Lev Ekster has resigned from his position as President of Lucky StrikeEntertainment Corporation. According to information filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Lev Ekster notified the company of his resignation on February 18,2026. information filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Following his decision, Lucky Strike Entertainment appointed Thomas Shannon,who currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to replaceEkster as President. Shannon will now hold the roles of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, andPresident of the company. The filing states that Ekster and the company entered into a Resignation,Severance, and Release Agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Ekster will remain employed during atransition period, with his employment officially ending on March 4, 2026. As part of the agreement, Ekster will receive a severance payment of $275,000. Lev Ekster joined Lucky Strike Entertainment, then operating as Bowlero, in 2013 as Director of Business Development.

Graham Fach and Jade Côté have been named Canada’s 2025 Bowlers of the Year inthe Adult Divisions after both recorded strong seasons across national andinternational competition. The Canadian Tenpin Federation confirmed Fach as the Men’s Adult Divisionwinner and Côté as the Women’s Adult Division recipient. Jade Côté, representing Farnham, Quebec, delivered strong results throughoutthe 2025 season at both national and international events. At the 2025 Canadian Team Trials, she finished fifth. She also placed 13th atthe USBC Queens and finished second in the All-Events Team competition at theUSBC Women’s Championships. Côté recorded a ninth-place finish at the 2025PWBA Anniversary Open. At the collegiate level, she was named First Team All-American and helped herteam win the NCAA National Team Championship. She was also selected as the MVPat the NCAA Collegiate Championships. Côté was a member of the 2025 Adult andYouth Team Canada squads. This marks Côté’s third time receiving Canada’s Bowler of the Year Award. In the Men’s Adult Division, Graham Fach earned the 2025 Bowler of the Yeartitle. Fach, from Guelph, Ontario and currently residing in Urbana, Ohio,posted several notable finishes during the 2025 season. He won the gold medal in singles at the Canadian Team Trials. On the PBA Tour,he finished fifth at the USBC Masters and third at the PBA Tournament ofChampions. He also placed ninth at the U.S. Open. Fach captured titles at the PBA Delaware Classic and three PBA Regional eventsin Lorain, Heath, and Bluffton. He also finished third at the PBA Playoffs andthe PBA Tour Finals, and seventh at the PBA Nevada Classic. His performances earned him recognition as the PBA Central Region Bowler ofthe Year. He was also named to the Bowlers Journal Second Team All-Americanlist.

Sixteen-year-old Nolan Mori made history at the 2026 True Amateur TournamentsNationals by winning the championship and taking home the top prize of$25,000. The event once again drew massive interest, with a total of 6,294 entriesrecorded across all divisions and over $100,000 in the prize pot. For thefirst time, the True Amateur Tournaments will be held in Europe. The TATEuropean Amateur Classic is scheduled for August 3 to 9, 2026, at Dream-BowlPalace in Munich, Germany. The finals featured five players competing for the title – Nolan Mori from the190–215 Average Division, Matt Anderson from the Scratch Division, BenjaminBroomfield from the 189–170 Handicap Division, Michael Charles from the 50 andOver Senior Division, and Steven Williams from the 169 Under HandicapDivision. Mori entered the tenth frame needing a strike to move past Matt Anderson ofLas Vegas, Nevada, the brother of PBA Tour star Andrew Anderson. Moridelivered when it mattered most to secure the win, finishing the finals with atotal score of 246 (236 scratch +10hcp). Anderson finished second with a total of 237 and earned $10,000. BenjaminBroomfield of Florida placed third with 221, followed by Michael Charles ofCalifornia in fourth with 217. Steven Williams rounded out the top five with ascore of 208. With the win, Mori became the youngest champion in TAT history. The TAT continues to grow beyond the United States, with a major milestonecoming later this year. For the first time, TAT will come to Europe in August. TAT will come to Europe in August. The event will feature a €400,000 prize pool and five handicap divisions,giving amateur bowlers from across Europe the chance to compete in the sameformat that has made the TAT one of the most successful amateur bowling eventsin the world.

Motiv Bowling has announced plans to expand its operations in Muskegon County,Michigan, with a major investment that will create new jobs and increaseproduction capacity in the U.S. Wilbur Products, doing business as Motiv Bowling, will acquire and renovate anew 96,000-square-foot facility in Roosevelt Park. The expansion is expectedto result in almost $9 million in capital investment and the creation of 90new jobs. “The opportunity and encouragement provided by the State, the MEDC, TheGreater Muskegon Economic Development Corporation, and the City of RooseveltPark will allow us to continue to produce the world’s best bowling productshere in the United States,” said W. Scott Wilbur, President of Motiv Bowling.“When our primary customer for bowling products left for Mexico in 2006, weenacted our belief that bowling ball manufacturing in America was stillpossible if a business was truly focused on excellence in innovation andcutting-edge manufacturing processes.” Motiv Bowling is currently headquartered in Michigan and employs 43 peopleacross facilities in Spring Lake and Roosevelt Park. The company decided toexpand due to growing demand for its products and the need to improvemanufacturing efficiency. The new facility will be used for bowling ball production and will also serveas an exporting logistics hub. Motiv’s existing facility, located about twomiles from the new site, will remain in use for research and development. “Motiv Bowling is exactly the kind of company that strengthens a community -homegrown, innovative, and deeply committed to its people,” said TrevorFriedeberg, CEO of Greater Muskegon Economic Development. “Their continuedinvestment in Roosevelt Park creates quality jobs and reinforces WestMichigan’s reputation as a place where advanced manufacturing andentrepreneurship thrive.” State officials also highlighted the long-standing connection between bowlingmanufacturing and the Muskegon area. “The bowling industry has been a part of our Muskegon area DNA for over 120years,” said State Rep. Will Snyder. “Motiv’s investment in Roosevelt Parkwill ensure more generations are able to have good jobs in the Muskegon’sbowling manufacturing industry.” Motiv continues to one of the most successfull brands on the professional sideof the sport as well. The company was the only manufacturer represented onevery PBA Tour TV show during the 2025 season, and bowlers using Motivequipment won more than half of the available PBA titles that year, whileMotiv's pro stafferEJ Tackett was named player of the year for the third time in a row. EJ Tackett was named player of the year for the third time in a row

Brunswick Bowling Products has announced that its Boost ST® string pinsettertechnology has been approved by the Professional Bowlers Association for usein professional-level competition,Brunswick announced earlier today. Brunswick announced earlier today. The decision allows the system to be used on the PBA Tour and marks a new stepfor string pins in top-level bowling. The PBA carried out its own testing and review process. Following thatevaluation, the PBA confirmed that Boost ST® meets the requirements forprofessional competition. The Boost ST® system is already approved by the United States Bowling Congressand can be used in certified leagues and official competitions. Boost ST® is built on Brunswick’s GS Series platform and is designed todeliver consistent pin action and scoring across different levels of play. Thesystem is intended for use in open play, league bowling, and competitiveevents, including professional tournaments. Beyond lane performance, Boost ST® is also designed to support modern bowlingcenter operations. The system includes automated features, optimized stringlength settings, and integration with Brunswick’s Sync® scoring system, the360 Controller, and the Pronto™ app. These tools are aimed at helping centers reduce maintenance needs, limitdowntime, and manage daily operations more efficiently.

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

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

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

Under the lights, against the best in the world, EJ Tackett, in thechampionship match of the season’s first major, Brandon Bonta deliveredperfection. Not just a win. Not just a breakthrough. A perfect start of his career. Quiteliterally. Strike after strike, the No. 4 seed dismantled one of the sport’s greatestplayers and sealed the PBA Players Championship with a flawless performance -earning $10,000 in bonus money and giving fans across America a free game ofbowling in the process. On the biggest stage of his young career, Bonta didn’t just arrive. He made history. The championship match opened with Bonta in complete control. Throwing theStorm Bionic and Storm IQ Tour 78/U, he started with a five-bagger and neverlooked back. Tackett struck four times in his first six shots but trailed by21 pins halfway through the game. Storm IQ Tour 78/U Bonta kept pouring it on. Six in a row. Seven. Eight. Nine. When Tackettfailed to strike in the ninth frame, the game was sealed. But Bonta wasn’t finished. He completed the perfect game, earning himself a $10,000 bonus and giving fansacross America a free game of bowling. Can you imagine a better debut on the biggest stage? No one can. The finals, just like qualifying, were contested on a dual oil pattern format- 50-foot Badger and 37-foot Viper. However, the venue was different. While all qualifying rounds were held atBowlero Euless, the stepladder finals moved to the International Training andResearch Center - a place very special to EJ Tackett, as he met his futurewife Natalie duirng the Junior Team USA camp in 2013 in there. Now the ITRC will hold special meaning for Bonta too. He took the long road through the stepladder to earn that title. The opening match between No. 4 seed Brandon Bonta and No. 5 seed SpencerRobarge showed nerves from the very beginning. Bonta missed a single-pin sparein the second frame, while Robarge struggled early, leaving a spareunconverted before splitting in the third and fourth frames. Ball choices played a key role. Bonta used a Transformer on the 50-foot Badgerpattern and switched to a Storm !Q Tour 78/U on Viper. Robarge relied on aHammer Black Urethane on Viper and a Track Synthesis on Badger. Bonta settled in quickly, stringing together strikes in the fourth and fifthframes to build a 26-pin lead heading into the commercial break. He maintainedmomentum after the restart, while Robarge was unable to generate consistentcarry. The match concluded 227-173 in Bonta’s favor, sending him forward to faceJesper Svensson in the next round. In the match between No. 3 seed Jesper Svensson and Brandon Bonta, bothplayers came out firing. Each opened with a four-bagger beforeBonta shot one slightly high, leaving a 4-7-9 split. He nearly converted it,though, but the 4-pin slid in front the ninth, which left standing. Meanwhile, Svensson had trouble of his own, leaving a single 7-pin and failingto convert, resulting in an open frame. Svensson relied on the Storm !Q Tour 78/U on both oil patterns, while Bontastayed with the same equipment setup that carried him through the openingmatch. After the commercial break, Bonta surged ahead and entered the tenth framewith the lead. Svensson was unable to strike on his first shot in the tenth,settling for a spare and finishing with 216. That left Bonta needing justeight pins to advance. He delivered, striking on his first shot in the tenth to secure the 253-216win and advance to face Canada’s Graham Fach in the semifinal. No. 2 seed Graham Fach started the semifinal with two strikes and two spares.Bonta, however, looked completely settled on the right side — an advantagewith Robarge, Svensson, and Fach all left-handers — and built an 11-pin leadthrough six frames. Fach used a polished Track Stealth Mode on the long pattern and a CrownVictory 78/U on the shorter oil. Bonta made a ball change in the sixth frame,switching from a Roto Grip Transformer to a Storm Bionic Hybrid. After the break, Fach applied pressure with strikes in the eighth and ninth.Bonta responded with strikes in the ninth and tenth but left a ringing 10-pinthat kept the match alive. Fach needed three in the tenth to forcea tie, but a stone eight on his first shot ended the threat. Bonta closed it out 247-226, sending the No. 4 seed into the final against EJTackett that he later won in a big style. The next stop on the 2026 PBA Tour schedule is the Legendz PBA Pete WeberMissouri Classic, taking place February 24 through March 1 at Bowlero St.Peters in St. Peters, Missouri. The event begins on Tuesday,February 24, with the seven-game Pre-Tournament Qualifier.

