rough time with sickness in my stomach,” Gullstrand said. “So to sithere and bowl today is amazing.” Gullstrand earned a direct place in Final Step 2 after finishing qualification in sixth with 1,473. He then secured the No. 14 seed for the three-game total-pinfallmatches. His first opponent was fellow Swede Markus Jansson, his teammate in theSwedish League. Gullstrand won 791-693, even though he lost the first game 299-279. Gullstrand carried the same approach into hisquarterfinal against Tackett. Tackett entered the tournament as one of the biggest names in the field, butGullstrand believed the matchup gave him a real opportunity. “I knew that if I did what I did against Markus, I would win, because hedidn’t look too good on the fresh,” Gullstrand said. “I knew I had nothing tolose. I just tried to win and do what I do best, and it finally worked.” “It’s Not Everybody Who Beats Him” Gullstrand opened the quarterfinal with 237 and then added 275 to take controlof the match. A closing 202 gave him a 714 total, while Tackett finished with639 after games of 230, 226 and 183. The Swede admitted that facing Tackett brought nerves, but the size of themoment also made the victory more rewarding. “I was nervous against him. I mean, it’s EJ Tackett. It’s not everybody whobeats him,” Gullstrand said. “So it’s really cool to sit here today, and Ibeat EJ to sit here. It means everything.”Gullstrand will now meet Tomas Käyhkö in a one-game semifinal. The Finn is the onlyfull-time PBA Tour player among the four semifinalists and reached this stageby defeating PBA Tour champions Santtu Tahvanainen and Zach Wilkins. Gullstrand will now meet Tomas Käyhkö in a one-game semifinal. The Finn is the onlyfull-time PBA Tour player among the four semifinalists and reached this stageby defeating PBA Tour champions Santtu Tahvanainen and Zach Wilkins. “I think it’s going to be a hard match against Tomas,” Gullstrand said. “Butif I do what I do best and he has a little rough day, I think I might haveit.” Carl Eklund and Raymond Teece will meet in the other semifinal. All threematches are decided over one game, and every remaining player is looking fora first PBA Tour title. The finals begin at 7 p.m. local time and will bestreamed live on theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/albin-gullstrand-pba-title-shot/#article","headline": "“It Means Everything”: Albin Gullstrand Turns Tough Road Into PBA Title Shot","description": "Albin Gullstrand reflects on health struggles, defeating EJ Tackett and earning a shot at his first PBA Tour title at the SLLM.","datePublished": "2026-08-31T14:30:22+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-31T14:30:22+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/albin-gullstrand-pba-title-shot"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Albin Gullstrand"},{"@type": "SportsEvent","name": "2026 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters"}]}]}

Tomas Käyhkö enters Monday evening two wins away from the first PBA Tourtitle of his career at theStorm Lucky Larsen Mastersin Helsingborg, Sweden. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters The Finnish bowler will face Sweden’s Albin Gullstrand in a one-gamesemifinal at Olympia Bowling. Käyhkö is the only full-time PBA Tour playeramong the four semifinalists, but like Gullstrand, Carl Eklund and RaymondTeece, he is still chasing his first Tour title. Käyhkö secured his place in the final stages during his first qualifyingattempt. He then produced one of the strongest finishes of the tournament inFinal Step 2, closing with games of 300, 268 and 278 . “Winning today would be a dream come true, something I’ve been dreaming aboutall my life,” Käyhkö told BowlingLife. “The tournament has been going prettywell. I qualified in my first squad, then had a huge finish in Final Step 2.I won matches against Santtu [Tahvanainen] and Zach [Wilkins], and now I’m finally here. It would meanthe world to me to win today.” Käyhkö defeated fellow Finn and PBA Tour champion Santtu Tahvanainen 690-624in the Round of 16. He followed that by beating two-time PBA Tour winner ZachWilkins 736-713 in the quarterfinals. The televised rounds begin on freshly prepared lanes, a situation in whichKäyhkö has looked comfortable throughout the week. His plan has been builtaround the equipment that has worked best at Olympia Bowling. “I like throwing urethane, and urethane has been the thing this week, so Ifeel confident doing that,” Käyhkö said. Experience Under the TV Lights Käyhkö has already experienced bowling for a PBA Tour title on tv.At the 2024 PBA Delaware Classic, David Krol defeated Käyhkö in the championship match, leavingthe Finn one victory short of his first PBA Tour title. Käyhkö believes thatexperience could help him as he returns to the television lights inHelsingborg. “This kind of feels like an international event combined with a PBA event,but I feel like I maybe have a little bit more experience on TV than theothers, so it might give me a little bit of an edge,” Käyhkö said. The SLLM semifinals begin at 7 p.m. local time. The two winners will returnfor the one-game title match, with the championcollecting 200,000 Swedish kronor (approx. 21,000 dollars) and an official PBA Tour title. All theaction will be streamed live on theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/tomas-kayhko-sllm-first-pba-tour-title/#article","headline": "“Winning Today Would Be a Dream Come True”: Tomas Käyhkö Eyes First PBA Tour Title","description": "Tomas Käyhkö discusses his road to the SLLM semifinals, his confidence with urethane and what a first PBA Tour title would mean.","datePublished": "2026-08-31T13:49:01+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-31T13:49:01+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/tomas-kayhko-sllm-first-pba-tour-title"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Tomas Käyhkö"},{"@type": "SportsEvent","name": "2026 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters"}]}]}

The Professional Women’s Bowling Association has announced the schedule forthe 2027 PWBA Regional Tour. The season will feature 10 events, beginning with the PWBA Fort Meade Regionalin Maryland on January 31 and ending with the PWBA Regional Showdown atBoardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Florida, from December 2-4. Regional events will also be held in Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Jersey,New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and South Carolina. The regular regional stops will continue to use a one-day format featuringeight games of qualifying before the top four advance to the stepladderfinals. Each regional winner will also earn an automatic place in match play at theseason-ending Regional Showdown. The remaining places in the 18-player fieldwill be decided through an eight-game qualifying round open to eligibleregional competitors. The Regional Showdown champion will receive her entry fees covered for allPWBA National Tour singles events in 2028. To compete in a PWBA Regional event, female bowlers must average at least 180.Players who have won a PWBA National Tour title within the previous 15 yearsare not eligible to enter regional events. 2027 PWBA Regional Schedule Dates, events, bowling centers and locations are subject to change. All eventswill be streamed live on BowlTV. January 31 - PWBA Fort Meade Regional, The Lanes FortMeade, Fort Meade, MarylandMarch 7 - PWBA Dallas Regional, Lucky Strike Euless,Euless, TexasApril 3 - PWBA Eastern Pennsylvania Regional, Steel CityBowl & Brews, Bethlehem, PennsylvaniaAugust 7 - PWBA Lafayette Regional, Mike Aulby’s ArrowheadBowl, Lafayette, IndianaAugust 29 - PWBA Garden State Regional, Howell Lanes,Howell, New JerseySeptember 12 - PWBA Staten Island Regional, Rab’s CountryLanes, Staten Island, New YorkSeptember 18 - PWBA Oshkosh Regional, Revs Bowl, Oshkosh,WisconsinOctober 3 - PWBA Rubber City Regional, Station 300 Akron,Akron, OhioNovember 7 - PWBA Myrtle Beach Regional, Myrtle Beach Bowl,Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaDecember 2-4 - PWBA Regional Showdown, Boardwalk Bowl,Orlando, Florida January 31 - PWBA Fort Meade Regional, The Lanes FortMeade, Fort Meade, Maryland January 31 March 7 - PWBA Dallas Regional, Lucky Strike Euless,Euless, Texas March 7 April 3 - PWBA Eastern Pennsylvania Regional, Steel CityBowl & Brews, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania April 3 August 7 - PWBA Lafayette Regional, Mike Aulby’s ArrowheadBowl, Lafayette, Indiana August 7 August 29 - PWBA Garden State Regional, Howell Lanes,Howell, New Jersey August 29 September 12 - PWBA Staten Island Regional, Rab’s CountryLanes, Staten Island, New York September 12 September 18 - PWBA Oshkosh Regional, Revs Bowl, Oshkosh,Wisconsin September 18 October 3 - PWBA Rubber City Regional, Station 300 Akron,Akron, Ohio October 3 November 7 - PWBA Myrtle Beach Regional, Myrtle Beach Bowl,Myrtle Beach, South Carolina November 7 December 2-4 - PWBA Regional Showdown, Boardwalk Bowl,Orlando, Florida December 2-4 {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2027-pwba-regional-tour-schedule-announced/#article","headline": "PWBA Announces 10-Event Schedule for 2027 Regional Tour","description": "The Professional Women's Bowling Association has released its 2027 PWBA Regional Tour schedule, featuring 10 events across 10 states concluding with the Regional Showdown in Orlando.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-28T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-28T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2027-pwba-regional-tour-schedule-announced"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women's Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2027-pwba-regional-tour-schedule-announced/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "When does the 2027 PWBA Regional Tour start and end?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The season starts on January 31, 2027, with the PWBA Fort Meade Regional in Maryland and concludes with the PWBA Regional Showdown at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Florida, from December 2–4, 2027."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the competition format for standard 2027 PWBA Regional events?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Regular regional stops feature a one-day format with eight qualifying games, after which the top four players advance to the stepladder finals."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What reward does the PWBA Regional Showdown champion receive?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The winner of the PWBA Regional Showdown will have all her entry fees covered for all PWBA National Tour singles events in 2028."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who is eligible to compete in PWBA Regional Tour events?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Female bowlers averaging at least 180 are eligible to compete. Bowlers who have won a PWBA National Tour title within the past 15 years are excluded from entering regional events."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Where can fans watch the 2027 PWBA Regional events?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "All 10 events on the 2027 PWBA Regional Tour schedule will be streamed live on BowlTV."}}]}]}

Jillian Martin closed the 2026 PWBA season by making history at the PWBA TourChampionship. The 22-year-old defeated Germany’s Birgit Noreiks, 247-221, in Tuesday night’stitle match at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio. Noreiks made an early push for the title by opening the championship matchwith five consecutive strikes. Although Martin started slower with two spares,she gradually worked her way back into the match as Noreiks was unable tocontinue her opening run. Martin struck in the ninth and on her first shot of the 10th before finishingwith 247 to secure the championship and the $30,000 top prize. Noreiks earned $15,000 as the runner-up. It was Martin’s fifth career PWBA title and third major championship. As ifthat accomplishment was not enough, Martin also became the first bowler sincethe PWBA Tour relaunched to complete the Triple Crown by winning all threetour majors. She won the USBC Queens by defeating Hope Gramly in the final,captured the U.S. Women’s Open after a roll-off thriller against Sin Li Janeand has now added the PWBA Tour Championship. At 22 years and 24 days old, Martin also became the youngest bowler ever tocomplete the Triple Crown. The previous record belonged to Wendy Macpherson,who completed the Triple Crown at 22 years and 293 days old. Earlier in the stepladder finals, Lauren Russo started by defeating StefanieJohnson, 236-202, before beating Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 258-166. Noreiksthen stopped Russo in the semifinal, 226-221, to advance to the title matchagainst Martin. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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She is also the first bowler to achieve the Triple Crown since the PWBA Tour relaunch."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Which major championships make up Jillian Martin's PWBA Triple Crown?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Jillian Martin's Triple Crown consists of titles at the USBC Queens (defeating Hope Gramly), the U.S. Women's Open (defeating Sin Li Jane in a roll-off), and the PWBA Tour Championship (defeating Birgit Noreiks)."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What were the match results from the stepladder finals?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Match 1: Lauren Russo def. Stefanie Johnson (236-202). Match 2: Lauren Russo def. Diana Zavjalova (258-166). Semifinal: Birgit Noreiks def. Lauren Russo (226-221). Championship Match: Jillian Martin def. Birgit Noreiks (247-221)."}}]}]}

The stepladder finalists are set at the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship after twodays of round-robin match play at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio. Jillian Martin earned the No. 1 seed after the 24-game match-play portion andwill bowl for the title from the top position on Tuesday night. Germany’s Birgit Noreiks qualified second, while Latvia’s Diana Zavjalovafinished as the No. 3 seed. Lauren Russo secured fourth place and StefanieJohnson completed the stepladder field in fifth. The PWBA Tour Championship is the final event of the 2026 PWBA season andcarries major championship status. The winner will receive the title and a$30,000 top prize. The stepladder finals begin Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern and will be shownlive on BowlTV and Bowling TV. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews - all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/jillian-martin-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship-stepladder/#article","headline": "Jillian Martin Earns No. 1 Seed for 2026 PWBA Tour Championship Finals","description": "Jillian Martin captures the top seed for the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship stepladder finals following 24 games of match play at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-18T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-18T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/jillian-martin-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship-stepladder"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Jillian Martin"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women's Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/jillian-martin-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship-stepladder/#event","name": "2026 PWBA Tour Championship Stepladder Finals","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-18T18:30:00-04:00","endDate": "2026-08-18","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Yorktown Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Parma Heights","addressRegion": "OH","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Jillian Martin" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Birgit Noreiks" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Zavjalova" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauren Russo" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Stefanie Johnson" }],"description": "The major championship stepladder finals concluding the 2026 PWBA Tour season at Yorktown Lanes."},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/jillian-martin-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship-stepladder/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "Who earned the No. 1 seed for the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Jillian Martin earned the top seed after leading the 24-game match play round at Yorktown Lanes."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who are the five stepladder finalists for the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The finalists are No. 1 Jillian Martin, No. 2 Birgit Noreiks (Germany), No. 3 Diana Zavjalova (Latvia), No. 4 Lauren Russo, and No. 5 Stefanie Johnson."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the top prize for winning the PWBA Tour Championship?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The winner of the major title receives $30,000 in first-place prize money."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Where and when can fans watch the stepladder finals?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The finals air live on Tuesday, August 18, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on BowlTV and Bowling TV."}}]}]}

