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

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

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

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

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

Day 3 of the USBC Team USA Trials concluded on Monday at Gold Coast BowlingCenter, with a longer 44-foot oil pattern in play for both divisions. The newcondition once again reshuffled the standings as competitors faced a differentchallenge from the previous rounds. In the men’s division, Luke Switalski recorded the top score of the day. The18-year-old two-hande finished his six-game block (208, 202, 247,250, 258, and248) with a total of 1,413 pins, the highest mark among the 175 men competingin Round 3. Logan Beasley followed closely with a total of 1,401, finishing second on theday. The remaining top five positions in the men’s standings for Day 3 wereclaimed by Cameron Crowe with 1,391, David Cole with 1,356, and Julian Salinaswith 1,355. In the men’s overall standings aftert three rounds, Salinas sits in firstplace with 29 points. Crowe follows in second with 37 points, while BryceOliver finished the top 3 with 43 points. Dawson Peterson and defendingchampion Ryan Barnes share the  fourth place with 50 points with two daysof competition remaining. Kayla Sommer's Show in Round 3 After the men completed their games, the women took to the lanes on the same44-foot pattern. Kayla Sommer delivered the strongest performance of the dayin the women’s division. The 24-year-old left-hander posted a six-game totalof 1,442 (232, 239, 225, 201, 247, and 298), finishing well ahead of the restof the 132-player field. Keira Magsam placed second with a total of 1,398. Bryanna Coté continued herconsistent run with a third-place finish at 1,392. Elizabeth Teuber andElizabeth Drescher rounded out the women’s top five with totals of 1,382 and1,341. After three six-game blocks, Elizabeth Teuber holds the overall lead with 19points. Keira Magsam and Kaitlyn Stull shares the second with 32 points,Breanna Clemmer is close behind with 33 points, and Maranda Pattison rounds upthe top 5 with 42 points. The USBC Team USA Trials will continue with two more riounds sqheduled onTuesday and Wednesday. At the end of the final round, the top fourage-eligible men and top four age-eligible women based on ranking points willearn automatic spots on Team USA for the 2026 season.

Nick Pate has started the 2026 season with a change in equipment and an earlytournament win. The 31-year-old professional bowler announced at the beginning of January thathe has signed with Motiv Bowling, ending a four-year partnership withBrunswick. Pate shared the news on his social media. “I am really excited to announce I signed with MOTIV Bowling!” He also thankedhis former sponsor and the Motiv team for the opportunity. Just three days later, Pate captured his first title using his new equipment. He won the Kingpin Scratch Open in Wilson, North Carolina, marking his firstvictory since joining Motiv. “First win with MOTIV Bowling under the belt and let me tell you it feelsamazing!” he wrote. Pate joined the PBA in 2018 and has built a strong resume in both domestic andinternational competition. He owns two titles on the PBA Regional Tour and has represented Team USA fivetimes, in 2017 and from 2019 through 2022. Together with Team USA, Pate hasearned five gold medals and two silver medals.