John Douglas “Guppy” Troup has officially been inducted into the PBA Hall ofFame as the sole member of the Class of 2026. The induction took place last night during the 2026 PBA Hall of Fame ceremonyin Arlington, Texas. Troup was selected through the PBA Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, whichrecognizes players whose careers made a lasting impact on professionalbowling. He received the most votes from living Hall of Famers among thecandidates on this year’s ballot. Guppy Troup was known for his flashy style, and his career on the PBA Tour wasjust as memorable. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Troup moved with his family to South Carolina in1953 at the age of three. Shortly after, he began bowling and became a memberof a team called “The Guppies,” with which he won a state title and set ajunior state record. The team’s name later became his lifelong nickname. Guppy Troup became a PBA member in 1975 and began competing on the PBA Tourthe following season. His breakthrough came in 1978 when he won his first PBA Tour title at theKessler Open. During his career, Guppy Troup won eight PBA Tour titles. His most successfulstretch came between 1980 and 1985, when he collected seven titles, includingthree victories in the 1982 season. His final PBA Tour title came at the 1985Austin Open in Austin, Texas. Troup also built one of the most accomplished résumés in PBA Regional Tourhistory. He earned 42 regional titles, ranking ninth on the all-time PBA Regional Tour titles list. ninth on the all-time PBA Regional Tour titles list He later competed on the PBA50 Tour, where he was named Rookie of the Year in2000. Guppy Troup's PBA Tour Titles 1978 Kessler Open – Battle Creek, Michigan1980 Waukegan Super Touch Open – Waukegan, Illinois1982 Miller High Life Classic – Anaheim, California1982 Molson Bowling Challenge – Windsor, Ontario, Canada1982 Northern Ohio Open – Fairview Park, Ohio1983 Quaker State Open – Grand Prairie, Texas1984 Budweiser Classic – Columbus, Ohio1985 Austin Open – Austin, Texas 1978 Kessler Open – Battle Creek, Michigan 1980 Waukegan Super Touch Open – Waukegan, Illinois 1982 Miller High Life Classic – Anaheim, California 1982 Molson Bowling Challenge – Windsor, Ontario, Canada 1982 Northern Ohio Open – Fairview Park, Ohio 1983 Quaker State Open – Grand Prairie, Texas 1984 Budweiser Classic – Columbus, Ohio 1985 Austin Open – Austin, Texas

The PBA has officially released the PBA50 Schedule for the 2026 season. Theseason will feature 17 events. PBA50 Tour will include 15 PBA50 title events, with five majors, along with two PBA60 title events.The season will begin in April and run through early August. The upcoming year will mark the 45th season of the PBA50 Tour. Below is the complete PBA50 Schedule for 2026. April 13–16 – PBA50 The Villages Classic, The Villages, FLApril 30–May 12 – PBA50 World Series of Bowling IV, Bloomington, MNApril 30–May 9 – PBA50 Ballard Championship, Bloomington, MNApril 30–May 10 – PBA50 Monacelli Championship, Bloomington, MNApril 30–May 11 – PBA50 Petraglia Championship, Bloomington, MN(MAJOR) April 30–May 12 – PBA50 WSOB IV World Championship, Bloomington, MN(MAJOR) May 19–24 – PBA Senior U.S. Open, Greeley, CO(PBA 60) May 27–31 – USBC Super Senior Classic, Las Vegas, NV(MAJOR) May 31–June 7 – USBC Senior Masters, Las Vegas, NVJune 11–14 – PBA50 FireLake Classic, Shawnee, OKJune 17–20 – PBA50 David Small’s Championship Lanes Classic, Anderson, INJune 22–25 – PBA50 South Shore Classic, Hammond, IN(PBA60) July 2–8 – PBA60 World Series of Bowling II, Columbus, OHJuly 11–14 – PBA50 Akron Classic, Fairlawn, OH(MAJOR) July 17–22 – Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship, Woodbridge, VAJuly 27–30 – PBA50 Norfolk Classic, Norfolk, VA(MAJOR) August 4–8 – Johnny Petraglia BVL PBA50 Tournament of Champions, Morgantown, WV

The stepladder finals are officially set for Sunday at Bowlero Euless and theInternational Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas. After 46 games played from Tuesday through Friday, five players remain incontention for the first major title of the 2026 PBA Tour season. The positioning round slightly reshuffled the order, as Jesper Svensson movedinto the third seed, Brandon Bonta secured the fourth, and Spencer Robargedropped from third to the fifth and final stepladder position. Meanwhile, EJ Tackett never gave up control of the tournament. After 46 games,he leads with 10,702 total pins and a 229 average. He finished holding a286-pin advantage over the cut line and enters Sunday as the top seed. EJ Tackett never gave up control of the tournament Canada's Player of the Year Graham Fach secured the second seed with 10,493total pins and a 225 average. Just outside the top five after match play was Tim Foy Jr. in sixth with10,333. Brad Miller followed in seventh with 10,282, and Matthew Ogle finishedeighth with 10,279. Andrew Anderson ended ninth with 10,210. Sam Cooley completed 10th with10,167. BJ Moore finished 11th with 10,163, while Bill O’Neill placed 12thwith 10,125. CJ Petrin ended 13th with 10,114. Mitch Hupe followed in 14th with 10,058.Shawn Maldonado, who led early in the tournament, finished 15th with 9,896.Nicholas Pate rounded out the top 16 with 9,835. Shawn Maldonado, who led early in the tournament After a demanding week of competition across two oil patterns and multiplematch play blocks, the field is now reduced to five. No. 5 seed SpencerRobarge will meet Brandon Bonta in the opening match on Sunday, starting at 3p.m. CST on The CW. The CW

The first eight games of round robin match play are complete at the PBA Players Championship, and the race toward the stepladder finals is gettingtighter. PBA Players Championship Only five players will advance to Sunday’s stepladder finals at the firstmajor of the 2026 PBA Tour season. After 38 games, EJ Tackett remains in control. He maintained his lead and nowsits at 8,851 total pins with a 229 average. He holds a 130-pin advantage oversecond place and is the only player who can feel relatively safe heading intothe final eight match play games. Behind him, the battle is wide open. Graham Fach moved into second place with 8,719. Spencer Robarge is third with8,662, followed closely by Brandon Bonta in fourth at 8,658. Tim Foy Jr.currently holds the fifth and final stepladder position with 8,620. Brandon Bonta Andrew Anderson is just three pins behind the cut in sixth place with 8,617.Jesper Svensson follows in seventh at 8,611, while Matthew Ogle sits eighthwith 8,609. BJ Moore is ninth with 8,598. The margin between second place and ninth place is just over 120 pins. With 30bonus pins awarded for every match play win, the standings can change quickly. Further down the standings, Bill O’Neill is 10th with 8,489. Brad Millerstands 11th at 8,471. Sam Cooley holds 12th place with 8,448. Nicholas Pate is13th at 8,399. Shawn Maldonado sits 14th with 8,361. Mitch Hupé follows in15th at 8,334. CJ Petrin rounds out the top 16 with 8,310. Brad Miller The stepladder finals of the PBA Players Championship are set for Sunday at3 p.m. CST on The CW. The CW.

The Advancers Round is complete at the PBA Players Championship, and the fieldhas been cut from 32 to 16 players at Bowlero Euless and the ITRC inArlington, Texas. PBA Players Championship After six additional games on the dual oil pattern format, the final 30-gametotals determined the 16 players moving on to match play. EJ Tackett remains in first place overall with 6,838 pins and a 228 average.Graham Fach moved into second with 6,777, followed closely by Andrew Andersonin third at 6,774. EJ Tackett remains in first place overall CJ Petrin sits fourth with 6,771, while Shawn Maldonado rounds out the topfive at 6,766. Shawn Maldonado Spencer Robarge stands sixth with 6,731. Tim Foy Jr. is seventh at 6,729, andJesper Svensson holds eighth place with 6,722. Brandon Bonta, who led the Advancers Round with 1,450 and a 242 average whilestriking at a 70 percent rate, climbed from 22nd after qualifying to ninthoverall with 6,713. Brad Miller, who advanced through the PTQ earlier in the week, followed with1,419 and a 237 average in the Advancers Round. He jumped from 24th afterqualifying to 10th overall with 6,667. advanced through the PTQ earlier in the week Matthew Ogle secured 11th place with 6,656. BJ Moore finished 12th at 6,650.Sam Cooley sits 13th with 6,637. Nicholas Pate placed 14th with 6,616. Mitch Hupé claimed 15th at 6,605, and Bill O’Neill captured the finaladvancing position in 16th with 6,600. Just outside the cut, DeeRonn Booker finished 17th with 6,572, missing matchplay by 28 pins. Full results can be found here. here The top 16 players will bowl 16 games of round-robin match play on Friday, starting at 11 a.m CST.The top five after two rounds of match play will advance to Sunday’s stepladder finals. The stepladder finals of the PBA Players Championship are set for Sunday at 3 p.m. CST on The CW. The CW.

Form is temporary. Class is permanent. After all four qualifying rounds at thePBA Players Championshipon the Viper 37-foot and Badger 50-foot oil patterns, EJ Tackett finally tookfirst place with a total of 5,545 pins and a 231.04 average. He ended +745above the 200-average pace across the 24-game block. PBA Players Championship In two days, players bowled 24 games across four qualifying rounds. Eventhough Tackett did not win any of those rounds, his consistent pace allowedhim to secure the top position overall. After the final game, the reigning Player of the Year admitted that he felttired after the intense schedule, but was pleased with the result. “The No. 1 position is where you want to be,”he told Nolan Hughes of the PBAafter his final shot. “We’ve got a lot of games left to go, but we’ve got agood start going into match play.” he told Nolan Hughes of the PBA Shawn Maldonado, who led the field for most of qualifying, secured secondplace with 5,479, followed by Andrew Anderson in third with 5,441. Andersonhad a slow start, butQualifying Round 3 marked a major turnaround, as he climbed from 36th position to seventh. Qualifying Round 3 marked a major turnaround CJ Petrin finished fourth at 5,405, and Nate Garcia,who made it to the main field through the PTQ, rounded out the top five with 5,403. who made it to the main field through the PTQ Graham Fach placed sixth with 5,366. Tim Foy Jr. finished seventh at 5,349,Matt Ogle took eighth with 5,342, and Jesper Svensson secured ninth place at5,329. Spencer Robarge completed the top ten with 5,312. Jesper Svensson was one of three Swedish bowlers competing in the PBA PlayersChampionship qualifiers, but he was the only one to complete the event. Rasmus Edvall, the PBA Scorpion Champion, felt pain in his knee, the same kneethat previously sidelined him for nearly a year, and had to withdraw duringGame 3 of Qualifying Round 1. “The knee I had problems with before is acting up again, but it’s somethingdifferent this time,” he told BowlingLife. “I’ll go home and see some doctorsto find out what’s going on this time.” Meanwhile, Martin Larsen experienced issues with his elbow and also withdrewafter the first day of competition. The battle around the cut line remained close until the final games.Timmy Tan, who made a significant move earlier in qualifying, secured the 31st position with 5,209 pins and a 217.04 average. TomDaugherty claimed the final advancing spot in 32nd place with 5,203. Timmy Tan, who made a significant move earlier in qualifying 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) Just outside the cut, Santtu Tahvanainen finished 33rd with 5,199, missing theAdvancers Round by four pins. Defending champion Ethan Fioredid not advance this year. He concluded qualifying in 41st place with 3,975through 18 games before falling short of the top 32 after the final round. Defending champion Ethan Fiore The remaining 32 players will return for the Advancers Round, a six-game blockscheduled for 6 p.m. CST on a dual oil pattern format, with Badger on one laneand Viper on the other. Following the Advancers Round, the top 16 will move on to round-robin matchplay. The stepladder finals of the PBA Players Championship are set for Sundayat 4 p.m. Eastern onThe CW. The CW