South Korea’s Seo Yeon Ryu has been named the 2026 PWBA Rookie of the Year,completing a historic first season on the Professional Women’s BowlingAssociation Tour. Ryu secured the award with 41,920 Rookie of the Year points. She finished19,645 points ahead of runner-up Morgan Kramer, who collected 22,275 points. The award completes a journey that began in April, when Ryubecame the first South Korean player to compete on the PWBA Tour.She earned her place in the opening event through the pre-tournamentqualifier and quickly established herself among the tour’s leading players. became the first South Korean player to compete on the PWBA Tour Ryu arrived in the United States with extensive international experience.The former South Korean national team member won five World Championshipsgold medals and six Asian Games gold medals during her career, including fourtitles at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. Through the PWBA Pepsi Open, Ryu had recorded five cashes, four top-12finishes and four match-play appearances. She also earned $20,770 and ranked14th on the overall season points list. Her season included a fifth-place finish at the PWBA Barbara Chrisman Classic,where she became the first South Korean bowler to reach a PWBA championshipround. Ryu also qualified among the 24 players competing in the season-endingPWBA Tour Championship. PWBA Barbara Chrisman Classic Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/seo-yeon-ryu-wins-2026-pwba-rookie-of-the-year/#article","headline": "Seo Yeon Ryu Wins 2026 PWBA Rookie of the Year Award","description": "South Korea’s Seo Yeon Ryu wins 2026 PWBA Rookie of the Year after finishing 19,645 points clear of Morgan Kramer.","datePublished": "2026-08-17T14:38:18+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-17T14:38:18+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/seo-yeon-ryu-wins-2026-pwba-rookie-of-the-year"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Seo Yeon Ryu"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"}]}]}

Diana Zavjalova moved into the early lead at the 2026 PWBA Tour Championshipafter the opening eight games of round-robin match play Sunday at YorktownLanes in Parma Heights, Ohio. The Latvian went 6-1-1 and averaged 231.13, producing 1,849 pins before matchplay bonuses. Her six wins and one tie lifted her total to 2,044, giving heran 80-pin advantage over defending PWBA Player of the Year New Hui Fen. Zavjalova returned to the lanes one day after losing 225-189 to eventualchampion Alexis Runk in the semifinals of thePWBA Pepsi Open. PWBA Pepsi Open “I just kind of leave it behind and move forward one step at a time,”Zavjalova said to the PWBA. “I tell myself under my breath before every singleshot, ‘One good shot at a time.’” Lauren Russo is currently third with 1,901. Newly crownedPepsi Open champion Alexis Runkheld fourth at 1,890, and Jillian Martin andPWBA Cleveland Open winner Shayna Ngshared fifth with 1,886. Pepsi Open champion Alexis Runk PWBA Cleveland Open winner Shayna Ng Crystal Elliott followed in seventh with 1,883, Maranda Pattison was eighthwith 1,878 and Maria Jose Bohr placed ninth with 1,859. Sweden’s NoraJohansson completed the top 10 at 1,857. All 24 players return Monday for two more eight-game match-play blocks at 10a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern. After 24 games, the top five will advance toTuesday’s stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Both Monday rounds and Tuesday’s finals will stream live on BowlTV. Thestepladder will also be simulcast onBowling TV. Bowling TV Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/diana-zavjalova-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship/#article","headline": "Diana Zavjalova Takes Early Lead at 2026 PWBA Tour Championship","description": "Diana Zavjalova averaged 231.13 and went 6-1-1 to lead the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship by 80 pins after the opening eight games.","datePublished": "2026-08-17T10:54:52+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-17T10:54:52+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/diana-zavjalova-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Diana Zavjalova"},{"@type": "Person","name": "New Hui Fen"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/diana-zavjalova-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/diana-zavjalova-leads-2026-pwba-tour-championship/#event","name": "2026 PWBA Tour Championship","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-16","endDate": "2026-08-18","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Yorktown Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "6218 Pearl Road","addressLocality": "Parma Heights","addressRegion": "OH","postalCode": "44130","addressCountry": "US"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Diana Zavjalova"},{"@type": "Person","name": "New Hui Fen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Lauren Russo"}],"description": "Diana Zavjalova led the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship by 80 pins after the opening eight games of round-robin match play."}]}

Alexis Runk won her first career PWBA title on Saturday at the 2026 PWBA PepsiOpen, defeating Stephanie Zavala 223-211. Afterleading Friday’s qualifying,Runk entered the single-elimination bracket as the No. 1 seed. She surviveda five-game opening match against Breanna Clemmer, winning 3-2, beforedefeating Maranda Pattison 3-1 in the quarterfinals. leading Friday’s qualifying The format then shifted from best-of-five matches to single games. Zavalareached the final with a 247-178 win over Hope Gramly, while Runk defeatedDiana Zavjalova 225-189 in the other semifinal. The season-ending PWBA Tour Championship, where all 10 eligible winners willbe joined by 14 players who qualified through the season points list, beginsSunday with the first of three eight-game match-play rounds at 5 p.m. Eastern.Two more rounds follow Monday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, with the top fiveafter 24 games advancing to Tuesday’s stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Match play and the finals will stream on BowlTV, while Tuesday’s stepladderwill also be shown on Bowling TV. The complete schedule and results areavailable on theofficial PWBA event page. official PWBA event page Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-wins-2026-pwba-pepsi-open/#article","headline": "Alexis Runk Wins 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open for First Career Title","description": "Alexis Runk defeated Stephanie Zavala 223-211 to win the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open, claiming her first career PWBA title and $10,000.","datePublished": "2026-08-16T09:56:58+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-16T09:56:58+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-wins-2026-pwba-pepsi-open"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Alexis Runk"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-wins-2026-pwba-pepsi-open/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-wins-2026-pwba-pepsi-open/#event","name": "2026 PWBA Pepsi Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-14","endDate": "2026-08-15","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Yorktown Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "6218 Pearl Road","addressLocality": "Parma Heights","addressRegion": "OH","postalCode": "44130","addressCountry": "US"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Alexis Runk"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Stephanie Zavala"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Diana Zavjalova"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Hope Gramly"}],"description": "Alexis Runk defeated Stephanie Zavala 223-211 to win her first career PWBA title at the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open in Parma Heights, Ohio."}]}

Alexis Runk led qualifying at the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open on Friday, earning thetop seed for Saturday’s 16-player match-play bracket at Yorktown Lanes inParma Heights, Ohio. Runk finished the two six-game blocks with 2,793. Stephanie Zavala placedsecond with 2,748, while defending PWBA Player of the Year New Hui Fen wasthird with 2,720. Sydney Brummett completed the top four with 2,707. Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo-Hostetler advanced in fifth with 2,671, followed bySouth Korea’s Seo Yeon Ryu at 2,656. Olivia Komorowski and Summer Jasmin tiedfor seventh with 2,653. Maranda Pattison finished ninth with 2,647, Sweden’s Nora Johansson was 10thwith 2,636 and Hope Gramly took 11th with 2,629. Latvia’s Diana Zavjalovafollowed in 12th with 2,625. Crystal Elliott qualified 13th with 2,624, followed by Kayla Pashina at2,623 and Cassidy Courey at 2,621. Breanna Clemmer secured the final place inthe bracket with 2,620. The Round of 16 begins Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern, with the field competingin a single-elimination bracket. The opening round and the quarterfinals,scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern, will both use a best-of-five-game format. The four remaining players will return for the championship round at 6:30p.m. Eastern. The semifinals and title match will be decided in one-gamematches, with the winner also securing a place in the season-ending PWBA TourChampionship. The PWBA Tour Championship beginsSunday at Yorktown Lanes, with the first eight-game round of match playstarting at 5 p.m. Eastern. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-leads-2026-pwba-pepsi-open-qualifying/#article","headline": "Alexis Runk Tops Qualifying at 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open","description": "Alexis Runk led the final 16 at the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open as the field advanced to Saturday’s single-elimination match-play bracket.","datePublished": "2026-08-15T10:41:11+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-15T10:41:11+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-leads-2026-pwba-pepsi-open-qualifying"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Alexis Runk"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-leads-2026-pwba-pepsi-open-qualifying/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/alexis-runk-leads-2026-pwba-pepsi-open-qualifying/#event","name": "2026 PWBA Pepsi Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-14","endDate": "2026-08-15","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Yorktown Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "6218 Pearl Road","addressLocality": "Parma Heights","addressRegion": "OH","postalCode": "44130","addressCountry": "US"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women’s Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Alexis Runk"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Stephanie Zavala"},{"@type": "Person","name": "New Hui Fen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Sydney Brummett"}],"description": "Alexis Runk led 12-game qualifying at the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open as the top 16 advanced to Saturday’s single-elimination match-play bracket."}]}

The message on Verity Crawley’s and Diana Zavjalova’s shirts urging everyoneto watch women’s bowling could hardly have felt more fitting, as Thursday’saction at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio, delivered enough drama for aChristopher Nolan film.Singapore's Shayna Ng recovered from a 144opening game to win the 2026 PWBA Cleveland Open, defeating Jordan Snodgrass195-186 in the championship match. The victory earned Ng her fourth career PWBA Tour title, the $10,000 top prizeand an automatic place in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship. Her route to the title had started not the way she wanted. “During the practice session, I thought the outside line was the right way tostart,” said Ng. “So, I started there and everybody else went left, and boom,144. The next game I moved left and shot 216 and then 259, the rest ishistory.” Ng continued climbing after the difficult start, went 8-4 across Thursday’stwo six-game match-play rounds, collected 240 bonus pins, averaging over 216and eventually earned the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals. The stepladder began with Felicia Wong defeating Maria Jose Bohr 217-177. Wongthen eliminated Wednesday’s qualifying and the current tour points leader NewHui Fen 208-202 before facing Snodgrass in the semifinal and losing 228-204. In the championship match, neither player could take control. nodgrass struckin the ninth but left a 9 pin on her first shot in the 10th and finished with186. Ng needed a mark to win. She left a 10 pin, converted it and struck onher fill ball to close the match with 195. Snodgrass earned $5,000 for second place, while Wong collected $4,000 forthird. New finished fourth for $3,500, and Bohr received $3,000 in fifth. PWBA Tour Championship Weekcontinues Friday with two six-game qualifying blocks at the PWBA Pepsi Open.The top 16 will advance to Saturday’s single-elimination bracket, which willdetermine the tournament champion. PWBA Tour Championship Week The PWBA Tour Championship begins Sunday, with the 24-player field competingin three eight-game blocks of round-robin match play across Sunday and Monday. The top five will advance to Tuesday’s stepladder finals. All remaining rounds will be streamed live on BowlTV, with the TourChampionship stepladder finals also airing on Bowling TV as one of three major live bowling events the channel will carry thissummer. All remaining rounds will be streamed live on BowlTV, with the TourChampionship stepladder finals also airing on Bowling TV as one of three major live bowling events the channel will carry thissummer. as one of three major live bowling events the channel will carry thissummer. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/shayna-ng-wins-2026-pwba-cleveland-open/#article","headline": "From 144 to Champion: Shayna Ng Wins PWBA Cleveland Open","description": "Shayna Ng recovered from a 144 opening game to win the 2026 PWBA Cleveland Open, claim her fourth title and secure a Tour Championship spot.","datePublished": "2026-08-14T09:08:23+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-14T09:08:23+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/shayna-ng-wins-2026-pwba-cleveland-open"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Shayna Ng"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women's Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Jordan Snodgrass"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/shayna-ng-wins-2026-pwba-cleveland-open/#event","name": "2026 PWBA Cleveland Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-12","endDate": "2026-08-13","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Yorktown Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "6218 Pearl Rd","addressLocality": "Parma Heights","addressRegion": "OH","postalCode": "44130","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Shayna Ng"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Jordan Snodgrass"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Felicia Wong"},{"@type": "Person","name": "New Hui Fen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Maria Jose Bohr"}],"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Women's Bowling Association","url": "https://pwba.com"},"description": "Shayna Ng defeated Jordan Snodgrass 195-186 to win the 2026 PWBA Cleveland Open and secure a place in the PWBA Tour Championship."}]}

Scotland’s Isla Claxton won the mixed Masters title at the fourth Storm JuniorDutch Open in Haarlem on Sunday, September 6. The victory completed a double for Claxton, who had already won the U19 girls’category. For the Masters, the five category winners started from zero in a one-gamecontest. Claxton finished 29 pins clear of Czechia’s Matyáš Mňačko, who scored191, with fellow Czech Vít Jiřiště just one pin behind in third on 190. Dano van Velsen of the Netherlands placed fourth with 179, while Czechia’sZuzana Kvasničková finished fifth with 148. Five Category Champions Crowned The category titles were decided over three final games, with scores carriedforward from qualifying and the semifinals. In the U19 girls’ category, Claxton finished on 2,381, ahead of Belgium’sMarie Reusens on 2,204 and Germany’s Saskia Krischke on 2,181. The Scottishbowler had also led the division during qualification. qualification Matyáš Mňačko won the U19 boys’ title with 2,650. Sweden’s Axton Sandbergfinished second on 2,546, followed by another Swede Erik Georgsson on 2,528. The U26 boys’ title went to Vít Jiřiště with 2,679. The Netherlands’ CalvinPanneman took second with 2,612, while Czechia’s Daniel Muránsky completed thepodium on 2,419. Last year's Masters champion Zuzana Kvasničkováwon the U26 women’s category with 2,292, ahead of Belgium’s Gitana Weymiens on2,157 and the Netherlands’ Iris Daemen on 2,120. Last year's Masters champion Zuzana Kvasničková Dano van Velsen finished with 1,679 to take the U15 boys’ title and earn hisplace in the Masters. After this year’s event, held from August 30 to September 6, organizers announced that the no-urethane Storm Junior Dutch Open will return in May 2027. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-2026-results/#article","headline": "Isla Claxton Wins Storm Junior Dutch Open Masters","description": "Isla Claxton wins the Storm Junior Dutch Open Masters in Haarlem. See the category podiums and plans for another no-urethane event in May 2027.","datePublished": "2026-09-07T21:22:10+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-07T21:22:10+03:00","mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-2026-results"},"author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Isla Claxton"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-2026-results/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-2026-results/#event","name": "4th Storm Junior Dutch Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-30","endDate": "2026-09-06","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Marty’s Bars and Bowling","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Haarlem","addressCountry": "NL"}},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Isla Claxton"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Matyáš Mňačko"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Vít Jiřiště"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Dano van Velsen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Zuzana Kvasničková"}],"description": "The fourth Storm Junior Dutch Open concluded with five category champions and a one-game mixed Masters final won by Isla Claxton with 220."}]}

Iceland's Arnar Jonsson swept all three stepladder matches Sunday to win the2026 Norwegian Open by Stormat Sarpsborg Bowlingsenter in Norway. 2026 Norwegian Open by Storm Jonsson completed his run with a 221-183 victory over top seed WilliamSvensson of Sweden in the championship match. The win earned him the 50,000NOK top prize from the tournament's 279,000 NOK prize fund. Jonsson qualified 21st with 1,253 over six games, which placed him directlyinto Final Step 2. From there, every round started from scratch and every badblock could have ended his tournament. He finished fifth in Final Step 2 with 870 to keep moving, then led Final Step3 with 913. Jonsson added 835 in Final Step 4, taking fourth place and thelowest seed in the four-player stepladder. Jonsson opened the stepladder against American Andrew Anderson and controlledthe match from start to finish, winning 236-173. His next opponent wasNorway's Noel Haglund Torgersen, but the result was almost identical asJonsson advanced 233-169. That left Svensson, who had led Final Step 4 with 891, waiting in the titlematch. Jonsson stayed in control one more time and closed his perfectstepladder run with a 38-pin victory. The Norwegian Open by Storm was held from August 29 to September 6 and brought54 players into Sunday's final rounds. It was also the third tournament of the2026 Thunder Ranking series. 2026 Thunder Ranking series Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews - all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/arnar-jonsson-wins-norwegian-open-by-storm/#article","headline": "From 21st to Champion: Arnar Jonsson Runs the Norwegian Open Ladder","description": "Arnar Jonsson won three straight matches from the No. 4 seed to claim the 2026 Norwegian Open by Storm in Sarpsborg.","datePublished": "2026-09-06T20:55:43+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-06T20:55:43+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/arnar-jonsson-wins-norwegian-open-by-storm"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Arnar Jonsson"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/arnar-jonsson-wins-norwegian-open-by-storm/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/arnar-jonsson-wins-norwegian-open-by-storm/#event","name": "Norwegian Open by Storm 2026","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-28","endDate": "2026-09-06","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","url": "https://www.bowling.no/nyheter/arrangementer-sd/norwegian-open-2026-by-storm-2/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Sarpsborg Bowlingsenter","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "Torsbekkveien 24","postalCode": "1703","addressLocality": "Sarpsborg","addressCountry": "NO"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Norges Bowlingforbund","url": "https://www.bowling.no/"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Arnar Jonsson"},{"@type": "Person","name": "William Svensson"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Noel Haglund Torgersen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Andrew Anderson"}],"description": "Arnar Jonsson defeated William Svensson 221-183 to win the 2026 Norwegian Open by Storm after advancing from the No. 4 stepladder seed."}]}

The fourth Storm Junior Dutch Open heads into its final day at Bison Bowlingin Haarlem with only one qualifying squad remaining before the semifinalplaces are decided. Each player bowls six games in qualification, with the six highest totals inevery category advancing. The green rows in thecurrent standingsmark those provisional semifinal places, but they can still change duringSquad 6 on Sunday morning. current standings Jiřiště and Kvasničková Lead U26 Standings Czechia's Vít Jiřiště leads the U26 male division with 1,340. Daniel Muránskyis second with 1,154, followed by Jan-Niklas Suck at 1,105, Noah Strandberg at1,102, Manuel Christ at 1,086 and Lewis Douglas-Biss at 1,077. Zuzana Kvasničková tops the U26 female standings with 1,114, ahead of GitanaWeymiens at 899. Mňačko and Claxton Set the U19 Pace Matyáš Mňačko holds the U19 male lead with 1,297. Sweden occupies the nextthree places through Axton Sandberg at 1,227, Rasmus Nordensson at 1,209 andErik Georgsson at 1,182. Alex Luk is fifth with 1,164, while JordiSchaerlaeckens holds sixth at 1,129. Isla Claxton leads the U19 female division with 1,192. Marie Reusens followswith 963, ahead of Saskia Krischke at 956, Lieke Koops at 921, Anne Koops at888 and Sterre van Velsen at 816. Dano van Velsen is the currently leading the U15 male standings with 803. Sunday Will Decide the Champions The last qualifying squad begins at 8 a.m. local on Sunday. The semifinals followat 11:40 a.m., with six players in each category bowling four more games.Qualifying scores carry forward, and the top four continue into thethree-game finals. The girls' finals begin at 3:10 p.m., followed by the boys' finals at 4:25p.m. The category winners will then meet in separate one-game boys' and girls'Masters contests from 5:30 p.m., before the award ceremony at around 6 p.m. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-one-squad-before-finals/#article","headline": "One Squad Remains Before Storm Junior Dutch Open Finals","description": "One qualifying squad remains at the Storm Junior Dutch Open as category leaders prepare for Sunday's finals in Haarlem.","datePublished": "2026-09-05T22:51:02+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-05T22:51:02+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-one-squad-before-finals"},"about": [{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-one-squad-before-finals/#event"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Vít Jiřiště"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Matyáš Mňačko"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Isla Claxton"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-junior-dutch-open-one-squad-before-finals/#event","name": "4th Storm Junior Dutch Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-30","endDate": "2026-09-06","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","url": "https://juniordutchopen.com/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Bison Bowling Centre","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "Badmintonpad 5","addressLocality": "Haarlem","addressCountry": "NL"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Foundation Junior Dutch Open","url": "https://juniordutchopen.com/"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Vít Jiřiště"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Zuzana Kvasničková"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Matyáš Mňačko"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Isla Claxton"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Dano van Velsen"}],"description": "The fourth Storm Junior Dutch Open is a no-urethane youth bowling tournament held in Haarlem from August 30 to September 6, 2026."}]}

When BowlingLife first visited BowlingGP, we quickly understood what makes theevent feel so special. Serious competition, a welcoming atmosphereand a carefully prepared show come together to give young bowlers a stageworthy of their effort. From the opening shots to the fireworksbehind the winners, every detail turns the tournament into an experience thatstays with players long after the final ball is thrown. The good news is that BowlingGP is returning for a new season with threetournaments created for youth bowlers.The 2026–2027 calendar includes two individual events and one team competition, giving young playersthree chances to experience the series for themselves. And you can alreadyregister to all of them! The 2026–2027 calendar register to all of them! View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) Earlier this year, BowlingLife wrote abouthow BowlingGP is raising the standard for bowling events in Europe. That was not an empty compliment. BowlingGP tournaments maystill be one of European youth bowling’s missed gems, but once you attend, itis easy to understand what makes it different form any bowling event you beenbefore. how BowlingGP is raising the standard for bowling events in Europe Strong players compete on carefully prepared conditions inside modern bowlingcenters, but that is only the foundation. While many youthtournaments treat the final and award ceremony as an afterthought, BowlingGPturns them into the moments everyone remembers. The lights, music, confettiand fireworks give young players the kind of stage their effort deserves. Words can only explain so much. It the video below you can see what aBowlingGP final actually feels like. The new season begins in Saint-Maximin on November 28–29, continues with ateam event in Reims-Thillois on March 6–7 and finishes in Grand-Quevilly onApril 10–11. Each tournament offers a €12,000 prize and rewards package. Serious Conditions Behind the Show The presentation may catch the eye, but the bowling itself is treated just asseriously. All three events are part of the EBT Youth and FFBSQ Masterscalendars. That gives young players a chance to face demanding conditions and competeagainst talented bowlers from other countries. It is the kind of environmentthat helps players learn much more than their final position in the standingscan show. Saint-Maximin Opens the New Season The first stop isBowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin, held this November 28–29 at the 28-lane Bowling Plaza Saint-Maximin Creil. BowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin The individual tournament includes U14 boys and girls, U17 boys, U21 boys anda combined U17 and U21 girls’ category. U11 players can also compete withinthe U14 division. Most bowlers receive two six-game qualifying blocks beforethe leading players move into match play and the Final4. NextGen Tournament BowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin November 28–29, 2026 | Bowling Plaza Saint-Maximin Creil The €130 entry includes two qualifying blocks. Compete for a place in theFinal4 and a share of the €12,000 prize and rewards package. Register Now A Final Team Test Before EYC 2027 The second event may be the most useful of all for national youth teams.BowlingGP NextGen Teams Reims-Thilloiswill take place March 6–7, less than two weeks before the 2027 European YouthChampionships begin in Aalborg, Denmark, on March 20. BowlingGP NextGen Teams Reims-Thillois Each entry is built around a four-player team, which also separates into twodoubles. The weekend therefore gives players experience in two team formats,where communication, lineup decisions and responding to a teammate’s shotbecome as important as individual execution. For European youth teams preparing for Aalborg, it is a rare opportunity totest themselves in a real international competition. Players can feel thepressure of bowling for each other, identify what still needs work and returnhome with time to make final adjustments before the championship. NextGen Team Event BowlingGP NextGen Teams Reims Thillois March 6–7, 2027 | Bowling Plaza Reims-Thillois Build your four-player team and compete in both 4Teams and Doubles. Entrycosts €380 per team, with only 18 team places available. Register Your Team Grand-Quevilly Brings the Spotlight to Normandy The third event,BowlingGP NextGen Grand-Quevilly, follows on April 10–11 at Bowling Plaza Rouen Grand-Quevilly. The 28-lanevenue will host another individual tournament for U14, U17 and U21 bowlers. BowlingGP NextGen Grand-Quevilly Players will again progress from two qualifying blocks into match play and aFinal4 knockout. For those who compete at EYC 2027, it will also be an earlychance to take what they learned in Aalborg back into internationalcompetition. NextGen Individual BowlingGP NextGen Grand-Quevilly April 10–11, 2027 | Bowling Plaza Rouen Grand-Quevilly The €100 entry includes two qualifying blocks followed by match play and theFinal4. Reserve your place in the field today. Register Now BowlingGP NextGen gives young bowlers something that remains too rare inthe sport: high-level competition presented in a way that makes their effortand success feel important. The lanes test them, the opponents push them andthe final gives them a moment they will want to experience again. Registrations for all three events are now open. Players, parents and coachescan also follow theBowlingGP Youth WhatsApp channelfor tournament news and registration updates. BowlingGP Youth WhatsApp channel Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowlinggp-nextgen-youth-events-2026-2027/#article","headline": "BowlingGP NextGen Is Back With Three Youth Events You Should Not Miss","description": "BowlingGP NextGen returns with three youth events in France, offering individual and team competition plus €36,000 in prizes and rewards.","datePublished": "2026-09-04T10:29:21+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-04T10:29:21+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/bowlinggp-nextgen-youth-events-2026-2027"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingGP","url": "https://bowlinggp.com/"}]}]}

Denmark has named eight bowlers for the 2026 IBF World Cup, which will bringleading national teams to Max Munich Bowling in Brunnthal, Germany, fromOctober 13–21. The women’s team consists of Karen Kærgaard Nielsen, Megan Dicay, MikaGuldbæk and Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen. John Guldbæk will lead the team, withJimmy D. Mortensen serving as assistant coach. Carsten W. Hansen, Dan Agerbo Østergaard, Mathias Ankerdal and Tim Stampewill represent Denmark in the men’s competition. Michael Bai and JesperAgerbo make up the men’s coaching team. Denmark’s women arrive with fresh international success behind them. All fourselected players were part of the Danish team that won bronze at the 2026European Women’s Championships. Karen Kærgaard Nielsen also earned singlesbronze, while she joined Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen and Mika Guldbæk for silverin trios. According to IBF, 284 athletes will represent their countries in Munich. 45federations are sending men's teams, while 26 federation built their roster for women’s competition. Official practice and the opening ceremony are scheduled for October 13.The singles competition will follow from October 14–17, before attentionturns to the men’s and women’s team events from October 18–21. The finalchampions will be crowned on October 21. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/denmark-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#article","headline": "Denmark Selects Eight Bowlers for 2026 IBF World Cup in Munich","description": "Denmark has selected four women and four men for the 2026 IBF World Cup, taking place October 13–21 at Max Munich Bowling in Germany.","datePublished": "2026-09-03T08:52:41+03:00","dateModified": "2026-09-03T08:52:41+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/denmark-team-2026-ibf-world-cup"},"about": {"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/denmark-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#event"}},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/denmark-team-2026-ibf-world-cup/#event","name": "2026 IBF World Cup","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-10-13","endDate": "2026-10-21","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","url": "https://bowling.sport/event/2026-ibf-world-cup/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Max Munich Bowling – Brunnthal","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Brunnthal","addressRegion": "Bavaria","addressCountry": "DE"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "International Bowling Federation","url": "https://bowling.sport/"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Karen Kærgaard Nielsen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Megan Dicay"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Mika Guldbæk"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Carsten W. Hansen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Dan Agerbo Østergaard"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Mathias Ankerdal"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Tim Stampe"}],"description": "The 2026 IBF World Cup brings national teams to Max Munich Bowling in Brunnthal, Germany, for men’s and women’s singles and team competition."}]}

The inauguralAll Stars Youth Seriesconcluded Sunday at BNC Bowling in Bratislava after bringing together 59 youngbowlers from 12 countries across Europe. All Stars Youth Series Czech bowlers Jan Otec and Filip Seifert won the U14 and U17 boys’ titles,while Slovakia’s Šimon Jaroš triumphed in the U21 division. Greece’s ArtemisManthou claimed the title in the combined girls’ category. Every player began with two five-game qualification blocks. One was playedon Pattern A and the other on Pattern B, with the ten-game total decidingwho advanced. The competition was divided into U14 boys, U17 boys, U21 boysand a combined girls’ category. Up to 16 players in each category moved into Final Step 1, where three gamesreduced the field to eight. They added three more games in Final Step 2, withthe pinfall carried forward and the top four reaching the stepladder. From there, the fourth seed faced the third, the winner met the second seedand the last remaining challenger took on the top seed for the title. Otec, Seifert and Jaroš Win the Boys’ Titles Jan Otec entered the U14 championship match as the top seed after leadingFinal Step 2 with 1,243. Jakub Doležal reached the title match by defeatingSamuel Caruso 236-213 and Mikhail Mallia 216-191, but Otec stopped his runwith a 225-161 victory. The closest final came in the U17 division. Fourth-seeded Jef Reusens worked his way through the entire stepladder,beating Luka Mežnar 212-205 and Nicolai Mallia 255-173. Seifert, who hadclimbed to the top seed during Final Step 2, held him off by only two pins inthe title match, 218-216. Jaroš delivered a title for the host country in the U21 category. Paul Mahonreached the final after victories over Matúš Hrušovský and Samuel Krupicer,but the top seed controlled the deciding game. Jaroš won 228-156 to secure theU21 title for Slovakia. Manthou Wins Three Straight Matches Artemis Manthou took the longest possible route to the girls’ title from thethird seed. She first edged Kateřina Haxová by a single pin, 198-197, thendefeated Laura Šulková 213-174 to earn a place in the championship match. Top seed Marie Reusens was waiting in the final, but Manthou completed herstepladder run with a 210-197 victory and became the first girls’ champion inAll Stars Youth Series history. The four-day tournament was organized by BYC Slovakia and was open to playersup to the age of 21. Organizers have already confirmed that the All StarsYouth Series will return in July 2027, with the exact dates still to beannounced. They recentlypartnered with BowlingGP tournaments in France, creating even more international opportunities for young bowlers acrossEurope. partnered with BowlingGP tournaments in France Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/all-stars-youth-series-2026-winners/#article","headline": "Four Champions Crowned at Inaugural All Stars Youth Series","description": "Jan Otec, Filip Seifert, Šimon Jaroš and Artemis Manthou won the four titles at the inaugural All Stars Youth Series in Bratislava.","datePublished": "2026-08-31T02:30:28+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-31T02:30:28+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/all-stars-youth-series-2026-winners"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Jan Otec"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Filip Seifert"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Šimon Jaroš"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Artemis Manthou"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/all-stars-youth-series-2026-winners/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/all-stars-youth-series-2026-winners/#event","name": "All Stars Youth Series 2026","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-27","endDate": "2026-08-30","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","url": "https://allstarsyouthseries.com/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "BNC Hotel – Restaurant – Bowling","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Bratislava","addressCountry": "SK"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BYC Slovakia"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Jan Otec"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Filip Seifert"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Šimon Jaroš"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Artemis Manthou"}],"description": "The inaugural All Stars Youth Series brought 59 bowlers from 12 countries to BNC Bowling in Bratislava and crowned champions in four youth divisions."}]}