Even though the top three positions remained unchanged, the third qualifyinground at thePBA Players Championshipbrought significant movement across the rest of the leaderboard, tighteningthe race ahead of the final block in Arlington, Texas. PBA Players Championship After 18 of 24 qualifying games,Shawn Maldonado remains in first placewith a total of 4,196 pins and a 233 average. Shawn Maldonado remains in first place Although he finished 38th in Round 3, his earlier performance was strongenough to keep him at the top position overall. EJ Tackett still holds second place with 4,163 pins and a 231 average. Heplaced 22nd in the third round but remains firmly in contention heading intothe final block of qualifying. DeeRonn Booker sits in third with 4,144. Matthew Ogle has moved from tenthinto fourth place with 4,120, followed by Trevor Roberts in fifth at 4,104.Mitch Hupé currently stands sixth with 4,072. Andrew Anderson made one of the biggest moves of the round, finishing secondin the block and surging from 36th place after Round 2 all the way up toseventh overall with 4,048 pins. Tim Foy Jr. occupies eighth place with 4,046. Nicholas Pate holds ninth at4,035. At the same time, Malaysia’s Timmy Tan produced a major jump in the standings.He entered Round 3 in 47th place, then set the pace for the block with 1,461over six games. That result lifted him into 10th overall with a total of 4,025pins. The defending champion Ethan Fioreis currently in 24th place with 3,975 pins. defending champion Ethan Fiore Around the cut line, the race remains tight. Deo Benard and Jason Belmonte aretied in 31st and 32nd place with 3,951 pins each, both averaging 220. Justbelow the cut, Sean Lavery-Spahr sits in 33rd with 3,947, only four pinsbehind the advancing position.Full results can be foundhere. here. One more six-game qualifying block remains before the field is reduced to thetop 32 players. Round 4 will be contested on the longer 50-foot Badger oilpattern, starting at 6 p.m. CST. The stepladder finals of the PBA Players Championship will be broadcast onSunday, February 22 at 4 p.m. Eastern onThe CW. The CW

Brooke Roberts captured her second PWBA Regional title by winning the PWBAOrlando Regional at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Roberts, who earned a No. 1 seed after qualifiers, defeated Maranda Pattisonof California in the championship match, 234–201. Roberts earned $2,600 for the victory, while Pattison received $1,300 as therunner-up. The stepladder finals began with Morgan Kramer defeating Alyssa Ferraro,221–184. Then in the semifinal, Pattison advanced with a 257–201 win overKramer. This was second PWBA Regional Tour title for Roberts. With the win, shesecured an automatic berth into the season-ending PWBA RegionalShowdown. The PWBA Regional Tour continues March 28 with the PWBA Eastern PennsylvaniaRegional in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The new PWBA National Tour season begins on April 29 in Rockford, Illinois.

The PWBA Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026, with three new membersset to be inducted during tournament week of the United States BowlingCongress Queens in May. Two inductees were selected in thePerformance category, while one was chosen in the Meritorious Service andBuilder category. Kelly Kulick and Cara Honeychurch will be inducted for their success ascompetitors, while Leila Wagner will be recognized for both her bowling careerand her many years of contribution to the sport beyond the lanes.Theinduction ceremony will take place on May 13, 2026, at the Gold Coast Hoteland Casino in Las Vegas, alongside the USBC Queens tournament, which runs fromMay 13 to May 19. A Legend Both on PWBA and PBA Kelly Kulick built a long career that spans collegiate bowling, professionalcompetition, and international play. She joined the PWBA Tour in2001 after a successful college career at Morehead State. That same year, sheearned Rookie of the Year honors and finished among the tour leaders in bothpoints and earnings. Kulick won five major championships duringher career, including titles at the Queens and the U.S. Women’s Open.In 2010, she made history by becoming the first woman to win a PBATour title when she captured the Tournament of Champions. Kullicklater added two more PWBA titles after the tour returned in 2015. Kulick alsorepresented Team USA on 1998-2001, 2008, and 2010-2021, won multipleinternational gold medals. She currently serves as the head coach of JuniorTeam USA and assistant coach of the Team USA. Australia's Bowling Icon Cara Honeychurch joined the PWBA Tour in 1999 after early internationalsuccess for Australia. Before turning professional, she won theAMF World Cup and earned gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. On the PWBATour, she quickly became a regular presence on television and won severaltitles, including major events. Honeychurch earned Rookie of theYear honors in 2000 and remained a top competitor through the early 2000s.She claimed eight career PWBA titles and received recognition forboth performance and sportsmanship. After the tour paused, she returned toAustralia and later served as the chief executive officer of Tenpin BowlingAustralia. A Voice of Women's Bowling Leila Wagner earned her place in the PWBA Hall of Fame through her work as acompetitor, broadcaster, and ambassador for bowling. As aprofessional bowler, she made numerous television finals and won two careertitles. She later became a familiar voice and face of women’sprofessional bowling as a lead announcer and commentator during televisedevents for more than a decade. Wagner also traveled extensively topromote bowling through clinics, exhibitions, and public appearances. Her workhelped bring women’s bowling to a wider audience across multiple countries.Withthe addition of the Class of 2026, the PWBA Hall of Fame will include 54members across all categories. The upcoming induction continues the Hall ofFame’s role in recognizing both competitive success and long-term service toprofessional women’s bowling.For more information visitpwba.com pwba.com

Shannon Pluhowsky won the 2025 PWBA Tour Championship at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York. Pluhowsky, the No. 1 seed, defeated England’s Verity Crawley 235-167. She earned $50,000 for the win, while Crawley took home $25,000 for second place. The title match was low scoring in the early frames. Pluhowsky had 85 through five frames after leaving a 4-6-10 split, while Crawley had 70 with two strikes and two opens. After the commercial break, both players struck twice in a row, but Pluhowsky added two more strikes to take control. A strike in the ninth and another in the 10th secured the match for Pluhowsky. The victory marked Pluhowsky's third career major title, sixth overall and second in a row PWBA title. Just 3 days ago, Pluhowsky won PWBA Pepsi Open. won PWBA Pepsi Open Crawley reached the title match by defeating No. 5 seed Stephanie Zavala, 233-215 in the semifinals. Zavala had earlier defeated No. 4 seed Jordan Snodgrass, 185-150, and No. 3 seed Lauren Russo, 233-170. Snodgrass earned $10,000 for fifth place, Russo earned $12,000 for fourth, and Zavala collected $15,000 for third. 2025 PWBA Tour Championship was the last event of the 2025 PWBA season. Singapore's New Hui Fen was named 2025 PWBA Player of the Year. She led the tour with 94,550 points and three titles, including the U.S. Women’s Open, Rock 'n' Roll Open and BowlTV Open. Snodgrass finished second in the points race with 93,125. U.S. Women’s Open Rock 'n' Roll Open BowlTV Open

The stepladder finalists are set for the 2025 PWBA Tour Championship at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York. Five players remain in the season’s final major event, and the PWBA Player of the Year race is still undecided.Singapore’s New Hui Fen, who led the PWBA Tour season in points and earnings, did not advance to the stepladder finals, finishing ninth. She will receive 10,600 points, bringing her total to 94,550 Tour points accumulated throughout the season. Jordan Snodgrass, who earned the No. 4 seed, will fight against fifth seed Stephanie Zavala in the opening match of the stepladder. With a single win, Snodgrass can overtake New in season points with 94,625. Meanwhile, Zavala moved into the stepladder during the position round, defeating 2025 Rookie of the Year Malaysia’s Gillian Lim 226–202 to jump from seventh to fifth place. 2025 Rookie of the Year The winner of the opening match will face third seed Lauren Russo. Russo is making her second television appearance of the season after finishing third at the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year. Second seed Verity Crawley of England will await the winner of that match as a No. 2 seed, only two wins away from the major title. In qualifiers, Crawley averaged over 244 during her block on the 38-foot oil pattern, becoming the first player since the format change in 2021 to start 8-0 in match-play. to start 8-0 in match-play Crawley is also appearing on TV for the second time this season, having reached the finals of the PWBA Anniversary Open in June. Top seed Shannon Pluhowsky, will bowl in the championship match. Pluhowsky is looking for her second straight title after winning the PWBA Pepsi Open and her third career major title. winning the PWBA Pepsi Open The finals will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

The PWBA Tour Championship began at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York, with winners from this season and the top 24 in points competing in match play. Day one kicked off with the first eight games of the 24-game match play, and with a major title up for grabs, UK's Tenpin Hall of Famer wasted no time making history. UK's Tenpin Hall of Famer Verity Crawley became the first player since the format change in 2021 to start the event 8-0 in match-play.Crawley averaged over 244 during her block on the 38-foot oil pattern, scoring 1,957 before bonus pins for a total of 2,197. This is the fifth-highest eight-game match-play total since the PWBA Tour’s relaunch in 2015. Shannon Pluhowsky, the PWBA Pepsi Open champion, sits in second place with 2,066, while Lauren Russo holds third with 1,992. Singapore’s New Hui Fen, the season leader in points and earnings, and Josie Barnes, ranked second in earnings and third in average, share fourth place at 1,973. Positions six through ten after day one are Dasha Kovalova of Ukraine (1,957), Julia Bond (1,941), Jordan Snodgrass (1,926), Lindsay Boomershine (1,926), and Natasha Roslan of Malaysia (1,914). Match play continues Monday morning at 10 a.m. Eastern with another eight games, followed by the final eight games starting at 5 p.m. Eastern. After 24 games, the top five players will advance to the stepladder finals on Tuesday night, broadcast live on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. Eastern. Both rounds of match play are being livestreamed on BowlTV. BowlTV