Denmark’s Mathias Ankerdal successfully defended his Odense Internationaltitle on Sunday, defeating fellow Dane Anton Petersen 248-243 in thechampionship match at Odense Bowlinghal & Simgolf Center. Last year, Ankerdal won the tournament when he defeated Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen 237-187 in the final. defeated Sofie Kærgaard Nielsen 237-187 in the final The defending champion finished qualification in third place with 1,408 oversix games, averaging 234.67. That result advanced him directly to Final Step3. In the last step, final eight players were dividedinto two elimination groups. Ankerdal led Group 2 with games of 248, 204 and 256for a 708 total, finishing ahead of Niclas Sørensen, Tobias Kastfelt Bryde andJimmy Leen. Anton Petersen won Group 1 with 771, opening with a 297 before adding 249 and 225.That set up the title match between the two Danish finalists, where Ankerdalcompleted his successful title defense. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/mathias-ankerdal-defends-odense-international-title/#article","headline": "Mathias Ankerdal Defends Odense International Title","description": "Mathias Ankerdal defeated Anton Petersen 248-243 to win the 2026 Odense International and successfully defend his title in Denmark.","datePublished": "2026-08-24T11:33:52+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-24T11:33:52+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/mathias-ankerdal-defends-odense-international-title"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Mathias Ankerdal"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Anton Petersen"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/mathias-ankerdal-defends-odense-international-title/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/mathias-ankerdal-defends-odense-international-title/#event","name": "2026 Odense International","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-15","endDate": "2026-08-23","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","url": "https://www.odenseinternational.dk/","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Odense Bowlinghal & Simgolf Center","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Odense","addressCountry": "DK"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Odense International","url": "https://www.odenseinternational.dk/"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Mathias Ankerdal"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Anton Petersen"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Paul Purps"}],"description": "Mathias Ankerdal defeated Anton Petersen 248-243 to win the 2026 Odense International and successfully defend his title."}]}

Finland’s Juhani Tonteri won the2026 International Hammer Challengeon Sunday, becomming the fourth Finnish player to win this tournament. 2026 International Hammer Challenge In the final he defeated Jonne Kaisku 218-199 in the title match at Tali Bowl inHelsinki. Tonteri advanced to the final with a 235-198 semifinal victory over BenRobinson. Kaisku reached the title match by defeating Kristoffer Berg Nilsen269-173 in the other semifinal. The victory earned Tonteri €7,000. Kaisku collected €4,500 for second place,while Robinson and Berg Nilsen each received €3,000. Tonteri Wins Six Matches on the Way to the Title Tonteri completed qualification in 21st place with 1,365 pins over six games.His block included games of 222, 246, 241, 204, 220 and 232. Since only thetop 14 received a bye, Tonteri had to begin his run in A-Final Step 1. He opened with a 3-1 victory over Kaisa-Ly Lee and followed it with another3-1 win against Kevin Melin. Tonteri then survived his first five-game match,defeating Estonia’s Kert Truus 3-2 to reach the last eight, where he defeated Swedens William Svensson 3-2. A Dream Come True After the victorious final, Tonteri said to BowlingLife that reaching thefinal four at one of Tali Bowl’s major international events had been a goalthe was trying to achieve for very long. “Today, I made it to the top four, and made it all the way. So it feelsamazing. This is a dream come true for me." He described the earlier match-play rounds as a mental grind. But once he reached the televised finals, thatpressure began to lift. “In the final, I kind of felt like I had already won, and I just enjoyedmyself,” Tonteri said. His victory also continued Finland’s complete control of the tournament atTali Bowl. All four editions have now been won by Finnish bowlers: Jenni Heinoin 2023, Rami Mukkula in 2024,Petteri Salonen in 2025and now Tonteri. Petteri Salonen in 2025 According to Tonteri, Finnish players place extra importance on winning themajor events held on home soil. "These are the tournaments that we [Finns] want to win the most. It's a bigthing for us to succeed here, and, of course, we also bowl a lot oftournaments in this bowling center, so we know the lanes pretty well." Success Without Urethane While racks filled with purple urethane balls were a common sight at theHammer-sponsored event, Tonteri took a different approach. He tried it at thebeggining of the tournament, but switched to reactive quick and found a goodrythm. "To be honest, I don't think it [urethanes] looked very good for any bowlershere. I think that the reactive were a better choice this time. I stuck withit, and good things happened."Use of reactive bowling balls payedoff the most during the finals. All three other semifinalists used urethane,but only Tonteri managed to  make repetitive good shot and seal thewin. "I think the last two Ballmasters have been won in the same way," Tonterisaid. "Maybe it's because of the lights, they kind of dry the lanes more, andurethanes doesn't go that well anymore. Might be one reason, but anyways, I'mjust glad I did it." The fourth edition of the International Hammer Challenge attracted 291 playersfrom 15 countries and featured a €52,380 prize fund. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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Pontus Andersson paced nervously behind the lanes at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centerin Jakarta as Hong Kong’s young bowlers chased medals at the 25th Asian Junior Bowling Championships. Only a few months ago, Andersson had been the one with a ball in his hands anda medal resting directly on his own shots.Now, on the other side of the world,he could only watch and guide the bowlers representing his new home. The 30-year-old Swedeannounced in February that he was stepping away from competitive bowlingafter 13 years at international level. announced in February that he was stepping away from competitive bowling Now, with his bowling shoes left hanging somewhere back in Sweden, Andersson has started a new chapter on the other side of the world - in Hong Kong - where he works as an assistant coach with the senior national team and leads youth development. In the latest BowlingLife interview, Erikas Jansonas spoke with Pontus Andersson about the late change of destination, settling into a new culture, and learning to chase medals from behind the lanes. Qatar Became Hong Kong When Andersson first revealed his decision to stop competing, the plan was to move to Doha and work with the Qatar youth team. And while that deal didn't work out, the Hong Kong opportunity came together quickly. The agreement was completedduring the final week of May, leaving little time between the decision and themove. “It all was finished about the last week of May.So I kinda moved straight away when everything was done,” he said. Building Better Bowlers Andersson’s new role has two parts. He supports head coach Francois Louw withHong Kong’s senior athletes, but his main responsibility is the development ofa group of elite youth bowlers. “The main thing with youth development is to make the youths better bowlers.How we do it is our challenge,” he said. “We do have great resources.” Those resources are provided through the Hong Kong Sports Institute and theHong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress. Andersson is still learning the systemand the athletes inside it, but the first major championship of his new careerhas already brought results. Dylan Lam Nok Him won silver in the boys’ singles. One day later, Tavia Wong Tsz Ching and Law Wai Ching added anothersilver for Hong Kong in the girls’ doubles. A New Home and Much Lighter Luggage More than two months after the move, Andersson says his belongings are unpackedand his daily routines are taking shape. Even so, the reality of living so farfrom Sweden still catches him by surprise. “It’s definitely a different feeling, and I constantly have to remind myselfthat I don’t live in Sweden anymore,” he said. “But I really enjoy my time hereso far, and it’s such an honor coaching the Hong Kong bowling team.” The amount of space and the way people interact were among the changes he firstnoticed. Andersson described adjusting to the culture as a learning experience,but said his new team and colleagues have made a strong first impression. The weather may be the clearest difference of all. That has not been a problemfor the Swede, who says he enjoys the heat. Neither has leaving behind one ofthe less glamorous parts of life as an international bowler. “Very happy I don’t have to carry all the heavy bags anymore!” Andersson joked. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now

For many people, August is a time to slow down, take a holiday and to just forget about work - and, perhaps, bowling. But for Martin Larsen and the team behindthe Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, the PBA Tour’s only 2026 stop outside theU.S., it means the exact opposite. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters The PBA Tour will return to Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden, fromAugust 21-31, bringing many of the best players from around the globe togetherfor the biggest bowling event on this side of the Atlantic. This year’s Storm Lucky Larsen Masters will feature the largest prize fund intournament history. Almost $150,000 will be awarded, with nearly $20,000reserved for the champion. The field is just as impressive - EJ Tackett, Kyle Troup, PBA Players Championship winner Brandon Bonta and defending champion Sean Rash - to namejust a few. PBA Players Championship winner Brandon Bonta defending champion Sean Rash With a big pile of cash and some of the brightest names headingto Swedish Riviera, it is no wonder that most qualifying squads are already fullor have only a few places remaining. Some waiting lists have grown to morethan 60 players. That level of interest also brings plenty of responsibility. Larsen and histeam must manage schedules, players, sponsors, side events and countlesssmaller details needed to turn a bowling tournament into a show worth the PBA Tour stop name. That's why while many people spend August enjoying time with their loved ones, it is thebusiest part of the year for the SLLM crew. The workload requires plenty oftime and sacrifice behind the scenes, but the excitement still outweighs thepressure - especially with this year’s event expected to build momentum aheadof the tournament’s tenth anniversary in 2027. BowlingLife’s Erikas Jansonas spoke with Martin Larsen about his lighter PBA Tourseason, the rise of bowling’s young stars, the upcoming PBA USA vs. PBA World match and the bold decision to move the SLLM finals to Monday evening.He also offered an early clue about what this year’s oil pattern mightlook like. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 Don't miss your chance to compete in one of Europe's most prestigious events. Spots are almost fully booked, so go ahead and secure yours today! Register Now Less Bowling, but Still Plenty of Bowling... Larsen had already planned to spend less time competing on the PBA Tour this year than ever before in his career. He bowled at the season-opening PBA Players Championship, but even that event did not end the way he had hoped. After just 12 games, the pain in his right elbow made it clear that he needed to step away from bowling - unfortunately, for the rest of the season. Part of him still misses the daily routine of practice and competing againstthe best players in the world. However, even away from the lanes, bowlingremains a major part of his life. A new position has kept boling at the center of his workinglife, but allowed him to enjoy more time with his family. “I absolutely miss being on the lanes,” Larsen said. “Even if I had beenhealthy, I hadn’t planned to bowl as much as I had in previous years. With my new position at Bowltech, I’m getting my daily dose of bowling. Italso takes me on some trips, so the amount of time I spend at home hasn’tchanged that much, but I really enjoy being home with the family.” new position at Bowltech Now, with the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters approaching, his full focus is on preparing the stage where many of the world’sbest will soon compete. And this year, that stage will be bigger than ever. “This time of the year is always really exciting for us SLLM organizers,”Larsen said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun.” A Record Prize Fund and Another World-Class Field Following a successful 2025 edition, the SLLM organizers were able to raisethe prize fund to its highest level in tournament history. However, there willbe plenty more on offer in Helsingborg than the main competition and money alone. The traditional golf event will return, while young players will have theirown U21 squad and seminar. The Wednesday night Storm Party will also remainpart of the schedule. Another special event will see PBA USA face PBA World in a match played underthe Swedish league format. Spectators can watch the action live at OlympiaBowling, while the match will also be streamed on the SLLM YouTube channelwith the support of JoPo, the tournament’s new streaming sponsor. Both teams will be packed with stars, including several players who are still in the running for the PBA Player of the Year award.Representing PBA USA will be Ryan Barnes, Andrew Anderson, Kyle Troup, SeanRash, EJ Tackett, A.J. Johnson, Brandon Bonta and Eric Jones.PBA World will feature Nora Johansson, Jesper Svensson, Santtu Tahvanainen, Zach Wilkins, Thomas Larsen, Richard Teece, Tomas Käyhkö and François Lavoie. Both teams will be packed with stars, including several players who are still in the running for the PBA Player of the Year award. PBA Player of the Year Representing PBA USA will be Ryan Barnes, Andrew Anderson, Kyle Troup, SeanRash, EJ Tackett, A.J. Johnson, Brandon Bonta and Eric Jones. PBA World will feature Nora Johansson, Jesper Svensson, Santtu Tahvanainen, Zach Wilkins, Thomas Larsen, Richard Teece, Tomas Käyhkö and François Lavoie. “This year’s edition will be as strong, if not even stronger, than before,”Larsen said. Young Guns Are No Longer Waiting for Their Turn One of the defining stories of this PBA Tour season has been the success ofits younger players. Brandon Bonta set the tone early before winning the PBA Players Championship,while Spencer Robarge, Austin Grammar and Alex Horton have also shown that thenew generation is already capable of beating the tour’s most experiencednames. Spencer Robarge Austin Grammar Alex Horton The SLLM field could be a perfect seedbed for that trend. Alongside Bonta,Ryan Barnes, Eric Jones and other U.S. rising stars, Helsingborgwill welcome many of Europe’s leading youth bowlers who are as equally talented. For Larsen, the rise of the new generation worldwide is partly connected to how themodern game is being played. “I think there are multiple reasons [why this season has been a breakthroughyear for so many young players], but power is absolutely one of them,” Larsensaid. “The younger players have developed a more aggressive style that seemsto work well in today’s playing environment. “They’ve almost been able to take knowledge about lanes, patterns and ballsout of play. I also think the way Brandon Bonta started this season led theway, with multiple young guns feeling that they have a chance to beat the moreexperienced players.” Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now SLLM Turns Its Attention to Type 1 Diabetes The charitable work surrounding the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters has become animportant part of the event. Last year, the tournament helped raise awareness and funds in the fightagainst cancer. In 2026, the SLLM will work with Barndiabetesfonden to supportthe fight against childhood type 1 diabetes. Barndiabetesfonden The decision was shaped by several people close to the tournament, includingmembers of Larsen’s own family. “This year, we’re running a charity together with Barndiabetesfonden, raisingmoney to fight childhood diabetes,” Larsen said. “There are multiple reasons for this. One is our collaboration with Scandic Oceanhamnen. Thomas, the hotel director, has a daughter with type 1 diabetes.My nephew has type 1, and many other bowlers have it as well. We felt it wastime to bring it to the surface and try to make a small difference this year.” Scandic Oceanhamnen Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 Secure your spot today! Register Now Why the SLLM Final Is Moving to Monday Night One of the biggest changes in 2026 will, however, come at the very end of the tournament. In previous editions, the champion was decided on Sunday. This year, Sunday’scompetition will reduce the field to four players, but the semifinals andtitle match will not take place until Monday evening. According to Larsen, the Sunday schedule had become too crowded. Separatingthe final four from the earlier rounds will give the organizers more time to prepare the Olympia Bowling and produce the kind of show the tournament deserves. It also means the players will have time to rest and recharge for the biggest battles, while the organizers will have more room to promote the finalists and the show. “We’ve been debating the pros and cons of moving squads or final steps around.This year, we felt it was time to try pushing the top four to Monday evening. That will give us time to promote the players and the show, Martin said. "Hopefully, theproduction will get better as well. The players will now have time to restinstead of being on the lanes all day before the show. They can come in freshand pumped up. I’m sure that counts for the crowd as well. I’m looking forward to the bestSLLM final ever.” Oil Pattern Spoiler One important detail remains under wraps. Players will still have to wait forthe complete SLLM oil pattern, but Larsen was willing to offer an early clue. The pattern will measure 38 feet (+/- 1 feet). The exact pattern will be announced on August 20.

If you had a rough night at your local league last weekend and finished with a150, don’t feel too bad. This past Sunday, a score like that would have madeyou a PBA Tour champion. In a match that opened jaws even for seasoned bowling spectators, Marshall Kent outlasted top seed Boog Krol to win the 2026 PBA Indiana Classic. Marshall Kent outlasted top seed Boog Krol to win the 2026 PBA Indiana Classic. The final score of the title match instantly set three new PBA Tour records -lowest title match in PBA Tour history, lowest combined match score onnational TV, and lowest winning score on national TV. Maybe it is not the record you'd ever want to break, but hey - a record is arecord. Historic PBA Records Broken 2026 PBA Indiana Classic Lowest Winning Score New Record 152 Marshall Kent (2026) Previous Record 157 Dennis Jacques (1983) Lowest Combined Score New Record 288 Kent vs. Krol (2026) Previous Record 296 Jacques vs. Staton (1983) What makes this even crazier is that the whole week was a scoring fest. The Mike Aulby 39-foot oil pattern was producing big scores - according to Lanetalk stats, the field averaged 234 throughout the entire week of qualifying. Even during the stepladder finals, before the title match, players were averaging 219, including Timmy Tan’s 172 against Tackett. big scores Lanetalk But when the lights came on for the trophy match, something changed. Marshall Kent walked off the lanes with his eighth career title, but he wasn'texactly celebrating with a backflip. He looked exhausted. Just half an hour earlier, he was carving up the lanes with a 250 game using a Hammer Zero Mercy Solid in thesemifinal against EJ Tackett. Then, suddenly, it was pins who showed zero mercy for Kent. Hammer Zero Mercy Solid "What really threw me for a loop was the second frame when I 2-8-10’d. Then Ichanged balls and washed out, because to me, it felt like those two shotsshould have come off the pattern down lane a lot harder than they did. Ididn’t think they warranted the results they got, and I think because of that,I got subconsciously scared to throw it to the right again," Marshall Kentsaid to the media after the match. "I overcompensated, hit the living crap out of it at the bottom, and made sureit didn’t get there. Then I ended up missing the headpin left twice in a row.I’m not going to lie - in that moment, I felt really kind of down anddefeated." Field AVG. of different stages at PBA INDIANA CLASSIC Qualifiers 234 Stepladder 219 Title Match 144 Luckily for Kent, his opponent, No. 1 seed Boog Krol, was throwing shots justas bad. Maybe even worse. At least the scoreboard above the lanes said so. No. 1 seed Boog Krol, "I think Boog threw the ball way better than he scored, for sure. It justseemed like every little tiny miss was the absolute worst result you couldthink of. It wasn’t like we were getting away with anything," Kent said. With both bowlers failing to pick up spares, not to mention building anystrikes, Kent realized that doing the "right" thing wasn't working. He decidedto throw a Hail Mary, changing his entire strategy on the fly. Luckily, itpaid off. "When that window opened for me, I said, 'I just have to change balls, changelines, just change everything and hope it works out,' because obviously what Iwas doing wasn't working. I just got fortunate enough that I made the rightguess at the right time. Boog made a great shot in the 10th when he needed to,and - kind of the theme of the game - 4-7-9. I don't think he deserved thatresult on that shot. It was about as good as you could execute in the moment,and he got absolutely penalized for it. It was just a strange match ingeneral, but I’m very fortunate to be coming out on top." One of the biggest elephants in the room was Krol’s decision to stick withurethane. In a five-man field, he was the only one to keep Hammer Black Urethane in his hand duringthe finals, and the community was quick to second-guess the move. It’s hard to argue with the logic, though. Krol rode that same urethanestrategy through Friday’s elimination rounds, averaging a massive 255 tosnatch the top seed. snatch the top seed While most players wouldn't dream of touching urethane,Marshall Kent was quick to defend Krol for sticking to his guns. "I wasn’t really sure because, personally, I wouldn’t. But he also took thelead in the last block of qualifying doing that, so I could see it. He has alittle trick he can do better than most people; even when urethane doesn'twork for a lot of guys, he has his own way to make it work late in the block.Honestly, if I was him, I probably would have made the same call. That’s justthe hard part about bowling on TV - you have to make those calls in the momentand commit to them. Sometimes you just make the wrong guesses, and sometimesyou make the right ones. It’s just the nature of the beast."

Last Sunday, Patrick Dombrowski secured the biggest victory of his career in Indianapolis, defeating Anthony Simonsen by just mere two pins to win the 2026U.S. Open and capture his first PBA Tour title. Patrick Dombrowski secured the biggest victory of his career in Indianapolis, defeating Anthony Simonsen The dramatic championship match came down to the final shot, when Simonsenleft a pocket 7–10 split that sealed the win for the 47-year-old formeraccountant. For Dombrowski, the moment marked the culmination of years of persistence onthe PBA Tour. After years competing mostly on regionals and committing to thenational tour full-time only recently, the breakthrough finally arrived onbowling’s biggest stage. In the title match against Simonsen, Dombrowski did everything he could tokeep the pressure on his opponent. Simonsen needed three strikes in the tenthframe to force a roll-off, but after two strikes, the third never came.Speaking with BowlingLife after the win, Dombrowski reflected on the tensefinal moments of the championship match. “I was shocked. I was thinking about my next shot. I thought he was going tostrike out to tie me.” Instead of preparing for a roll-off against one of the sport’s biggest stars,Dombrowski suddenly realized the title was his. Not just the final match, but the entire week turned into an emotional ride.Dombrowski, a big fan of amusement parks and rollercoasters, admitted the U.S.Open felt just as intense. “It was a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the week and even on the show.I just tried to shake the no strike frames out of my mind and throw the nextshot better," Dombrowski said. "Wish there was a park close by so I cancelebrate the win but I’ll have to save my celebration for a bit and focus onthis weeks tournament in Illinois.” The stepladder finals were also marked by six pocket 7–10 splits in four games- including the final shot by Simonsen that ultimately decided the title. Whenasked why they were appearing so often, Dombrowski said he also experiencedhis share of tough breaks earlier in the tournament, but fortunately they didnot come in the most decisive moments. “I’m not really sure how there was so many 7-10’s on the show. I left my shareof them this past week. I think I left 10. Three in one game on pattern 3. I’mlucky that I didn’t leave any. It was just my day." The PBA Tour now moves to Decatur, Illinois, where the Groupon PBA IllinoisClassic is already taking place at David Small’s Victory Lanes from March 9–15. OnMonday, Johnny Quach led the PTQ as 19 players advanced into the main field.

Each year, many talented bowlers earn spots on collegiate teams in the UnitedStates. Yet many others with similar potential - or even bigger - never makethat move. That’s unfortunate, because often the issue isn’t skill, but a lackof know-how. Many young players, especially international ones, simply don’t realize thatcollege bowling is an option for them as well, or they don’t know how theprocess works or where to begin. Fortunately, there are examples of those who have made that path successfully. Not that long ago, I watched French U21 national champ Yaari Lapid bowling in BowlingGP tournaments in France. Today, he competes for Wichita State University, one of the mostprestigious collegiate bowling programs and a proven pathway for futureprofessional bowlers. BowlingGP tournaments in France In our latest interview, we talked about the challenging path to joining aU.S. college bowling program, how recruitment works, and what bowlers shouldknow before considering the move. From Europe to Wichita State 19-year-old Yaari Lapid, from Paris, France currently studies InternationalBusiness at Wichita State University, one of the most recognized collegiatebowling programs in the United States. For him, the decision to move acrossthe Atlantic was driven by a long-term dream of becoming a professionalbowler. Wichita State has long been known for developing elite players and nationalchampions like Kris Prather, Packy Hanrahan, Ryan Barnes, or recent PBA Players Championship winner Brandon Bonta, so theopportunity to train alongside top athletes played a major role in Lapid’sdecision. recent PBA Players Championship winner Brandon Bonta “I chose Wichita State because the coaches are absolutely amazing and full ofknowledge. And the players are Junior Team and Team USA members, so they haveexperience and practicing with them makes you learn a lot.” Recruitment Process for International Bowlers For the 19-year-old, the road to Wichita State was a long one, demanding notonly desire, but also determination and patience. Unlike many other NCAA sports, collegiate bowling on the men’s side does notalways follow a traditional recruitment system. Instead, international bowlersoften need to take the initiative themselves. “There is not really a recruitment process on the men’s side because we arenot NCAA, so I contacted the coaches of a few schools almost two years priorto my arrival and I also came on a visit to Wichita State University.” According to Lapid, the process itself is manageable, but choosing the rightschool can be the real challenge. “The process is not particularly difficult but the choice of where to go canbe tricky depending on what you are looking for, whether it’s bowling level,academic level, the amount of scholarship money you can get and even whetheror not you get a guaranteed spot on the team roster.” He also strongly recommends visiting schools before committing, to feel theatmosphere, see the city you will live in, and meet the personnel. “I also recommend visiting some schools here. It will give a better idea ofthe area you are in and allow you to get to know the coaches, players and theenvironment better.” Understanding the Collegiate Bowling Season The collegiate bowling season is divided into two main parts: the regularseason and the postseason championships. During the regular season, programs compete in tournaments throughout theacademic year. Which events a team attends often depends on the school’sschedule and competitive strategy. “There is a certain number of tournaments the school has to bowl in order tobe eligible for Nationals. Some schools decide to bowl more tournaments andsome only do the minimum required,” Lapid said. The postseason begins with regional qualification events known as Sectionals,where teams compete for spots at the national championships. “Post-season is basically Sectionals, regional qualification with four regionswhere the top teams advance. Same for singles.” At the end of the season, the best collegiate teams in the country advance tothe USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, the most prestigious event incollege bowling. The tournament features the top 16 men’s and top 16 women’steams in the nation competing for national titles. Teams reach thechampionships through sectional qualifiers held across four regions of theUnited States. Alongside the team event, USBC also hosts the Intercollegiate SinglesChampionships, which determine the individual national champions. Bowlersqualify through the same sectional events before advancing to the nationalfinals. The competition format itself is also unique compared to most internationaltournaments. “The format for almost all events is 5–6 traditional games of 5-man onSaturday. Then Sunday it’s 16 Baker games, four blocks of four games, on fourdifferent pairs. Then it’s the top 8 that advance to a match play eliminatorbracket, usually best 2 out of 3 or best 3 out of 5, to determine thechampions.” Advice for International Bowlers Considering the Move For young bowlers thinking about pursuing collegiate bowling, Lapid emphasizespreparation and early communication with coaches. “If any young European bowler wants to bowl collegiately in the US, theyshould start contacting coaches a year or two prior to their arrival so thatthey have enough time to discuss everything, mainly because coaches are busyduring the season.” Lapid also recommends researching programs carefully and making sure theenvironment fits both academically and athletically. “They should scout schools where either the bowling team is strong or theacademic program they want is well structured. They should start preparing atleast a year before they come so they can understand the practicing rhythm.” When asked what mistakes future collegiate bowlers should avoid, Lapid pointedout that collegiate athletics in the United States demands a high level ofcommitment. “A mistake to avoid is thinking Americans do not take it seriously. They arevery serious about collegiate sports. Although college can be a funexperience, college sports are very demanding.” At the same time, he encourages future players to consider the lifestyleaspect as well. “Second, not checking whether the place you are moving to has things to offer,like places to go out or spend time with friends. If there is nothing to do,you might get bored unless you truly don’t care about that.”

Just hours after announcing that he will step away from competitive bowling,Pontus Andersson spoke with Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife about the decision, the timing, andwhy the next chapter felt right. The 30-year-old Swede has competed internationally for nearly 13 years,represented Sweden at both youth and men’s championships, and earned more than20 medals for the national team. But despite still performing at a high level,he felt this was the moment to move on. Time for the Next Chapter Asked what made this the right moment to end his competitive career, Anderssonexplained that the feeling had been building for some time. “Been bowling for such a long time and I feel I’ve been doing that part of mylife. Almost 13 years international competition and seeing a lot of parts ofthe world. It’s time for the next chapter!” The Thrill of Developing Others Even though Andersson is still performing well on the lanes, he shared thatcoaching has slowly become just as meaningful as competing. “I definitely feel I can compete, however the thrill of making other bowlersbetter and seeing how they develop is just as of a big thrill. It’s alwaysbeen in my mind to help out people through bowling and at this time it feltlike a great moment.” That mindset ultimately led him to accept a long-term coaching position withthe Qatar Youth Team, beginning in June. Full Focus Some players manage to coach and compete at the same time, even at theirprime. Many PBA and PWBA stars run clinics and offer coaching, but Anderssonfelt that splitting his attention would not allow him to give young bowlerswhat they expect - or what he wants to deliver. “With the move to Doha I’d like to put all my dedication towards the playersin Qatar. Focus will be 100% on them.” He added that the team’s potential is a major motivation. “I know how much potential they have at a young age. If I can help them becomeeven better and compete at the highest level, I would be so excited.” Goodbyes and Undone Business Andersson will be leaving not only the international stage, but also his teamin the Swedish Elitserien. Last season, he helped lead Team Clan to the trophy, and this year they sit in second place with two games in reserveagainst leaders BK Full House. Last season, he helped lead Team Clan to the trophy When asked about leaving the team without one of its key players, Anderssondidn’t hesitate. “They will be more than fine without me for sure!” With Team Clan, Andersson experienced some of the best moments of his professional career, lifting the league trophy twice - the first one nearly a decade ago, in 2016. One Last Ride Although Andersson will retire in June, he still has goals he wants to chasein his final months on the lanes. His first priority is to defend the titlewith Team Clan. The other is more individual. As the winner of the inaugural PBA Sweden regional event, he holds a covered-entry invitation to the World Series ofBowling in Minnesota at the end of April - an opportunity he intends to use. winner of the inaugural PBA Sweden regional event “Still a few things I wanna bowl and try to do my best in before I’m done!Like winning Swedish league one more time and bowl the WSOB!”