Malaysia’s Gillian Lim has been named the 2025 PWBA Rookie of the Year. She became the first Malaysian player in history to receive the award. Lim led all rookies in points, earnings, and top-12 finishes during the 2025 season. Her consistent performances across events secured her the top rookie spot. The announcement comes as Lim competes in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship. After the first eight games of match play, she is in 15th place with two wins, five losses, and one tie, for a total pinfall of 1,848. Meanwhile, England’s Verity Crawley made history by becoming the first player since the format change in 2021 to start the event 8-0 in matches. Crawley averaged over 244 during her block on the 38-foot oil pattern, scoring 1,957 before bonus pins for a total of 2,197 to lead the 24-player field. Match play continues Monday morning at 10 a.m. Eastern with another eight games,followed by the final eight games starting at 5 p.m. Eastern. After 24 games, the top five players will advance to the stepladder finals on Tuesday night, broadcast live on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. Eastern. Both rounds of match play are being livestreamed on BowlTV. BowlTV

Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, won the PWBA Pepsi Open at ABC Gates Bowl, defeating Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, New York, 226-175 in the championship match. The victory marked Pluhowsky’s fifth fifth PWBA Tour title. After 12 games of qualification, Pluhowsky qualified as the No. 4 seed with 2,748 total (+348) among 16 advancing players. In the Round of 16, Pluhowsky faced No. 13 seed, Sweden’s Anna Andersson and came from two games to one down to win the best-of-five series with scores of 228 and 235 in the last two games (225-201, 193-232, 214-234, 228-196, 235-225). In the Round of 8, she then swept Singapore’s Shayna Ng with close games of 216-187, 249-230, and 220-210. The semifinal saw Pluhowsky take on Lindsay Boomershine. The intrigue was kept just at the beginning of the game, as Pluhowsky closed with eight consecutive strikes to win 269-189. On the other side of the bracket, No. 10 seed Liz Johnson defeated Breanna Clemmer 3-1 in the Round of 16, then advanced from the top 8 with a narrow one-pin victory in game five against Stephanie Zavala. In the semifinal, Johnson defeated No. 14 seed Nora Johansson of Sweden 235-227 to advance to the title match. In the title match, Johnson led by one pin halfway through the game, but Pluhowsky took control in the second half with a string of strikes. Johnson was unable to match the pace and missed a spare late in the game. Pluhowsky secured the win 226-175, earning the $10,000 top prize. Liz Johnson received $5,000 as runner-up. As the victory marked Pluhowsky’s fifth Professional Women’s Bowling Association title, she is now eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame. With the victory, Pluhowsky also secured her place in the PWBA Tour Championship field, which features all 2025 title winners and the top 24 in season points. The Tour Championship begins Sunday with practice and continues with match play rounds before the stepladder finals on Tuesday night.

Stefanie Johnson has won her fifth Professional Women’s Bowling Association title after taking the victory at the PWBA Rochester Open, held at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York. Johnson qualified as the No. 2 seed after match play and went on to defeat New Hui Fen of Singapore in the semifinal and top seed Bailey Delrose of Crest Hill, Illinois, in the championship match. This marks Johnson’s first title since the 2022 PWBA Rockford Open. In the semifinal, Johnson faced New Hui Fen, who had been undefeated in stepladder finals this season. Both players struggled early with open frames, but Johnson gained momentum in the second half of the match. She secured the win 203-196, ending New’s perfect 9–0 record in stepladder finals this season. The final match saw Johnson against Delrose, who was making her first career stepladder appearance. Both started strong, but Delrose left a 3-7 split in the sixth frame, allowing Johnson to take the lead. Johnson maintained control and finished with a 230-204 win. Johnson earned $10,000 and secured a spot in the season-ending Tour Championship. Meanwhile, Delrose took home $5,000 for second place. Earlier in the stepladder, Cherie Tan of Singapore faced Julia Bond. Bond advanced with a 233–214 win, then lost to New Hui Fen 224–213 in the second match. Stepladder Results – PWBA Rochester Open Stepladder Results – PWBA Rochester Open Match 1 – Julia Bond def. Cherie Tan, 233–214 Match 2 – New Hui Fen def. Julia Bond, 224–213 Semifinal – Stefanie Johnson def. New Hui Fen, 203–196 Final – Stefanie Johnson def. Bailey Delrose, 230–204 Match 1 Match 2 Semifinal Final

After 13 years of international competition, Pontus Andersson has announced that he is ending his bowling career. The 30-year-old bowler confirmed that he will step away from competitive bowlingand begin a new chapter in his life. In a message shared on social media, Pontus Andersson wrote that he has beenblessed to travel around the world and compete internationally, but it is nowtime for a change. social media From June 1, he plans to move to Doha, Qatar, where he will work with theQatar Youth Bowling Team. During his career, Pontus Andersson represented Sweden at both youth and men'schampionships. He collected 23 international medals, including seven golds,while wearing the Swedish national team colors. Among his latest results was a team gold medal at the 2025 European Men’sChampionships in Aalborg. Later that year, Pontus Andersson won three medalsat the 2025 IBF World Championships in Hong Kong, including two golds. 2025 IBF World Championships in Hong Kong In 2025, Pontus Andersson also won the inaugural PBA Sweden regional event,the PBA Sweden Chameleon Jönköping Open. The victory marked a historic momentas the first PBA Sweden regional title. PBA Sweden Chameleon Jönköping Open His announcement comes just months after James Blomgren also confirmed that heis stepping down from the Swedish National Bowling Team. stepping down from the Swedish National Bowling Team The article will be updated once we receive a comment from Pontus Andersson.

Alvin Kvarnstöm secured his second consecutive PBA Sweden title by winning theViper Malmö Open. The victory marks back-to-back titles on the 2026 PBA SwedenTour. Kvarnstöm alsoclaimed title at the season opener PBA Sweden Wolf Nässjö in October. claimed title at the season opener PBA Sweden Wolf Nässjö in October In the stepladder finals, No. 2 seed Kvarnstöm defeated No. 1 seed NoelHaglund Torgersen in the championship match 242-215.Kvarnstömopened the final with seven consecutive strikes, taking an early lead. Hemaintained that advantage through the rest of the match to secure the title. Before reaching the final, Kvarnstöm had to survive a tight semifinal againstNo. 4 seed Albin Lindberg. Their match ended in a 236-236 tie, forcing afour-shot rolloff. Kvarnstöm advanced after X X X 9 - X X X 8 to earn hisplace in the championship match. The stepladder began with Lindberg facing No. 3 seed Joachim Karlsson.Lindberg delivered a near-perfect performance, defeating Karlsson 299-248. Itmarked Karlsson’s second fourth-place finish of the season. In October, healso finished fourth at the PBA Sweden Wolf Nässjö. The Viper Malmö Open is part of the 2026 PBA Sweden Tour, a series of regionalevents leading up to the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters. The tour currentlyincludes four scheduled stops, with a possible fifth event to be added.The top three players in the season points standings will earn eligibility forthe TBA. The overall points leader will qualify for the 2026 PBA RegionalPlayers Invitational. One regular and one senior player will receiveinvitations. Each tournament winner on the PBA Sweden Tour also earns an internationalinvitation to the 2027 PBA World Series of Bowling. In addition, winnerssecure a guaranteed place in the finals of the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters.The winner of the SLLM will earn a PBA National title and qualify for the 2027PBA Tournament of Champions. The next stop on the2026 PBA Sweden Tour willbe the PBA Sweden Shark Stockholm, scheduled for April 2-4 in Sweden’scapital. 2026 PBA Sweden Tour

From August 30 to September 6, 2026, Haarlem will once again become one of thekey youth bowling destinations as the4th Storm Junior Dutch Opentakes over the brand-new Bison Bowling Haarlem. 4th Storm Junior Dutch Open For the fourth edition, the tournament organizers and the main sponsor -Storm Bowling -will not only deliver high-level competition, but also plan additionalactivities designed to help young athletes expand their bowling knowledge. Storm Bowling While full details will be announced closer to the event, the goal is clear:make the week in Haarlem more than just a youth tournament. Registration is open - grab your spot! Building on a Strong 2025 Edition The tournamentreturns after a memorable 2025 editionthat brought together more than 70 talented youth bowlers from across Europe. returns after a memorable 2025 edition Last year, the Storm Junior Dutch Open featured three age divisions – Under15, Under 19, and Under 26. The U15 division was won by Sweden’s Charlie Classon, the U19 title went tothe Czech Republic’s Matyáš Mňačko, and the U26 division saw ZuzanaKvasničková of the Czech Republic claim the title before later capturing theMasters crown as well, becoming the first female player to win the award. A Youth Event That Keeps Growing The 2026 edition introduces an expanded format with six divisions – three forboys and three for girls – covering athletes from the youngest category (bornafter June 30, 2012) up to competitors aged 25. Open to athletes from all across the globe, the event continues to serve as aserious competitive platform for bowling's next generation. All categories will play: 6 games of qualification4-game semi-finals (top six advance, scores carried forward)3-game finals (top four advance)1-game in Masters, where scores reset and only the highest single gamedecides the Masters champion – one for boys, one for girls 6 games of qualification 4-game semi-finals (top six advance, scores carried forward) 3-game finals (top four advance) 1-game in Masters, where scores reset and only the highest single gamedecides the Masters champion – one for boys, one for girls Learning Beyond the Lanes The 2026 edition of the Storm Junior Dutch Open will also offer activities offthe lanes. Storm's Matt McNiel will be present in Haarlem to host two educationalseminars during the week. Storm's Matt McNiel These sessions are designed to give young athletes deeper insight into modernbowling equipment, lane play, and performance development. For manyparticipants, this will be a rare opportunity to learn directly from a PBAprofessional and one of the leading figures in the bowling industry. A Non-Urethane Challenge One of the defining features of the 2026 edition is the non-urethane rule. Urethane balls are not allowed, adding a clear strategic dimension. Youngathletes will have to control transition, adjust angles, and manage reactionwithout relying on urethane shapes. It places the focus on lane play,versatility, and shot execution. For a youth tournament, that emphasis onskill development feels intentional. A New Home: Bison Bowling Haarlem The 2026 edition will take place inside the brand-new Bison Bowling Haarlem –a completely rebuilt venue that marks a new chapter for one of theNetherlands’ most established bowling centres. After years of preparation, construction of the new complex began in early2025. One year later, a modern entertainment building now stands in place,ready to welcome bowlers from across the globe. The centre features 16 bowlinglanes equipped with high-quality AMF equipment, including AMF SPL surfaces,AMF Edge Freefall pinsetters, and Qubica scoring. Prize Fund and Structure The prize fund is fixed but increases depending on total entries, with Stormbowling balls, accessories, andVIS Sportwear tournament shirtsawarded to top finishers in each category. VIS Sportwear tournament shirts Depending on participation numbers, the total prize pool can reach up to€6,735 across all divisions. More Than Just Scores Qualification squads begin on August 30, with final rounds scheduled forSeptember 6, ending with the Masters and medal ceremony. For many players, this week in Haarlem will not just be about scores. It willbe about testing themselves against international competition, buildingfriendships, and gaining experience that shapes their future in the sport. Registration is now open, so secure your spot while places are stillavailable.