ThePBA USA vs. The World Captains Matchdelivered more than just a Sunday exhibition - it offered a rare early-seasonlook at two of the sport’s biggest living legends. Inside theInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, on a pair of real wood lanesinstalled without markings or arrows, and human pinsetting machines,EJ Tackett struck 11 of 12 shots to defeat Australian Jason Belmonte266–227. PBA USA vs. The World Captains Match EJ Tackett struck 11 of 12 shots to defeat Australian Jason Belmonte266–227 Even though the match’s main purpose was to raise donations for theInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Team USA still gained astrategic advantage heading into the April 4 televised finals: lane choice andlineup control.Tackett selected Andrew Anderson and Ethan Fiore tojoin him, while Belmonte chose Jesper Svensson and Dominic Barrett for TeamWorld. The final roster spot for each team will be awarded based on competitionpoints after the PBA Indiana Classic in March. The rivalry between Tackett and Belmonte remains one of the definingnarratives of PBA - and Sunday’s match added another chapter. But for fans - and for Belmonte himself - now entering his 19th season with 15majors, a Super Slam, and a stated goal of reaching 20 major titles, thebigger story is what the year ahead represents. At 42, the Australian icon has openly acknowledged that the last two yearshave been among the most difficult of his career. Yet heading into 2026, something feels different. And Belmonte knows it. BowlingLife spoke with him in an interview following the CaptainsMatch to talk rivalry, tgood lads, and what he describes as a long-awaitedreturn to feeling like the old self again. It Was More About a Preview Asked whether the Captains Match carried extra weight, especially given therivalry narrative between him and Tackett, Belmonte brushed off the idea. “I don’t think this match was about making a statement. The environment wasunique and the atmosphere was cool, but I doubt very much either EJ or myselfused this match as a statement match. It was more about a preview and teamselections.” The Winning Trio Team World, led by Jason Belmonte, won the last two editions of PBA USA vs.The World - sweeping Team USA in 2023 and winning again in 2019. Belmonte didn't think that Sunday’s result carries any weightheading into the April 4 event, especially since he’ll once again rely on thesame winning trio. His selections for Team World mirror the winning 2023 lineup: Dom Barrett and JesperSvensson. And according to Belmonte, the reasons go far beyond their résumés. A Rebuilt Mindset In the last two seasons, Belmo was always somewhere in the contest for thetitles, cashing in neary every PBA Tour event. But despite finishing 3rd inpoints last season and 5th in 2024, Belmonte has only two titles across hislast three campaigns - a stark contrast to the five titles he collected in2022 alone. Belmonte acknowledged how difficult the last few yearshave been and shared, how much sweat he put in to change that. “I’ve worked really hard on having a strong 2026. I’ve worked out more than Iever have. 4–5 times a week for 5 months. I’ve redefined my physical gameslightly. Re-engineered parts of it. However the biggest change has beenmentally. It has been a very difficult couple years for me mentally and Isuffered through it. I feel much healthier and happier now which has releasedthe version of old of me. I’m excited to be me again on the lanes.” If Belmo truly feels like himself again, the PBA may be heading toward one ofits most 'BOOM' seasons in years - and perhaps the beginning of another pushtoward the 20 majors Belmonte been chasing for the last decade. It won't take long for the fans to see if Belmo's hard work payed off, as thenew PBA Tour season starts today in Arlington, Texas, with the first majortitle on the line - PBA Players Championship. The qualification will take place from Tuesday, February 17, until Friday,February 20, with the first broadcast on Sunday, February 22 at 4 p.m. EasternonThe CW. The CW

The PBA entered a new era last week with the announcement of Peter Murray as its new CEO. In addition, Murray will also serve as Head of Media for the PBAowners, Lucky Strike Entertainment.Taking on either of these roles would be a significant responsibility. Takingon both at the same time... well, a much bigger challenge. announcement of Peter Murray as its new CEO The positive takeaway is that this responsibility is being placed in the handsof someone who, at first impression, appears well equipped to handle it. Coming from a background that includes major sports and media organizationssuch as Professional Fighters League (PFL), Under Armour, and Insignia Sports,Murray's resume signals a strong candidate not only to manage both roles, butalso to lead the PBA - and potentially the whole sport - into a new phase.Shortly after the announcement, BowlingLife’s Erikas Jansonas spoke with Mr. Murray, asking about his early impressions, vision forthe PBA, potential new events, and changes in PBA Tour telecasts. A Great Team With Rich History Stepping into the leadership of the PBA would intimidate many, but Murrayappeared calm and confident. He expressed excitement about taking on bothroles and spoke positively about the people he is surrounded by. “Very excited to join Lucky Strike Entertainment, obviously PBA. It's a great teamwith such rich history and tradition related to the PBA and the sport, and tohave the opportunity to really develop this next phase of growth and grow thesport and grow PBA.” A Deeper Appreciation For the Sport Before taking on the role, Murray’s connection to bowling was similar to thatof millions around the world - a social activity and a way to spend timetogether. Stepping into the PBA structure, however, has given him a new level of respectfor the sport, its athletes, and the competitive landscape. Everyone has a favorite bowling memory, and it often reveals how a persontruly views the sport and approaches it. When asked about his most meaningfulbowling memory, Murray shared that it isn’t tied to high scores. Instead,those moments come from time spent bowling with his daughters. “Bowling with my two daughters was definitely a big part of their childhood, along with playing other sports. It was a great family activity," the new PBA CEO said."I live in Westchester County, New York, and there's a Bowlero in White Plains.Been there for many, many years. So it really has a tie that runs in myfamily.” Immediate Priorities Murray is joining the PBA at one of the busiest and most demanding times ofthe year - the launch of a new season.Format changes, new events, and a new broadcast partner all add to thechallenge, especially following the PBA’s announcement that it would movefrom FOX to The CW Network. This transition is Murray’s key focus now. The CW Network will air tenconsecutive Sunday telecasts. The goal is not simply to broadcast professionalbowling on a new platform, but to sell it to a new audience the broadcastercan offer. “We are very excited about the launch, having ten consecutive Sundays on CWfor the first time. A consistent day, Sunday afternoons, from 4 to 6 EST.It's a great time slot and I'm super excited about what CW is going to bringto the sport, the PBA, and the partnership as promotional plans start to rollout. Along with that, launching on CBS broadcast or expanding that relationship.We're spending our time not only on the product and getting ready for thelaunches, but also on how we focus on appealing not just to avid bowling fansand PBA fans, but casual fans. And introducing them to the sport, introducingthem to the PBA. That's what we're going to have some fun with.” Providing Access to the Athletes Coming from the PFL, Murray knows the value of athlete storytelling. In PFL, strong storytelling helped turn athletes into relatable figures -heroes, rivals, and sometimes even villains - making it easier for fans,especially younger audiences, to connect with them. That connection didn’t just grow interest in the athletes themselves, but alsodrove engagement around the sport through social media. These personal storiesof rivalry, struggle, and success create deep emotional bonds with audiences,elevating a sport beyond pure competition. The stories add something thatbowling, for a long time, has often been missing. “We're going to do more storytelling, not just tied to live events and liveproduct, but year-round. We're bringing more resources on the storytellingfront and production front to provide access to the athletes, which is key,and humanize them even further. So fans get access to them not just whenthey're in competitive mode on telecasts, but get to know them.” More Changes in Telecast? Over the past two weeks, much of the attention has focused on changes withinthe PBA broadcast team.Kimberly Pressler announced that she will no longer be part of PBA Tour telecasts after 15 years, while Jeff Richgels of 11thframe.com reported that The CW Network is targeting Kyle Sherman as a potential color analyst for upcoming PBA Tour broadcasts. If Sherman joins the booth, that could impactthe long-standing role of Randy Pedersen. Kimberly Pressler announced that she will no longer be part of PBA Tour telecasts Jeff Richgels of 11thframe.com reported that The CW Network is targeting Kyle Sherman as a potential color analyst for upcoming PBA Tour broadcasts When asked about the possibility of further changes in the broadcast booth,Murray indicated that additional updates are very likely. “The production team has spent a lot of time and will be rolling outannouncements tied to expanding the broadcast team. In addition to bringingnew voices into the sport and into the PBA, there will be other broadcastenhancements designed to further engage the audience. We're excited aboutthese enhancements and will be announcing them in partnership with CW in thenext two weeks,” Murray said. Global Expansion: One of the Top Priorities As an international bowling media representative, I could not help but askhow the global growth of the PBA stands for the newly appointed CEO. Accordingto Murray, the PBA is ready to evolve further into a truly global property. “We have a massive opportunity to grow internationally. As we look at regionsand countries within Europe, Asia, and other markets, there are great players,and we already have some competing in the PBA today. There is other talent that would like the opportunity to have a pathway intothe PBA, and there is demand among media companies and fan bases in thosemarkets. You'll see us begin to open up our distribution starting this year inkey markets. So fans have more access to the PBA, live competition, original content,highlights, and their favorite athletes from those countries.” Schedule Expansion and New Events This year, the PBA Tour will feature 21 different events, ranging from singlescompetitions to doubles, team formats, and international stops. According to Peter Murray, the PBA is also exploring opportunities to expandthe season calendar in the coming years, with fans likely to see additionalPBA Tour stops next season. “More broadly, we're looking forward to expanding the format and creating aworld tournament, and more to come on those details for spending time on further developing new formats to consider and roll out as early as 2027." When asked if the fans can expect more PBA Tour stops in 2027, Mr. Murray responded with a clear “Absolutely.” The PBA Tour season kicks off with the PBA Players Championship on January 16,with the televised finals set for February 22 on theCW Network. CW Network

Let’s be honest for a second. We are fuc*ing it up. That thought came out of a discussion with coach Lenka Šulková, where onething became painfully clear: we may be coaching the feel out of the game. As coaches, we have developed a dangerous obsession with being seen as theultimate authority. In our desperate bid to stand out as “eliteprofessionals,” we have turned a game of rhythm and soul into a cold, clinicallaboratory experiment. We are so busy obsessing over the microscopic details of the “tree” that we’velet the entire forest burn down behind us. The Birth of the Robotic Athlete We’ve reached a point where we would rather see an athlete look like abiomechanical model than a natural bowler. We demand perfection in everydegree of axis tilt and every millisecond of the release. But here is the reality: we aren’t building champions anymore. We are buildingconfused machines. When an athlete is buried under a mental checklist of technical specificationsbefore they even take their first step, they aren’t playing. They arecalculating. You cannot calculate a “feeling.” You cannot calculate the raw, instinctiveessence of a shot that comes from the gut. By stripping away the “feel” and replacing it with “paralysis from analysis,”we are killing the very thing that makes people fall in love with this sport. Over-Coached and Under-Skilled Here’s the uncomfortable truth: we are producing over-coached, under-skilledplayers. They can talk the game better than they can play it. They know the terminology. They understand the theory. But when the lightscome on and the pattern transitions, they crumble. Why? Because no one taught them how to feel the transition. No one taught them howto trust their eyes and instincts. No one let them struggle withoutimmediately over-correcting them with more information. We’ve replaced learning with instruction overload. And we call it progress. The Fear of Simplicity Simplicity scares people in this industry. Because if it’s simple, then whatmakes you special? If the truth is that great players do simple things exceptionally well, then alot of “experts” lose their edge. Their value shrinks. Their identity getsshaky. So the game gets dressed up. Complicated. Layered. Protected behind a wall oflanguage that keeps them relevant. But here’s the reality - the best in theworld aren’t thinking more. They’re thinking less. They’re seeing it. Feelingit. Executing it. Clean. The Tech Industry’s Smoke and Mirrors And the industry is just as guilty. Every month, we are bombarded with “revolutionary” cores and “groundbreaking”coverstocks, accompanied by spec sheets that look like NASA flight manuals. Let’s call it what it is: marketing noise. The companies drown the market in nonsense science to justify a price tag, andwe, the “professionals,” eat it up because it gives us more technical jargonto throw around. We tell a beginner they are failing because their “RGanddifferentialdon’t match the transition of theoil pattern,” instead of teaching them how to throw the ball. It is absolute nonsense. RG differential oil pattern We are hiding the beautiful simplicity of the sport behind a curtain of fakecomplexity just to make ourselves look stupidly knowledgeable. More Articles From Coach Vardakis The Hidden Timing Mistakes That Might Be Ruining Your Shots Spares Are a Feeling, Not a Formula – Why You Might Miss Spares? How to Read Oil Patterns and Build a Smart Line Play The Price of Our Ego We have become so “smart” that we’ve become blind. We have traded the spirit of the game for the specs of the gear. We are thereason students look overwhelmed and defeated before they even hit the lanes.We’ve convinced them that “getting good” requires a PhD in physics rather thana passion for the pins. If we want to be true professionals, let’s try something radical - simplify. Let’s stop being “authority figures” and start being coaches again. Give thesport back to the athletes. Let them feel the weight of the ball, the slide ofthe shoe, and the rhythm of the approach without whispering vector math intheir ear. Stop teaching them how to be hardware. Start teaching them how to bowl. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now Give the Game Back Its Feel This isn’t an argument against knowledge. Knowledge matters. But knowledgewithout restraint is noise. If our coaching makes a player more robotic, we’ve failed. If our explanationtakes longer than the shot itself, we’ve failed. If our athletes are thinkingmore than they’re trusting, we’ve definitely failed. The goal is not to make players sound smart. The goal is to make themdangerous on the lanes. And that comes from clarity. From simplicity. From letting the game breatheagain. Because right now, we’re not elevating the sport. We’re suffocating it withour own intelligence. About the Author Panagiotis VardakisPanagiotis Vardakis is an experienced bowling coach and educator whoseinvolvement in the sport spans more than two decades. His work combines technical coaching, long-term player development, andequipment knowledge, supported by his experience as a professional coach andpro shop specialist.Throughout his coaching career, he has guided athletes to national andinternational success across European competitions, coaching players fromGreece, the United Kingdom, Malta, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. About the Author Panagiotis Vardakis Panagiotis Vardakis is an experienced bowling coach and educator whoseinvolvement in the sport spans more than two decades. His work combines technical coaching, long-term player development, andequipment knowledge, supported by his experience as a professional coach andpro shop specialist. Throughout his coaching career, he has guided athletes to national andinternational success across European competitions, coaching players fromGreece, the United Kingdom, Malta, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. A significant part of his work is dedicated to youth development, where hefocuses on structured training environments that support both athleticprogress and personal growth. Vardakis is currently involved in youth-oriented projects throughBYC in Slovakia andcontinues to work with athletes, clubs, and organizations through coachingprograms, clinics, and educational initiatives across Europe. BYC For coaching-related questions or inquiries, Coach Vardakis can becontacted via email at p.vardakis@gmail.com or visit www.byc.sk www.byc.sk {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "Article","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/stop-killing-bowling-coaching-soul-out-panagiotis-vardakis/#article","headline": "Stop Killing Bowling: Are We Coaching the Soul Out of the Game?","description": "Coach Panagiotis Vardakis discusses the dangers of over-coaching in bowling, arguing that an obsession with mechanics, stats, and gear specs is killing the natural feel of the sport.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Panagiotis_Verdakis_article_picture.png","https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-05-04T12:00:00+03:00","dateModified": "2026-05-04T12:00:00+03:00","author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Panagiotis Vardakis","description": "An experienced bowling coach and educator with over two decades in the sport, specializing in technical coaching, long-term player development, and youth programs across Europe.","email": "p.vardakis@gmail.com","affiliation": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BYC Slovakia","url": "http://www.byc.sk"}},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/stop-killing-bowling-coaching-soul-out-panagiotis-vardakis"}},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/stop-killing-bowling-coaching-soul-out-panagiotis-vardakis/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the main problem with modern bowling coaching?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "According to Coach Panagiotis Vardakis, modern coaching overcomplicates the sport with technical jargon and robotic mechanics, resulting in over-coached, under-skilled players who lose the natural 'feel' and simplicity of the game."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How does bowling equipment marketing affect players?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The bowling industry uses complex terminology and deep spec sheets for new gear, which can overwhelm beginners and distract them from learning fundamental bowling skills in favor of calculating gear stats."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who is Panagiotis Vardakis?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Panagiotis Vardakis is an experienced bowling coach and educator who has guided athletes to national and international success across Europe. He is heavily involved in youth development and structured training programs."}}]}]}

Another week on the PBA Tour, another win by a Brunswick player. With Alex Horton’s victory at the PBA Tournament of Champions - the 10th eventof the year - Brunswick players have now won six straight titles. Alex Horton’s victory at the PBA Tournament of Champions If you split the Roth/Holman Doubles result between Zach Wilkins and AJ Chapman, that number could even be pushed to seven. Roth/Holman Doubles result between Zach Wilkins and AJ Chapman The last time a non-Brunswick player won was on March 15, when Anthony Simonsen captured the PBA Illinois Classic. Since then, the tour has had aclear direction - all brands compete, but it is Brunswick taking thespotlight. Anthony Simonsen captured the PBA Illinois Classic What makes this run different from what we have seen in the past is not justthe number of wins. It is who is winning them. This is not a story of one dominant superstar like in the last season. And ayear before that... And a year before that too. This is a wave of a newgeneration at the highest level of bowling. one dominant superstar like in the last season Twenty-two-year-old Alex Horton became the fourth rookie this season to win aPBA Tour title, joining Brandon Bonta, Spencer Robarge, and Austin Grammar. Healso became the second rookie this year to win a major, and seventh player this season to win his first national title on the PBA Tour. Brandon Bonta Spencer Robarge Austin Grammar Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now No previous PBA Tour season has featured more rookie winners. At the same time, players like Wilkins and Chapman - who have been on tour foryears - have finally broken through and added their first titles as well. In the entire 2025 season, Brunswick brands won five titles. In 2024, they wonsix. In 2026, they have already passed those numbers - and there are stilleight events left on the schedule. The races for Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year remain wide open. Butone thing is certain - Brunswick’s dominance on the PBA Tour this season isundeniable. 2026 PBA Tour Title WinnersTournamentWinnerBrandPBA Players ChampionshipBrandon Bonta900 GlobalPBA Pete Weber Missouri ClassicGraham FachBrunswick2026 U.S. OpenPatrick DombrowskiStorm2026 PBA Illinois ClassicAnthony SimonsenRoto GripPBA Indiana ClassicMarshall KentHammerUSBC MastersBoog KrolHammerPBA Ohio ClassicSpencer RobargeBrunswickPBA New York ClassicAustin Grammar*-PBA Roth/Holman Doubles ChampionshipZach Wilkins & AJ ChapmanHammer/BrunswickPBA Tournament of ChampionsAlex HortonBrunswick*Grammar does not have an active brand deal but was backed by Brunswick for the PBA New York Classic finals. 2026 PBA Tour Title WinnersTournamentWinnerBrand 2026 PBA Tour Title Winners TournamentWinnerBrand Tournament Winner Brand PBA Players ChampionshipBrandon Bonta900 GlobalPBA Pete Weber Missouri ClassicGraham FachBrunswick2026 U.S. OpenPatrick DombrowskiStorm2026 PBA Illinois ClassicAnthony SimonsenRoto GripPBA Indiana ClassicMarshall KentHammerUSBC MastersBoog KrolHammerPBA Ohio ClassicSpencer RobargeBrunswickPBA New York ClassicAustin Grammar*-PBA Roth/Holman Doubles ChampionshipZach Wilkins & AJ ChapmanHammer/BrunswickPBA Tournament of ChampionsAlex HortonBrunswick PBA Players ChampionshipBrandon Bonta900 Global PBA Players Championship Brandon Bonta 900 Global PBA Pete Weber Missouri ClassicGraham FachBrunswick PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic Graham Fach Brunswick 2026 U.S. OpenPatrick DombrowskiStorm 2026 U.S. Open Patrick Dombrowski Storm 2026 PBA Illinois ClassicAnthony SimonsenRoto Grip 2026 PBA Illinois Classic Anthony Simonsen Roto Grip PBA Indiana ClassicMarshall KentHammer PBA Indiana Classic Marshall Kent Hammer USBC MastersBoog KrolHammer USBC Masters Boog Krol Hammer PBA Ohio ClassicSpencer RobargeBrunswick PBA Ohio Classic Spencer Robarge Brunswick PBA New York ClassicAustin Grammar*- PBA New York Classic Austin Grammar* - PBA Roth/Holman Doubles ChampionshipZach Wilkins & AJ ChapmanHammer/Brunswick PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship Zach Wilkins & AJ Chapman Hammer/Brunswick PBA Tournament of ChampionsAlex HortonBrunswick PBA Tournament of Champions Alex Horton Brunswick *Grammar does not have an active brand deal but was backed by Brunswick for the PBA New York Classic finals. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/brunswick-staffers-dominates-pba-tour-2026/#article","headline": "Brunswick Staffers Dominate 2026 PBA Tour","description": "Brunswick staff players are dominating the 2026 PBA Tour, securing six consecutive titles and showcasing a historic wave of rookie and first-time winners.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-04-27T12:00:00+03:00","dateModified": "2026-04-27T12:00:00+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/brunswick-staffers-dominates-pba-tour-2026"}},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/brunswick-staffers-dominates-pba-tour-2026/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "How many consecutive titles have Brunswick staff players won on the 2026 PBA Tour?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Following Alex Horton's victory at the PBA Tournament of Champions, Brunswick staff players have won six straight titles on the 2026 PBA Tour."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How many rookies have won a PBA Tour title in 2026?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "A record-breaking four rookies have won PBA Tour titles in the 2026 season: Brandon Bonta, Spencer Robarge, Austin Grammar, and Alex Horton."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who was the last non-Brunswick player to win on the PBA Tour before their streak?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Anthony Simonsen, throwing Roto Grip, was the last non-Brunswick player to win when he captured the PBA Illinois Classic on March 16."}}]}]}

Over the past few years, European bowling has seen plenty of tournaments come and go. Many are well-intended, some are memorable, but only a few manage to build a real identity. BowlingGP is one of those rare cases – a tournament brand that doesn’t just organize events, but consistently raises expectations of what a bowling tournament in Europe can be. BowlingGP Hosted in France and open to players from across the continent, BowlingGP has quietly become a reference point for quality, professionalism, and international appeal. When BowlingLife first attended BowlingGP back in 2024, the first thing that stood out was how well structured the event was. Formats were clear, communication was solid, and schedules were built to work for players, not against them. From qualification squads to finals, everything felt smooth rather thanimprovised, which is often the case at bowling tournaments. Not to mentionthat finals usually finish by Sunday lunchtime, leaving enough time forplayers to safely return home. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) Main Focus Is Players First of all, although BowlingGP takes place in France, it never feels like alocal-only event. International players are genuinely welcomed, which isclearly reflected in the entry lists that regularly include bowlers frommultiple countries. Moreover, BowlingGP also deserves credit for how it treats different playergroups. The organization now focuses primarily on two categories – youth andseniors. For youth bowlers, BowlingGP offers several tournament formats,ranging from individual to team events. On the senior side, BowlingGP hostsone of the best-attended stops on the International Senior Bowling Tour,further underlining its strong international appeal. Youth tournaments are clearly designed to be genuinely meaningful, not justrandom weekend bowling events. They give young players a proper internationalexperience, focused on development rather than being just another competitionwith little long-term value. Meanwhile, senior events remain competitive and professionally presented,avoiding the common trap of turning into purely social gatherings. Details That Shape the Experience BowlingGP also understands that the quality of an event is often defined bysmall details. Branding is consistent, visuals are modern, and updates are shared clearlythroughout the tournament. Players and fans are never left guessing where tofind information. That attention to detail extends beyond the lanes. One moment that stood outto us was seeing a live band performing during the BowlingGP party dinner. Itis a small touch, but a telling one. It shows that BowlingGP views thetournament as a full experience, not just a competition. The social side is treated with the same care as the sporting side, whichstrengthens the sense of community around the event. Respect for Culture BowlingGP also benefits from embracing French hospitality. The food inNormandy plays an important role, with players welcomed to tables filled withlocal cuisine. For international visitors – and for locals as well – this addsanother layer to the experience, turning meals into shared moments rather thansimple breaks between squads with a frozen pizza slice. It all comes down to thoughtfulness. These touches help players feel like theyare investing in a complete experience, not just purchasing squad entries –something many tournaments still tend to overlook. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) View this post on Instagram A post shared by BowlingGP Tournaments (@bowling.gp_tournaments) Raise the Bar What is most fascinating is that BowlingGP does not try to reinvent thebowling wheel. Instead, it focuses on doing the essentials exceptionally wellwhile adding just enough personality to make the events memorable. From BowlingLife’s perspective, BowlingGP stands out because it respects thesport and the people around it. It just feels complete. In a European bowling landscape where consistency is often missing, BowlingGPshows what is possible when events are built with care, planning, and a clearvision. That is why BowlingGP is no longer just a strong tournament series in France.It is setting a new high standard for bowling events in Europe. Upcoming Events In December, BowlingGP France Youth 2025 showcased two days of high-levelyouth competition. Two additional youth events are scheduled forthe spring, beginning with the BowlingGP Series Youth Grand Quevilly 2026 onApril 11–12. Registration is already open. For seniors, BowlingGP France Senior 2026 returns to the lanes inGrand-Quevilly from September 30 to October 4. More details will be announcedlater, so make sure to follow BowlingGP on social media and atbowlinggp.com. bowlinggp.com

BowlingLife has officially launched the BowlingLife Fantasy League, andplayers can already submit their picks for the PBA Players Championship usingthe BowlingLife Fantasy League form. BowlingLife Fantasy League form BowlingLife Fantasy League is a new way for fans to follow the PBA Tour andplay along throughout the season. a new way for fans to follow the PBA Tour The idea behind the Fantasy League is simple. Instead of just watching events,fans can build their own fantasy teams using real PBA Tour players and scorepoints based on how those players perform on the lanes. BowlingLife Fantasy League is built around the PBA Tour calendar, but not alltour stops are included. For a full breakdown of which events are part of thegame, check the BowlingLife Fantasy rules. rules Before each event, fantasy managers submit a new team made up of sixprofessional bowlers. Five players are selected from ranked tiers based on theTop 50, while the sixth pick is a Wildcard player chosen from outside the Top50. One of the six players is selected as Captain and earns 1.5x fantasypoints for that event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) Fantasy points are awarded based on tournament results, meaning every block,cut, and title run matters. Teams are ranked on a global leaderboard thatupdates after each event, with the season also split into multiple rounds togive players more chances to compete and, of course, more prizes to win. The BowlingLife Fantasy League is free to play. There is no app to downloadand no payment required. To join, players simply submit their team through theofficial Fantasy League form before each event. The BowlingLife Fantasy League form for the PBA Players Championship is liveand can be submitted here. here Most BowlingLife Fantasy League managers gather in the BowlingLife Discord community, where deadlines, updates, rankings, and discussions are sharedthroughout the season. While Discord is not required to play, it is the mainplace where fantasy managers stay updated and interact with each other.Members also get exclusive BowlingLife content that cannot be found anywhereelse. Here is your invitation to the BowlingLife Discord. BowlingLife Discord community Here is your invitation to the BowlingLife Discord Team submissions for the BowlingLife Fantasy League will remain open until thestart of Qualification Round 1 at the PBA Players Championship, scheduled for11:00 AM CET on February 16.