For the first time, Bratislava will host the All Stars Youth Series, a youthbowling tournament created to give young athletes a true internationalcompetition experience in the heart of Europe. From August 27 to 30, 2026, young bowlers from across the continent will meetat BNC Hotel – Restaurant – Bowling for four days of competition in an eventthat is designed specifically for youth players who want more than justanother weekend tournament. With Youth in Mind The All Stars Youth Series was launched in response to a clear gap in Europeanbowling. In many parts of Central and Southern Europe, opportunities for youth bowlersto compete in dedicated, affordable international events are still limited.The organizers, who work closely with youth athletes through their BowlingYouth Club program, decided to create a tournament that focuses fully onplayers up to the age of 21. The goal is simple. Give young bowlers a place to compete against their peers,gain confidence, and experience what tournament bowling really feels like. According to the organizers, this kind of environment helps players grow notonly as athletes, but also as part of the wider bowling community. "As our Bowling Youth Club isworking closely with youth athletes and there are missing, affordabletournaments in this part of Europe for youth, we have decided to create aseries of tournaments especially for youth players up to 21 years, to createlong term friendships and develop youth bowling around the whole Europe," saysLenka Šulková, founder of BYC and the All Stars Youth Series organizer. Bowling Youth Club Every Kid Is an All Star According to the All Stars Youth Series organizers, the tournament pays a hugeattention to the youth players. The name of the tournament reflects that idea.Every participant is treated as an All Star. For many young players, stepping onto the lanes against bowlers of the sameage already takes courage. The All Stars Youth Series aims to support thatstep and turn it into a positive, memorable experience. "Today, it is often easier for kids to play against adults than againstplayers of the same age. We recognize this, and that’s why we want to giveyoung bowlers the opportunity to compete, learn through this experience, andcreate great memories with us." Competition Format The All Stars Youth Series 2026 is an individual open event for players up toU21, divided into four categories: U14 Boys and GirlsU17 BoysU21 BoysCombined U17 and U21 Girls U14 Boys and Girls U17 Boys U21 Boys Combined U17 and U21 Girls Qualification consists of two blocks of five games, each played on a differentoil pattern. The total score of ten games determines the standings, with up totwo re-entries allowed per player. The top 16 athletes in each categoryadvance to the final stages. Final Step 1 is played over three games total pinfall, with eight playersmoving on. Final Step 2 adds another three games with pinfall carried over,reducing the field to four finalists. The final stage is a stepladder format,where single-game matches decide the champion in each category. This structure allows more players to reach the finals and keeps thecompetition open and engaging until the very end. All categories follow thesame format. More about the format and other details can be found here. Additional Activities Alongside competition on the lanes, players can expect interaction withbowling equipment suppliers and coaches, information about possible U.S.scholarship pathways, and prizes focused on long-term development rather thanprize money. A social event on Saturday evening is planned to bring participants togetherin a relaxed setting, helping young athletes connect beyond the competition. The organizers emphasize that results are not the only focus. The tournamentis about learning, adapting to different conditions, and building confidencein a competitive but supportive environment. Registration Now Open Young bowlers of all levels are welcome. Whether a player is chasing resultsor simply looking for international experience, the All Stars Youth Seriesoffers a chance to be part of something created specifically for youthbowling. The tournament runs from August 27 to 30, 2026. Registration for the All Stars Youth Series 2026 is already open and availableatbowl4u.com bowl4u.com Register now! Why Bratislava Bratislava offers a central and easy-to-reach location for internationalplayers. The city provides a calm tournament setting, while the venue itselfallows athletes to focus fully on competition. With everything taking placeunder one roof, players, coaches, and families can stay connected throughoutthe event. With four days of competition, an international field, and a clear focus ondevelopment, Bratislava is set to become a key stop on the youth bowlingcalendar this summer.

Austria secured the gold medal in the women’s doubles competition at theEuropean Grand Senior Championships in Vienna. In qualification Austria's duet - Gerda Hauska and Monika Schmotz, finishedfourth with 2193 total, just four pins ahead of Israel's double. Englad's ianeJohnson and Angie Brown finished in the top position with 2311, while Germanyand Italy took second and third. Host nation Austria faced Englandin the first semifinal, while Italy met Germany in the second. With a hugesupport from the crowd, Austria advanced to the final after defeating Englandin a tight match 375–353. In the other semifinal, Italy’s Rosalba Memmola Barsanofia and Maria Tirelliearned their place in the final by overcoming Germany’s Martina Beckel andMartina Becker, winning the match 414–371. The final saw Austria and Italy meet for the gold medal. After a low scoringsemifinal, Austria found a better rythm, with Hauska scoring 234, whileSchmotz added 191, producing the highest score of the finals, and winning thechampionship match 425–360. The European Grand Senior Championships continue in Vienna with the team eventqualification. Today players will bowl first three qualification games in bothmen and women competition. Tomorrow, the final three qualification games willbe played, followed by semifinals and finals.

Finland has won the men’s doubles gold medal at the 1st European Grand SeniorChampionship 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Erkki Koivuranta and LeifTuomisalo delivered the winning performance in a dramatic final that requireda roll-off to decide the title. The men’s doubles competition was held on Tuesday at Plus Bowling Vienna aspart of the first-ever European Grand Senior Championship. Koivuranta and Tuomisalo finished qualification in second place overall with2594 total, earning a spot in the medal rounds. Germany’s Peter Knopp and RalfGräwe led the standings with 2652 total. England and France took third andfourth position. In the semifinals, Finland faced England’s Steve Carnall and Gordon Humphries.The match was close, with England holding a slight lead entering the lastframes, but Finland make crucial strikes to take a 419-404 win and a place inthe final. Qualification leaders Peter Knopp and Ralf Gräwe advanced to the final afterdefeating France’s Serge Frouvelle and Yvan Augustin 431-416 in the secondsemifinal. The gold medal match between Finland and Germany was the most dramatic one sofar. Germany entered the final frame with a clear advantage, but missed keyshots opened the door for Finland. Finland used that chance and the game endedin a tie 434–434, forcing a roll-off. The first round finished level at 19–19. In the second round, Finland gained anarrow edge and secured the gold medal by a single pin, winning the roll-off18–17. The victory in doubles is the first medal performance for Finland at theEuropean Grand Senior Championships. Earlier in February,Slovakia’s Anton ZoricakandBelgium's Patricia Vezzutook gold in Singles event. Slovakia’s Anton Zoricak Belgium's Patricia Vezzu Competition in Vienna continues on Wednesday with the women’s doubles event,as the championships run through February 8.

Belgium’s Patricia Vezzu has won the gold medal in the Women’s Singles eventat the first European Grand Senior Championships 2026. The competition took place on Monday in Vienna, Austria, marking anothermilestone in the history of the new bowling event for 65+ players in Europe. After six qualifying games, 55 senior athletes competed for a place in the semifinals, with only the top four advancing. Germany’s Martina Beckel led the standings with a total score of 1229 (204.8 average). In the semifinals, she faced Iceland’s Gudny Gunnarsdottir, the No. 4 seed, who advanced with a total of 1177. Beckel controlled the match throughout and won 202–159 to secure a place in the final. The second semi-final featured Belgium’s Patricia Vezzu, who advanced after finishing second in qualification, against Germany’s Martina Becker. Like Beckel in the first semi-final, Vezzu also booked her spot in the title match with a solid 200–167 victory. Yesterday, Slovakia’s Anton Zoricak claimed gold in the Men’s Singles event. The European Grand Senior Championships 2026 continue on Tuesday with theMen’s Doubles event, as competition carries on in Vienna.

Elitserien returned with a full weekend of action across Sweden, featuringeight tightly contested matches. BK Full House climbed to the top of thestandings after a dominant win over Clan, who recovered with a victory againstGöta. Meanwhile, AIK’s momentum continued, and Kaskad managed a dramatic comebackdraw in Köping. Let’s take a closer look at how all the action unfolded lastweekend. Saturday Matches Overview Stureby BK – AIK BK H 8–11 AIK got their revenge and took a big step forward in the standings with a roadwin over Stureby. A strong start saw AIK take control early with two 4–1series wins. The match was all but over after three series, as AIK ran aheadwith an 11–3 lead. Even though Stureby took all five points in the finalseries, the result was already decided. Elliot Crosby led AIK with 951, closely followed by Wilmer Kvarnström (924).Stureby’s Tommy Wendel was the top scorer of the match with 1023, including a299 game. Team Pergamon BC – Team Alingsås BC 10–10 The highly anticipated top clash ended in a dramatic draw. Alingsås won allthree games and held a 10–5 lead going into the final series, but Pergamondelivered a stunning 5–0 sweep to steal a point. Jesper Svensson led the home team with 929, while James Blomgren (915) andLucas Fjällborg (899) were best for Alingsås. Team Clan Nässjö BK – BK Kaskad 13–7 The defending champions showed strong form at home after a slow start. Kaskadled 6–4 after two high-scoring series, but Clan dominated the second half,conceding just one point across the final two series. Emil Svensson scored 959, and Alfred Berggren added 892. Kaskad’s TeodorSamuelsson shone with 1007, while Joel Lothigius rolled a 300 game to finishwith 933. BK Full House – IS Göta 11–9 BK Full House were pushed to the limit by IS Göta in a back-and-forth battle.Göta nearly escaped with a draw, but a late double from Tim Stampe in thefinal frame gave Full House the lane point they needed to clinch the win bythree pins. JD Mortensen (869) and Richard Teece (868) led Full House. Dan Harding toppedGöta’s scoring with 902. Sunday Match Recap IKW/Köping BK – BK Kaskad 10–10 The match in Köping was one of the most exciting of the weekend, with bothteams passing 7300 total pins. Köping led 9–6, but Kaskad closed strong with a4–1 final series to secure the draw. Filip Wilhelmsson led all players with 1003. Carl Eklund topped Köping with969. BK Full House – Team Clan Nässjö BK 14–6 Full House overwhelmed Clan early, winning the first three series 4–1, 5–0,and 4–1 to decide the match before the final set. Mik Stampe led Full House with 901. Clan’s William Berggren posted the highestindividual score with 924. Bodens BS – Stureby BK 8–12 Stureby rebounded from Saturday’s loss with a confident away win, leading fromstart to finish and sealing the result with a 4–1 final series. Dennis Eklund scored 861 for Stureby, while Philip Strandgren led Bodens with862. IS Göta – Team Clan Nässjö BK 8–12 In the final match of the weekend, Team Clan bounced back strongly. Aftertrailing early, they won the next three series to take the victory. Anton Andersson led Göta with 938, while William Berggren guided Clan with900. Elitserien Standings (After February 1, 2026)TeamGPWDLPoints WonTotal PointsBK Full House15915146–15219Team Clan Nässjö BK13904144–11418Team Pergamon BC14824148–12818Team Alingsås BC12813136–10117BK Cascade15627159–13914Stureby BK16619140–17613Bodens BS13526120–13812AIK BK H12417116–1229IKW/Köping BK13337115–1449IS Göta13319123–1337 Elitserien Standings (After February 1, 2026) TeamGPWDLPoints WonTotal Points Team GP W D L Points Won Total Points BK Full House15915146–15219Team Clan Nässjö BK13904144–11418Team Pergamon BC14824148–12818Team Alingsås BC12813136–10117BK Cascade15627159–13914Stureby BK16619140–17613Bodens BS13526120–13812AIK BK H12417116–1229IKW/Köping BK13337115–1449IS Göta13319123–1337 BK Full House15915146–15219 BK Full House 15 9 1 5 146–152 19 Team Clan Nässjö BK13904144–11418 Team Clan Nässjö BK 13 9 0 4 144–114 18 Team Pergamon BC14824148–12818 Team Pergamon BC 14 8 2 4 148–128 18 Team Alingsås BC12813136–10117 Team Alingsås BC 12 8 1 3 136–101 17 BK Cascade15627159–13914 BK Cascade 15 6 2 7 159–139 14 Stureby BK16619140–17613 Stureby BK 16 6 1 9 140–176 13 Bodens BS13526120–13812 Bodens BS 13 5 2 6 120–138 12 AIK BK H12417116–1229 AIK BK H 12 4 1 7 116–122 9 IKW/Köping BK13337115–1449 IKW/Köping BK 13 3 7 115–144 9 IS Göta13319123–1337 IS Göta 13 3 1 9 123–133 7