Watching the PBA Tour has always been fun. Watching it while arguing withfriends about who will choke, who will peak, and who you should’ve picked?Even better. Just a few weeks before the new PBA Tour season, BowlingLife's team wasalready deep into predictions, power rankings, and “this is his year” takes.At some point, the question came up naturally - why not turn all of this intoa fantasy game and play along together? No big plans or bold promises - just a simple bowling fantasy built to makewatching bowling more enjoyable.And that is how BowlingLife Fantasy League came to life. Right now, BowlingLife Fantasy League runs on simple tools, forms, standings,and regular updates. It might feel a bit clumsy at times - and that is okay.The goal was never perfection. The goal was to launch it before the season starts and create something fun,something social, and something that makes waiting for the next PBA Tour eventmore exciting. Because now, you are not just watching - you are part of it. Most importantly, this fantasy league is being built together with thecommunity. We are paying attention to how people play, talk, and react. Ifthis turns into something people truly enjoy and want to keep, we can alwaysmake it smoother and more user-friendly in future seasons. How the Bowling Fantasy Game Works BowlingLife Fantasy League is a bowling fantasy game built entirely around thereal PBA Tour season. For every PBA Tour event in the fantasy schedule, you submit a new team madeup of six real professional bowlers. Five players are selected from rankedtiers based on the Top 50, which keeps teams balanced. The sixth player is aWildcard pick, letting you take a chance on someone outside the Top 50. From those six players, you choose one Captain. Your Captain scores 1.5xfantasy points for that event. Your fantasy results depend completely on how your players actually perform onthe lanes. Higher finishes earn more points, and consistency across events iswhat separates the best fantasy teams from the rest. It is easy to start, but it gets competitive quickly. Why Play Bowling Fantasy? Because it changes how you watch bowling. BowlingLife Fantasy League gives youa reason to follow more storylines, track form changes, and stay engaged fromthe first frame to the final title match. It adds tension, debate, andexcitement to every PBA Tour stop. If you already watch bowling, fantasy simply makes it better. How Do I Join the BowlingLife Fantasy League? Getting started is simple. You register your fantasy team using a Googleaccount, which is used to track your team and points. There is no app todownload and no payment required - the BowlingLife Fantasy League is free toplay. Everything follows the PBA Tour calendar. Before each event, you submit yourteam through the official BowlingLife Fantasy form. Miss a submission and youscore zero points for that event, so staying updated matters. That is why theBowlingLife Discord is the best place to keep track of everything. Standings, Rounds, and Prizes In BowlingLife Fantasy League, fantasy managers are ranked on a globalleaderboard based on the total fantasy points they earn across the PBA Tourseason. Alongside the overall standings, the season is divided into three rounds, eachcovering a group of PBA Tour events. These rounds act as mini competitionsinside the season, giving everyone more chances to compete, reset the fight,and stay involved. Standings are updated after every PBA Tour event. Players are not justfighting for bragging rights, but also for prizes. Top performers in both theoverall standings and individual rounds will be rewarded with BowlingLifemerchandise, bowling equipment, or other prizes. Details are announced ahead of time through BowlingLife Discord and officialBowlingLife channels. Bowling Fantasy Community Lives on BowlingLife Discord While the fantasy league runs alongside the PBA Tour, the community lives ontheBowlingLife Discord. BowlingLife Discord That is where most of the action happens. Updated tiers are posted therefirst. Fantasy deadlines, reminders, news, and reactions are shared beforeevery event. It is also where fantasy managers talk picks, argue about captainchoices, celebrate wins, and complain about bad breaks. If you enjoy bowlingconversations, that is where you will feel at home. You do not have to join Discord to play, but if you want the full BowlingLifeFantasy experience, that is where it comes alive.Join BowlingLife Discord and be part of the community! Join BowlingLife Discord and be part of the community! Ready to Play Along? If you already follow the PBA Tour, this fantasy league is built for you. Sametour, same bowlers. Just one more reason to care when the next event starts.Join the BowlingLife Discordto get live updates and stay in the loop when the BowlingLife Fantasy Leaguegoes live. Join the BowlingLife Discord

Over the decades, the PBA Tour has seen many of bowling’s biggest names rise to the top.Some captured the Player of the Year award once, while others built long runs of dominance.Every winner earned a place in the sport’s history. This complete list of PBA Player of the Year winners runs fromBilly Hardwick, the first honoree in 1963, through EJ Tackett in 2026.Tackett’s latest win made him the first player to receive the award in four consecutive seasons. PBA Player of the Year winners EJ Tackett in 2026 EJ Tackett Wins the 2026 PBA Player of the Year Award Tackett earned his fifth career Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year award in 2026,following wins in 2016, 2023, 2024 and 2025. His run from 2023 through 2026 is thelongest consecutive winning streak in the award’s history. He also became the fourth bowler to reach five career awards, joining Jason Belmonte,Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Earl Anthony. Read BowlingLife’s coverage ofTackett’s historic fourth consecutive Player of the Year award. Tackett’s historic fourth consecutive Player of the Year award PBA Tour Player of the Year Winners: 1963–2026 The winners below are listed from newest to oldest.Links in the list open BowlingLife’s coverage of the award announcements. We compiled this list by carefully checking multiple sources; if you spot an error, please contact erikas@bowlinglife.eu so we can correct it. 2026 – EJ Tackett2025 – EJ Tackett2024 – EJ Tackett2023 – EJ Tackett2022 – Jason Belmonte2021 – Kyle Troup2020 – Jason Belmonte2019 – Jason Belmonte2018 – Andrew Anderson2017 – Jason Belmonte2016 – EJ Tackett2015 – Jason Belmonte2014 – Jason Belmonte2013 – Jason Belmonte2012 – Sean Rash2011 – Mika Koivuniemi2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.2009 – Wes Malott2008 – Chris Barnes2007 – Doug Kent2006 – Tommy Jones2005 – Patrick Allen2004 – Mika Koivuniemi2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.2002 – Parker Bohn III2000 – Norm Duke1999 – Parker Bohn III1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1997 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1996 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1995 – Mike Aulby1994 – Norm Duke1993 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1992 – David Ferraro1991 – David Ozio1990 – Amleto Monacelli1989 – Amleto Monacelli1988 – Brian Voss1987 – Marshall Holman1986 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1985 – Mike Aulby1984 – Mark Roth1983 – Earl Anthony1982 – Earl Anthony1981 – Earl Anthony1980 – Wayne Webb1979 – Mark Roth1978 – Mark Roth1977 – Mark Roth1976 – Earl Anthony1975 – Earl Anthony1974 – Earl Anthony1973 – Don McCune1972 – Don Johnson1971 – Don Johnson1970 – Nelson Burton Jr.1969 – Billy Hardwick1968 – Jim Stefanich1967 – Dave Davis1966 – Wayne Zahn1965 – Dick Weber1964 – Bob Strampe1963 – Billy Hardwick 2026 – EJ Tackett EJ Tackett 2025 – EJ Tackett EJ Tackett 2024 – EJ Tackett EJ Tackett 2023 – EJ Tackett 2022 – Jason Belmonte 2021 – Kyle Troup 2020 – Jason Belmonte 2019 – Jason Belmonte 2018 – Andrew Anderson 2017 – Jason Belmonte 2016 – EJ Tackett 2015 – Jason Belmonte 2014 – Jason Belmonte 2013 – Jason Belmonte 2012 – Sean Rash 2011 – Mika Koivuniemi 2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 2009 – Wes Malott 2008 – Chris Barnes 2007 – Doug Kent 2006 – Tommy Jones 2005 – Patrick Allen 2004 – Mika Koivuniemi 2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 2002 – Parker Bohn III 2000 – Norm Duke 1999 – Parker Bohn III 1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1997 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1996 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1995 – Mike Aulby 1994 – Norm Duke 1993 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1992 – David Ferraro 1991 – David Ozio 1990 – Amleto Monacelli 1989 – Amleto Monacelli 1988 – Brian Voss 1987 – Marshall Holman 1986 – Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1985 – Mike Aulby 1984 – Mark Roth 1983 – Earl Anthony 1982 – Earl Anthony 1981 – Earl Anthony 1980 – Wayne Webb 1979 – Mark Roth 1978 – Mark Roth 1977 – Mark Roth 1976 – Earl Anthony 1975 – Earl Anthony 1974 – Earl Anthony 1973 – Don McCune 1972 – Don Johnson 1971 – Don Johnson 1970 – Nelson Burton Jr. 1969 – Billy Hardwick 1968 – Jim Stefanich 1967 – Dave Davis 1966 – Wayne Zahn 1965 – Dick Weber 1964 – Bob Strampe 1963 – Billy Hardwick Who Has Won the Most PBA Player of the Year Awards? Jason Belmonte and Walter Ray Williams Jr. share the record with seven awards each.Earl Anthony follows with six, while EJ Tackett’s 2026 win takes him to five,ahead of Mark Roth’s four. Jason Belmonte and Walter Ray Williams Jr. share the record with seven awards each. Jason Belmonte — 7: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.Walter Ray Williams Jr. — 7: 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2010.Earl Anthony — 6: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1983.EJ Tackett — 5: 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.Mark Roth — 4: 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984. Jason Belmonte — 7: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022. Jason Belmonte — 7: Walter Ray Williams Jr. — 7: 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2010. Walter Ray Williams Jr. — 7: Earl Anthony — 6: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Earl Anthony — 6: EJ Tackett — 5: 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. EJ Tackett — 5: Mark Roth — 4: 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984. Mark Roth — 4: Tackett now holds the record for consecutive awards with four. Anthony, Roth,Williams and Belmonte each won three in a row; Anthony achieved that feat twice. Last updated: September 10, 2026. September 10, 2026 Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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Bowling has come a long way. From rolling stones thousands of years ago towooden balls and today’s high-tech gear with advanced cores and coverstocks,the game has constantly evolved. This time, we’re hopping in thetime machine to explore theHistory of bowling ballsand see how each era shaped the sport we know today. History of bowling balls Stone era: Ancient Egypt (~3200 BC) The earliest bowling balls were carved from stone in Ancient Egypt. Theseheavy spheres had no holes, no cores, or polish - just raw shape and weight. They were used in ritual games and early forms of pin play, proving that theidea of rolling a ball toward targets has been around for thousands of years. Wood era: Before the 1900s By the 1800s, balls were being made from lignum vitae, a dense tropical wood.Many were crafted in two halves, pegged together, and often cracked with use. While they lacked consistency, these wooden balls marked the beginning ofmodern equipment design and represented a huge step forward in the history ofbowling balls. Rubber era: 1905–1960s The introduction of rubber balls changed the sport forever. In 1905, the Evertrue became the first of its kind, followed in 1914 byBrunswick’s Mineralite, which used a secret rubber formula. Rubber balls weresmoother, more durable, and consistent compared to wood. For decades, rubber was the competitive standard, often built with cork cores. Polyester era: 1960s–1980s The 1960s broughtplastic (polyester) bowlingballs. Columbia’s Crown Jewel and other models became popular for their motionand durability. But pros soon complained about the lack of hook. Some bowlerstried chemical soaks to soften covers until safety rules banned such tries. plastic (polyester) Even though stronger hooking balls eventually took over, most bowlers stillkeep a plastic ball in their bag today. Urethane era: 1980s The early 1980s marked another leap forward with urethane. Models like the AMF Angle created more friction and stronger hook potential,especially on shorter or drier lane conditions. Urethane sparked a shift in ball performance expectations and still has aloyal following for its smooth, controllable motion. Reactive resin era: 1990s In the early 1990s, reactive resin covers took over. Balls like the Nu-LineX-Calibur introduced microscopic pores that absorbed oil, creating explosivebackend hook and higher pin carry. This innovation fueled a scoring boom and forever changed how bowlers attackedlane conditions. Reactive resin remains the dominant material in performancebowling today. Modern design: technology meets performance Today’s bowling balls combine engineered coverstocks and advanced cores.Manufacturers fine-tune specs like RG, differential, and surface finish togive bowlers specific options for heavy oil, medium conditions, or dry lanes.Most bowlers now carry 6–12 balls to tournaments, each with a specializedpurpose. Final thoughts From stone to wood, rubber to polyester, urethane to reactive resin, thehistory of bowling balls is the story of constant innovation. Every new material changed the way the game was played and opened newpossibilities for scoring and strategy. Understanding this history makes today’s equipment even more fascinating - andshows just how far the sport has come.

This article is based on historical information shared by Gary Beck on Facebook, who provided valuable insight into one of the most debated moments in bowling equipment history. This article is based on historical information shared by Gary Beck on Facebook Facebook Facebook , who provided valuable insight into one of the most debated moments in bowling equipment history. This week, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) released an official statement confirming that it is in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls from certified competition. in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls According to USBC, urethane affects lane pattern integrity, creates possible imbalances in competitive fairness, may limit player development, and presents enforcement challenges due to its softness over time. USBC’s Equipment Specifications Committee is currently reviewing survey feedback and manufacturer input, with a decision expected later in 2025. But this is not the first time the sport faced such a crossroads with urethane bowling balls. Back in 1981, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) came very close to banning urethane bowling balls entirely. This wasn’t due to long-term softness or lane integrity concerns, but because of how dramatically the new ball changed performance during competition. By 1974, AMF, a major bowling brand, was struggling with market share. It had shut down its ball factories and outsourced ball production to competitors. Not satisfied with the results, AMF hired Edmond Leary, MIT engineer, to design a new kind of ball that would dominate the lanes. Leary began testing his designs at the 1979 Bowling Proprietors' Association (BPAA) U.S. Open and returned a year later with 36 prototypes, tested by six PBA players. Ten months later, 125 newly built bowling balls were delivered to the 1981 PBA National Championship in Toledo, Ohio. The ball, later named the AMF Angle, was black with a pancake weight block - just like most of the balls on the market. But on the lanes, it was anything but ordinary. It hooked more and hit harder than anything bowlers had used before. Within a month, AMF gave away over 2,000 Angles to players on tour. For free, as a marketing campaign. After that, even bowlers known for throwing straight suddenly were hooking like crazy. The change was hard to ignore. Concerned about how much the ball was impacting scoring, the PBA Tournament Committee had to make a move. In early April 1981, just a yar after AMF Angle was released,all eleven committee members voted unanimously to ban urethane bowling balls. But when the PBA Executive Committee met later that month in Las Vegas, the plan was rejected. The reason was financial. The PBA depended on support from bowling ball manufacturers, and banning urethane would hurt those relationships. So, despite the serious concern, the ban on urethane never became official. The ball stayed on tour. Over time, it changed how equipment was developed and how the game was played. More than 40 years later, the debate continues wether should urethane be banned or not. This article is based on information originally provided by Gary Beck on Facebook. This article is based on information originally provided by Gary Beck on Facebook Gary Beck on Facebook Gary Beck on Facebook .