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

The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC)announced a major equipment rule change yesterday, confirming that slow oil-absorbing high-performance urethane bowling ballsare now disallowed in all MTBC-sanctioned tournaments. announced a major equipment rule change yesterday "My initial reaction was surprise, but also understanding," Malaysian National Team member and PBA Tour title winner Tun Hakim told BowlingLife as he reflected on what the decision means for the sport going forward. PBA Tour title winner Tun Hakim Tun Hakim According to MTBC, the goal is to protect competitive integrity, keep laneconditions fair, and address equipment-governance issues that have becomeharder to monitor. While the ban introduces a major shift, Hakim acknowledges that MTBC is tryingto balance between fairness and long-term athlete development. “Urethane has becomea big part of modern lane play, and any restriction will naturally createdebate. At the same time, I believe MTBC’s intention is to protect laneintegrity and ensure fair competition, so I respect the effort to manage thesport responsibly,” said Hakim. A Shift Toward Versatility For many bowlers worldwide, urethane has been an essential part of theirarsenal. A new generation of players has grown up with urethane as afoundational tool on all sorts of patterns. Naturally, removing it will force adjustments - something Hakim sees as bothchallenging and beneficial. “I think it will encourage bowlers to rely more on versatility and technicalskills rather than a single equipment option. Adjustments will be challengingat first, especially for players who frequently use urethane, but in the longrun it could lead to more diverse ball choices and strategic play during MTBCevents.” A Disadvantage Internationally? Since urethane is still allowed at big international tournaments like the IBFWorld Championships, some people wonder if Malaysia might fall behind by notusing it locally. At the world level, urethane has been everywhere on the ballracks in recent years. Hakim doesn’t dismiss the concern. “It could be a concern if players do not have enough opportunities to competewith urethane locally. However, I don’t see it as a major disadvantage ifMalaysian bowlers continue to train internationally and prepare specificallyfor IBF events. Adaptability has always been an important part of high-levelbowling, and that remains true here.” MTBC said the decision followed a detailed review with technical experts,coaches, and elite athletes, along with an evaluation of global trends, locallane conditions, and USBC research. In September 2025, the USBC announced that beginning January 1, 2026, slowoil-absorbing high-performance balls will face strict new limits in nationaltournaments, with some events banning them entirely and others allowing onlymodels made at 78D hardness or higher.

The 56th Brunswick Ballmaster Open finished on Sunday in front of a packed Tali Bowling Hall crowd - the legendary 36-lane bowling center in Helsinki, whereFinland’s own Santtu Tahvanainen lifted the trophy after a composed 204–170victory over Rami Mukkula in the championship match. Santtu Tahvanainen lifted the trophy The victory secured him the €10,000 first prize and placed his name on thewall at Tali Bowling Hall, alongside respected world-class bowlers such asMika Koivuniemi and Parker Bohn III – champions of the tournament he grew upwatching. After the final, BowlingLife caught up with the new champion to talk aboutnerves, childhood memories inside Tali Bowling Hall, and what this win meansheading into the upcoming PBA Tour season. “Stressful… and then way less stressful.” The TV finals did not start the way Tahvanainen had hoped. In the semifinal,the defending champion Jarno Lahti started with a four-bagger, whileTahvanainen was struggling to find the rhythm. But as the framesprogressed, Tahvanainen found his footing. defending champion Jarno Lahti The turning point came mid-match. The moment he reset mentally, the gameshifted. “Stressful and then way less stressful," Santtu said with a smile when askedabout his performance in the TV finals. "I was actually stressing it and whenJarno left the split in the fifth frame, it was like kind of a relief. I struggled on my first two shots, I even changed to the four steps. But when hesplit, I thought I have a chance. And I collected my head, and it was way,way better bowling after that.” In the title match, the29-year-old met fellow Finn, 22-year-old rising star Rami Mukkula, who had been leading the tournament since the Top 32 and reached the final by edgingLinus Boström 216–211 in the semifinal. who had been leading the tournament since the Top 32 Moreover, Mukkula already knew what it takes to win at Tali Bowling Hall,having taken the International Hammer Challenge title there in 2024. International Hammer Challenge title there in 2024 Hands Were Not Shaking Even though Tahvanainen began the title match striking only once in hisfirst five frames, he was dealing with the pressure better, picking upspares with confidence, until finally found the rhythm again with three straight strikes in frames six through eight to seal the victory 204-170. Even though Tahvanainen began the title match striking only once in hisfirst five frames, he was dealing with the pressure better, picking upspares with confidence, until finally found the rhythm again Santtu agreed that his PBA experience gave him an advantage under pressure as it kepthis hands steady. "I definitely felt it that I haven't bowl so much of tournaments because Iinjured my hand during the Hammer Challenge, so I haven't been able to bowlalmost at all. I wasn't completely confident on my bowling, but my hands werenot trembling or anything like that anymore, like they used to on the TV. Soit definitely helped to have that experience on me.” Why the Ballmaster Hits Differently For many bowlers winning Ballmaster is a career highlight. For SanttuTahvanainen, it is something else entirely - a childhood dream come fullcircle. “I grew up here, I bowled my first Ballmaster when I was like 13 or 14, and Isaw all kind of big names like a Dino Castillo and Sean Rash and Tommy Jones,and I met Parker when I was young, and we always chatted for years andyears." For Finnish bowlers, the Ballmaster Open carries a special weight. Winning at Tali Bowling Center means more than a title – it means becoming part of the history many grow up dreaming about. "It has it's own meaning over here, like because it's an environment. Andeveryone always talked about it when I was a kid, how cool it is to win." On Sunday, he had a chance to taste that win. For a kid who once watched the greats roll strikes on these lanes, lifting the Ballmaster trophy of his own means everything. Momentum for the PBA Tour season The new PBA season begins soon, and this victory couldn’t have come at abetter time. After battling injury last year, Santtu finally feels the rhythmreturning. “The fact that I'm able to put some practice in before I go there is huge,because last year I came off the injury, so I didn't like get to practice atall.” The PBA Tour season kicks off with the PBA Players Championship on January 16,with the televised finals set for February 22 on the CW Network. CW Network

TheMen’s Singles event opened the IBF World Championships 2025 todayin Hong Kong, with Sweden’s Jesper Svensson leading the field after animpressive performance on the demanding 46-foot pattern. Men’s Singles event opened the IBF World Championships 2025 today But now the attention shifts to tomorrow’s Women’s Singlesqualification. Back in 2023 IBF World Championships, Women'sSingles event belonged to Malaysia’s Natasha Roslan. In Kuwait, Roslan defeated Sin Li Jane 2-1 in all-Malaysian final tosecure the Singles gold medal. secure the Singles gold medal Before women's competition starts tomorrow in Hong Kong, BowlingLife sat downwith Roslan to talk about pressure, pride, team chemistry, and the challengeof trying to win the world title again. “I’m Not Going There to Defend Anything" Heading back to the World Championships as the reigning Singles champion mightintimidate most players. But Malaysia's National Team brightest starapproaches it differently. “I’m feeling excited and grateful to be heading back as the defendingchampion. Of course there’s pressure, but I try to use it as motivationinstead of letting it weigh me down. I’m focusing on staying present and doingmy job, shot by shot. I’m not going there to defend anything. I’m going thereto earn it again. If I trust my training and stick to my process, I believethe results will follow.” About the Honour Wearing National Jersey Winning the Singles title in 2023 was a huge acomplishment not only forRoslan, but for the whole Malaysia. But when she talks about the possibilityof winning again, she doesn’t focus on legacy or records. For her, it’s abouthonour, responsibility, and what her performance can mean for the nextgeneration. “Winning another world title for Malaysia would mean so much to me," Roslansaid. "Wearing the national jersey alone is already an honour, but to bringhome another title would be incredibly special. More than anything, I hope itshows younger athletes in Malaysia that we compete at the highest level. If myjourney can inspire even one person to believe a little more in themselves,that would already make it worth it." Tough Challenge Ahead Winning a medal this year won’t be easy - the women’s field has almost doubledsince 2023. With 22 countries competing, there will be more playing styles,more depth, and a lot more pressure. Roslan doesn’t shy away from that. Sheknows a tougher field also makes any success feel that much bigger. “With 22 countries competing this year, the field is definitely going to bestronger but I think that’s a good thing. More countries means more styles,and a lot more to adapt to on the lanes. It’s going to be challenging, butalso really exciting. The atmosphere will definitely be more intense, and I’mlooking forward to being part of that.” The Biggest Strength Malaysia’s women’s roster has shown remarkable consistency in recent years.The core remains intact, and new additions have strengthened not only depthbut energy and hunger for the medals. Natasha sees that as a major advantage. “Our team chemistry is one of our biggest strengths. We know each other welland we’ve been through a lot together… that makes a difference when thepressure kicks in," Roslan said. "The new additions have brought fresh energyand hunger, which pushes all of us to keep growing. I think we have a good mixof experience and new fire this year, and that balance is important.” Fast Transition Require Fast Decisions This year’s oil pattern promises quick changes. Malaysia’s coaches haveemphasized the importance of adjustment and patience - two elements that suitRoslan’s game well. “The coaches pointed out that the oil pattern will change pretty quickly, somaking the right adjustments at the right time will be key. It’ll testpatience and decision-making, for sure. Personally, I think my strength isbeing calm under pressure and staying present. At the end of the day, it’s allabout trusting the process and making good decisions.” The Women’s Singles qualifying will feature two squads, followed by SinglesRound 2, semifinals and finals for both divisions on Thursday, November 27.Women’s Doubles qualifying is scheduled for November 28, and the men will bowlon November 29. All final rounds for both divisions will be held on November30. Men’s Trios is scheduled for December 1, followed by Women’s Trios on December2. Team of Five qualifying and Round 2 for both men and women will be held onDecember 3.The semifinals and finals for Trios and Team of Fivewill be played in an arena setting at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai onDecember 4 and 5. All information, results and livestream links for the IBF World Championships2025 can be found attournaments.bowlinglife.eu. tournaments.bowlinglife.eu Official Schedule – IBF World Championships 2025 Wednesday, November 26 Thursday, November 27 Friday, November 28 Saturday, November 29 Sunday, November 30 Monday, December 1 Tuesday, December 2 Wednesday, December 3 Thursday, December 4 – Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wanchai Friday, December 5 – Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wanchai

The International Bowling Federation World Championships 2025 begins tomorrowin Hong Kong, with 300 athletes from 31 countries. World Championships 2025 But while the focus is shifting to the lanes, another event took placeyesterday - one that may shape how the sport is governed for years to come. The IBF General Meeting, the supreme organ of the IBF, was held in Hong Kongon the eve of the championship, bringing together delegates from around theworld to vote on key governance matters. What unfolded in that meeting raised serious questions about transparency,representation, and the decision-making structure within the sport’s highestinternational body. Helena Sundqvist, President of the Swedish Bowling Federation, openlyquestioned whether the current system can truly be called democratic. BowlingLife’s Erikas Jansonas spoke with Helena Sundqvist shortly after herFacebook post to gain deeper insight into what took place during the meeting. “I quickly realized the presidium would win every vote” This was Helena Sundqvist’s first IBF General Meeting as President of theSwedish Bowling Federation, having been elected to the role in October 2024.What she encountered during the meeting left her both surprised and concerned. “I have been the president for the Swedish Bowling Federation for a year now,and this was my first IBF General Meeting. When they went through the proxiesI quickly realized the presidium would win every vote. That surprised me. InSweden, that would never be allowed," Sundqvist said. "I talked to some otherfederations both before and after the meeting. We had questions about financesand missing funds, as well as moving IBF’s headquarters from Lausanne butthere is no point in raising one single question because a vote would give thepresidium a majority.” Power Behind IBF’s Proxy Voting System Undercurrent IBF rules, there is no limit to the number of proxies a single delegation can hold. Inpractice, this means that a small group can get enough votes in advance toguarantee control of every decision - regardless of discussion or debateduring the meeting itself. current IBF rules The IBF currently has 111 member federations, yet only 31 participate in theWorld Championships in Hong Kong. Many countries skip the event due to limitedbudgets, non-competitive teams, long travel distances, or the frequency ofmajor tournaments. Since General Meetings are held during these major events and online votingisn’t allowed, those seeking to pass proposals often rely on collectingproxies from federations that don’t attend in person. The President of the General Meeting, Vice Presidents, and Committee membersdon’t have voting rights. However, under IBF Statutes section 5.2, they canstill vote if they act as a proxy or delegate for a voting Member federation. As a result, some delegates attend meetings holding multiple proxies, whichundermines the democratic voting process. A Reform Stopped by the Very System It Tried to Change Concerns about IBF governance and proxy voting have been raised long beforethis year’s meeting in Hong Kong. In 2023, a multinational working group representing seven federations -Canada, Costa Rica, England, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and the United States -proposed a package of amendmentsaimed at improving transparency and limiting concentrated power within IBF. proposed a package of amendments One of the key suggestions was to eliminate proxy voting altogether, replacingit with clearer, fairer voting procedures. The package also included reforms such as term limits, stronger financialoversight, public financial reporting, and the creation of independentcommittees. But despite broad support before the meeting, the proposal blew - largelybecause the same unlimited-proxy system it sought to change made it nearlyimpossible to pass. “At the last General Meeting in Kuwait 2023 the question about proxies wasraised by Canada, United States, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Great Britain andCosta Rica as a part of a package that proposed many amendments to the IBFArticles. The ‘package’ was voted down 72-33,” Sundqvist said. Key Topics Received Almost no Discussion The General Meeting agenda included several important items, includingquestions regarding finances and missing funds and moving the IBF headquartersfrom Lausanne. According to the president of the Swedish Bowling Federation,none of these topics were meaningfully debated. “There were really no discussions on any of the questions. I don’t know if therest of the delegates had calculated the same thing as me. It really felt likeno idea. The decision was made and it is now possible to move the headquartersfrom Lausanne whenever the presidium wants to.” Nine-pin Bowling Included, Urethane Topic Remains Untouched One agenda item that did receive a clear outcome was the inclusion of nine-pinbowling under the IBF structure. Helena Sundqvist confirmed that during the IBF General Meeting, the admissionof the World Ninepin Bowling Association into the IBF was officiallyfinalized. That was something IBF was seeking for a while now. Back in May, 2025,IBF representatives participated in the regular WNBA conference inHungaryand expressed confidence that the prenegotiated admission of the WNBA into theIBF will be formally approved at the IBF Conference in the fall of 2025. IBF representatives participated in the regular WNBA conference inHungary However, a topic many bowlers expected to be addressed - urethane bowlingballs - was not brought up at all. “The question was not raised at the meeting. To be honest, I do not think itis a big question for them,” Sundqvist said. Membership Dues Might Increase by 50% According to Swedish Bowling Federation president, one of the most surprising moments came when thechairman announced a major financial update. “No budget was presented, instead we were informed by the Chairman of the Meeting, Martin Faba, that there will be a 50 % increase in membership duessince the IBF is in economic crisis. That is also an interesting questionsince the membership fee is based on how many bowlers and lanes a federationhas. Maybe the next step is to start weighing the votes according tomembership size?” Sundqvist asked rhetorically. BowlingLife has contacted the International Bowling Federation for commentregarding the issues raised at the General Meeting. IBF Second Vice President Marios Nicolaides responded to Sandqvist’s post, noting that discussions about IBF governance should follow formal channels rather than unfold on social media. He said that federations can address rules they wish to change during IBF meetings. “I don’t find social media to be the correct platform for addressing federation matters. If any federation feels that a rule they previously voted for is no longer appropriate, the proper process is very simple: they can submit a proposal to the Congress for review and potential change.”

The competition at theIBF World Championships 2025begins tomorrow in Hong Kong, where 300 athletes from 31 countries will steponto one of the most demanding stages in bowling. Players willbattle it out in nearly two weeks of competition at the new 40-lane Top Bowlinside Kai Tak Sports Park for medals in singles, doubles, trios, teams andall-event. IBF World Championships 2025 This year also marks Sweden’s return to the World Championshipsafter opting out in 2023, and expectations are naturally high. With 83 total medals - 30gold, 29 silver, and 24 bronze - Sweden stands as the second-most awardednation in World Championships history, and every new roster carries the weightof that legacy. after opting out in 2023 For nearly three decades, few names have been more closely connected toSwedish national team than Martin Larsen. Since first wearing the nationalblue/yellow colors in 1997, he has become one of Europe’s most successfulbowlers of all time. But for the first time since the late 1990s, Sweden’s men’s roster willcompete at a World Championships without Martin Larsen on the lanes. BowlingLife’s Erikas Jansonas sat down with him to reflect on nearly 30 yearswith the national team, his favourite moments, thoughts on Sweden’s 2025roster, and how he sees the next generation stepping onto the world stage inHong Kong for the firs time. A Career Defined by Precision, Learning, and Helping Others Martin Larsen made his debut on the national team in 1997, when he earned aplace on the Swedish youth national squad. Over the next few years, herepresented Sweden in U21 competition and gradually worked his way up to themen’s national team roster. Martin’s game was never about enormous revolutions or power. Other qualitiesshaped him into one of the most notable bowlers in Europe - discipline,knowledge, and the ability to raise the level of the team around him. “I’ve never had that extra when it comes to rotation or power, one of myidols, Tomas Leandersson, early got me to understand that there’s other thingsthat can make up for that. Accuracy, spare shooting andknowledge," Martin Larsen said. "So I’ve always tried to learn as much asI can about the game and I think that helped me a lot. My low level got higherthan many of my opponents and it also helped me helping my teammates. Mystrength in trying to help my teammates has also sometimes been my weaknessbecause it happens that my focus on my own game got hurt by it. Power I guessis another weakness, especially in todays game.” The Toughest Conversation That Never Happened TheStorm Lucky Larsen Masterswas the final evaluation point before Sweden’s World Championships roster wasdecided. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters For Martin, however, SLLM has always been far more than just a tournament. Asone of the event’s organizers, he carries a long list of responsibilities.Naturally, his own performance on the lanes sometimes has to take a back seat.He finished 61st out of 376 players - a respectable result, butnot enough to secure a spot on the World Championships roster, as nationalteam coach Robert Andersson chose to move forward with other experiencedplayers. Given Martin’s long history with Robert - years of traveling together,countless training sessions, and shared medals in both youth and men’schampionships - informing him of that decision could have been a difficultconversation. Yet, conversation never happened. “Well I guess this was hard enough for Robert that it ended up not being anyconversation about it. My focus around the SLLM is on a lot other things thenjust my own bowling, so the timing for that tournament to be the last onebefore Robert picked the team maybe wasn’t the best for me. We’ve talked abouta lot of things over the years, travel the world, practicing, winning andlosing together. But we haven’t had a conversation about this," Martinshared. When reflecting on why things turned out this way, Martin highlighted thegrowing influence of urethane in today’s game."I know that one bigreason is the soft urethane balls thats been dominating some championships.That some players (like me) can’t use them has made picking the team totallydifferent than it used to be. I always worked on game to be versatile,especially before championships to not let my team down. But with today's gamethere’s a chance that it want help if the playing environment gets to whereonly those balls will be in use.” Sweden’s Roster: Power, Potential, and a Challenging Pattern Sweden’s lineup for Hong Kong includes Pontus Andersson, James Blomgren, RobinIlhammar, Markus Jansson, Joachim Karlsson, and Jesper Svensson - a mix ofexperience, power, and high-rev young talent. In Martin’s view, it is onceagain a team built for medals. “Sweden has been fortunate to have a great team for a long long time, thisyear is nothing special, it’s a great team again. We do have a team that hassome more specialties in their game, there’s a great chance that we will seethe blue/yellow flag on top if those specialties comes into play. There’s alot of power in this team, if the lanes allows some room I think it will behard to outstrike Sweden," Larsen said. When talking about possible weaknesses, Larsen said he just hopes the 46-footpattern doesn’t turn into a low-scoring grind. He also mentioned that havingonly two coaches to cover both the men’s and women’s teams could make things abit tougher than usual. "I would have love to see this see this team on a pattern where the gutter isin play. Looking at weakness would be the other way, low scoring wouldn’t beideal. Also our budget has been lower than normal with a lot of championshipsthis year, that made the Swedish federation only send to 2 coaches/teammanagers to cover for both men and women, not ideal in my mind.” A New Generation, and Ilhammar’s Big Step Forward Hong Kong will also mark a generational moment for the Swedish men's nationalteam. Robin Ilhammar joins the roster, stepping into his first adult WorldChampionships after a strong run inIBF Youth World Cup in Sweden. IBF Youth World Cup in Sweden Even though World Championships is totally different challenge, Martinbelieves the transition will be smooth. “After Jesper and James, I think Robin was the easiest pick for Robert. Robinalready has a lot of experience from national team play. Yes, WorldChampionships is different, but I don’t think that will disturb him. He’s avery talented bowler and he will be bowling for team Sweden for a long time.There will be times where things don’t run as smooth as it has been so far.Robin's next challenge is to deal with that when it happens, it does for allof us, but let’s hope it waits a little longer. I don’t think the first WorldChampionships is the hardest, expectations gets bigger later, this one is justfor Robin to enjoy and ride the wave he is on at the moment.” Golf, Rooftop Bars, and Friends for Life Championships are mostly remembered for medals - but also for everything thathappens around them. When asked about his favorite memories from the travelswith the Swedish National Team, Martin expanded beyond just bowling alleys. “This one is the hardest question to answer, at least to make it short.Banquets in Kula Lumpur, golf in Las Vegas, roof top bars in Hong Kong,dinners and zoo visits in Australia… I could go on forever, very thankful forall the friends I found around the world and all memories I’ve collected overthe years! I hope I’ll get new good memories behind the online scoring andstream this year. #Swebowl4gold2025”.

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 the sport’s biggest names riseto the top. Some players captured the Player of the Year awardonce, while others returned year after year and built long runs of dominance.No matter how often they won it, every Player of the Year left a clear mark onbowling history. With a new PBA Tour season approaching, BowlingLife has put together acomplete list of every PBA Tour Player of the Year winner since the award wasofficially recognized in 1963. The list starts with BillyHardwick, the first honoree and still the youngest ever to win it at age of23, and runs through to EJ Tackett, who has claimed the award for threestraight seasons now. Below is the full list of PBA Tour Player of the Year winners, beginning withthe most recent and going back to the very start. PBA Tour Player of the Year Award Winners List 2025 – 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 III2001 – Norm Duke2000 – 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 – Billy Hardwick1967 – Jim Stefanich1966 – Dave Davis1965 – Wayne Zahn1964 – Dick Weber1963 – Billy Hardwick

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 .

The 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open was a massive occasion for bowling. Everyone was talking about it. With so many photos and videos flooding social media, even those who weren’t at the Resch Center on Sunday night could feel like they were part of it. It was a breath of fresh air - just what bowling needed. 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open After WBA, USBC, and BPAA did the math, 6,559 spectators packed the Resch Center - a venue that holds up to 10,200 fans in its standard configuration for basketball, hockey, or indoor football events. That’s over 64% of the seats filled - not too shabby for an event where sitting on the other side of the pin deck (meaning one sector remains unseated) isn’t an option. Of course, the organizers were intentionally aiming for a big crowd: it was an anniversary event, entry was free, several tournaments were merged into one, and thousands of youth bowlers (plus their families) were already in town. It worked. I do wonder what attendance would’ve looked like if it had been a regular PWBA title event. But this piece isn’t about that. This time, let’s take a look back through history - looking at the most attendance-wise successful events, the ones that failed, and reflect on what bowling in arena can mean for the sport. Bowling’s All-Time Attendance Record 6,559 spectators is a lot for bowling - no doubt about that. But it’s not the record. The current attendance record belongs to the other women's bowling event - 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, where 8,017 fans watched the finals inside AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Built in 2009, the stadium was a perfect fit for bowling. With seating for 80,000, cutting-edge tech, and that “stadium feel,” it gave bowling something it rarely gets - true center-stage energy. Traditional bowling venues typically only fit a few hundred spectators around the lanes and don’t surround players with big-time atmosphere - AT&T Stadium was completely different. The 2011 U.S. Women's Open was a huge success. It smashed the previous record of 7,212 fans, set at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit in 1995 during the BPAA U.S. Open - the most-attended PBA Tour event to this day. So, if I’ve done my math right, the 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open ranks as the third most-attended bowling event in history. Well, at least in modern bowling. It’s followed by the 2004 USBC Masters at Miller Park, which had 4,303 spectators. The BPAA All-Star Tournaments of the 1950s and 60s may have drawn similar numbers - venues like the National Guard Armory in Minneapolis had capacities over 8,000, but without verified public attendance records, those numbers are just speculation. Not Every Bowling In Arena Attempt Worked Stadium-sized bowling events come with big risks. And sometimes, they don’t pay off. After the success of the 2004 Masters at Miller Park, expectations were high. But due to financial limitations and poor turnout in later years, the Masters quickly returned to smaller venues. But in 2007, the organizers took one last shot - bringing the event back to Miller Park. On paper, the timing looked great. The local footbal team played the day after, meaning no sports competition that Sunday. Two lanes were built, four finalists were ready, and 12,000 seats were opened for fans. Everything was in place. Except the crowd. Only 2,712 people showed up, despite tickets ranging from $10 to $75, to watch 25-year-old future Hall-of-Famer Sean Rash win the title and $50,000 top prize. That disappointment left a lasting mark. Since then, no PBA Tour event has returned to a stadium venue - and with Bowlero not focused on arena-style events, there’s little indication that will change soon. But maybe the success in Green Bay will spark some discussions, hope, and courage to change that. Bowling may be a small sport compared to football, basketball, or hockey - sports that fill stadiums every weekend - but it’s big enough to say that the vast majority of people have tried knocking down pins at least once. Big events like the PWBA Anniversary Open are important - not just for fan excitement, but for the sport’s image, growth, and the players themselves. They show what bowling could look like if we all put in just a little more effort. After all, who really wants to sit in a poorly ventilated, rusty bowling alley under a shopping mall for three hours watching bowling without proper seating for fans? We may be small, but we have big hearts. Big enough to fill stadiums. We just need a little more courage to open the big doors - and let the fans walk in.

Is bowling a sport or just a fun activity with family or friends? This question keeps coming up on socials and in private talks. Some say it's clearly a sport. Others think it’s more of a hobby or a leisure activity. In this article, we’ll explore both views and share facts that help answer the question: is bowling a sport? Why People Say Bowling Is a Sport Let’s look at the most common reasons people believe bowling is a real sport. Bowling Has Official Recognition One of the strongest arguments that helps answer the question “is bowling a sport” is its official recognition by major sports bodies. The International Olympic Committee has recognized the International Bowling Federation (IBF) since 1979. The IBF governs the sport worldwide and sets rules and rankings. Professional leagues also exist. The most popular one - The PBA Tour - includes athletes from around the world. Players on PBA Tour follow strict rules, train hard, and earn prize money. FOX Sports, CBS, and ESPN have aired major bowling events to large audiences. That supports the idea that bowling is a sport. Bowling Requires Skill and Effort Bowling may seem simple, but it requires strength, accuracy, and control. The ball can weigh up to 16 pounds and some players throw it faster than 20 mph. A spare ball - up to 35 mph! Bowlers who hook the bowling ball generate strong rotation. Studies show the motion puts stress on the wrists and shoulders. Also, releasing the bowling ball puts strong force on the knees and leg muscles. hook the bowling ball hook the bowling ball Even though bowling is not as physical as contact sports, it also puts stress on the heart. A typical bowler’s heart rate during a session can range from the low 100s to the high 170s. This level of physical and mental effort is exactly why so many agree the answer to is bowling a sport is yes. Bowling Has Real Competition To answer the question "is bowling a sport," we must also look at its competitive structure. Unlike many games, bowling includes leagues, tournaments, and both continental and world championships. It has coaches, training camps, and organized event schedules. Players compete for titles and prize money, just like in other recognized sports. The sport includes junior events, championships, and national team events. This level of structure supports the view that bowling is a sport. Millions Compete Worldwide Over 100 million people bowl in more than 80 countries every year. It’s one of the most played indoor sports on Earth. Also, one of the oldest ones. Archaeologists discovered miniature pins and balls in an Egyptian tomb dated to 3200 BC, proving bowling's ancient origins. By the 14th century, bowling grew so popular in England that King Edward III banned it to keep archers practicing. The modern version of bowling took shape in 1895, when the American Bowling Congress formed in the United States. For decades, bowling has been part of the World Games, Pan-American Games, and African Games. Many national teams take it seriously, with trials and selection criteria in place. Being a sport in these kinds of events often unlocks athlete support and funding from national governments. With funding and millions of people involved, it’s only fair to ask again - is bowling a sport or a pastime? Bowling Has Its Own Industry and Lane Challenges Another angle to explore when asking is bowling a sport is the depth of its equipment and playing conditions. Bowlers face different alleys and oil patterns that can change the strategy entirely. Each pattern changes how the ball moves, which adds strategy and skill to every shot. Bowlers must prepare for varying conditions, which is why the industry offers gear tailored for different patterns. There are many different balls for different conditions, performance shoes, bags, jerseys, lane machines. Everything is built for performance, just like in any other serious sport. oil patterns oil patterns different balls different balls performance shoes performance shoes bags bags This proves that bowling is a sport with its own gear, science, and playing environment. Why Some Say Bowling Is Not a Sport Despite strong evidence, some still believe bowling does not qualify as a sport. Here’s why. Low Physical Intensity Some argue sports must involve hard physical activity. Bowling does not require much running, jumping or canging direction fast. You don’t often sweat or get out of breath. This leads critics to say bowling is not a sport, but rather a skilled game. It Feels Like a Game People often associate bowling with birthday parties or casual nights out. Many people first try it for fun, not for competition. That light setting shapes how the public sees it. If bowling alleys featured more sports visuals, trophies, or televised events, the perception might be different. But because of this casual image, people often ask: is bowling a sport or just a game? Bowling Is Not in the Olympics Another point critics raise is bowling’s Olympic status - and this one hits hard, especially in recent years. Bowling was a demo sport in 1988 but never became part of the official Olympic program. In 2023, organizers unexpectedly removed bowling from the 2025 World Games competition program. Then in 2025, officials excluded bowling from the 2027 Pan American Games. unexpectedly removed bowling from the 2025 World Games competition program. unexpectedly removed bowling from the 2025 World Games competition program. excluded bowling from the 2027 Pan American Games. excluded bowling from the 2027 Pan American Games. A lack of action from decision-makers and limited global youth programs may be part of the problem. However, the Olympic Games still leave out many widely played sports, not just bowling. Still, many wonder: if it’s missing from the Olympics, is bowling a sport or just a competitive game? So, Is Bowling a Sport? Bowling has every trait a sport should have. It has rules, training, rankings, and physical demands. It meets the same standards as many accepted sports. Thus, is bowling a sport? All signs point to yes. Still, public views are mixed. Much depends on how someone first experiences the game. But after learning more, most would agree that bowling is a sport. Conclusion So, is bowling a sport? Yes. It fits the key elements: competition, skill, effort, and official structure. While not everyone agrees, the facts support bowling’s place among real sports. Whether you bowl for fun or compete at a high level, you’re still part of a true sport.