Day 2 of the USBC Team USA Trials continued on Sunday at Gold Coast BowlingCenter, with a new oil pattern creating fresh challenges for the field. In the women’s division, Jordan Snodgrass took the top posiotion of the Round2 on the 38-foot pattern in Round 2. Snodgrass posted a total of 1,406 pins insix-game block, giving her the highest score among the 132 competitors in thewomen’s field. Hope Gramly scored 1,373 total to finish in second, while Kaylee Back recorded1,359 to finish in third. Bryanna Coté totaled 1,353, and Ashlin Tevescompleted the top five with 1,339. Full results of the round can be found here. here. Elizabeth Teuber, who finished seventh in Round 1 and eighth in Round 2,currently leads the overall standings with 15 points. Haley Swindle is closebehind with 16. Hope Gramly is in third with 22, while Avery Domaguin andKaylee Back rounds up the top 5 with 22 points both. Full standings after two rounds can be found here. here A Surprise in Men's Competition In the men’s division, Connor Ecker delivered the strongest performance ofRound 2. Ecker opened his set with a high three-game series (265, 277, 245)and closed with three more solid games to finish with a six-game total of1,440. His score was the best posted among the 175 athletes. KC Campbell followed closely behind with 1,433 to finish in second place,followed by Ryan Powers with 1,420. Patrick Hanrahan rolled 1,415, whileDaniel Springer finished with 1,412 to round up the top 5. Full results of the round 2 in men's competition can be found here. here After two rounds of competition, the overall lead in the men’s standings isshared by Bryce Oliver and Patrick Hanrahan with 17 points each. DawsonPeterson sits next with 19, followed by Julian Salinas with 24, and defendingchampion Ryan Barnes with 29. Overall standings after round 2 can be found here. here USBC Team USA Trials Points System The Team USA Trials use a ranking points system, where bowlers earn pointsbased on their finishing position each day. The lowest total number of pointsafter five rounds will determine the Team USA Trials champions in bothdivisions. At the end of Round 5 on Wednesday, the top four age-eligible men and top fourage-eligible women in the USBC Team USA Trials standings will earn automaticspots on Team USA for the 2026 season.

Rick Allen has been announced as the new play-by-play voice for the PBA on TheCW Sports. Allen is an American television personality with extensive experience acrossmajor sports broadcasts. He currently works as a public address announcer forthe Carolina Panthers and serves as a college football play-by-play announcerfor The CW Sports. He is also an alternate television play-by-play voice forthe CARS Tour. Allen is best known for his role as the lead play-by-play commentator forNASCAR on NBC, where he called NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series eventsfrom 2015 through 2024. During his time with NBC Sports, he also contributed to coverage of IndyCar,International Motor Sports Association events, and track and fieldcompetitions. Earlier in his career, Allen worked as a play-by-play announcer for NASCARTruck Series races on Speed and Fox from 2003 to 2014. The upcoming PBA Tour seasonis scheduled to begin on February 22 with the PBA Players Championship inArlington, Texas. The upcoming PBA Tour season

Deo Benard won the 2025 BowlTV PBA Regional Players Invitational after astrong final performance at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. The event brought together top regional players for the season-ending BowlTVshowcase, with titles awarded in both the standard PBA and PBA50 divisions. Benard secured the championship by defeating Jeff Mann 278–228 in the titlematch. The near-perfect game sealed the victory and earned Benard the topprize of $15,000. Mann finished second and received $10,000 for his runner-upresult. Earlier in the stepladder finals, Benard advanced through a demandingsemifinal round. He defeated Christopher Tuholski in a three-game match that went down to thefinal shots, winning 2–1 with scores of 258–201, 195–215, and 230–227. Benardalso eliminated DeeRonn Booker, the reigning USBC Masters champion, during theRound of 8. On the other side of the bracket, Mann reached the final by defeating KevinBienko 2–0 with games of 214–201 and 190–169. The victory marked Benard’s 15th career PBA Regional Tour title, achievedjust days before his 22nd birthday on Christmas Eve. Benard has been named Southwest Region Player of the Year twice, includingcurrent season. Benard also owns a national PBA Tour title after winning the2024 PBA Cheetah Championship. The 2025 BowlTV PBA Regional Players Invitational also featured the PBA50division, where Michael Haggitt claimed the title. Haggitt defeated defendingchampion Randy Weiss 231–217 in the championship match to earn the $10,000 topprize. With their victories, both Deo Benard and Michael Haggitt earned automaticentry into their respective 2026 PBA Tournament of Champions fields.

The PBA World Series of Bowling XVII will be broadcast on CBS and CBS SportsNetwork during the 2026 PBA Tour season. The event will take place in theMinneapolis area. The event is part of anexpanded television partnershipthat brings several major professional bowling competitions to nationalaudiences. expanded television partnership For the first time, the World Series of Bowling will be part of a largerseason-long broadcast lineup that includes both individual championships andteam-based events. The USA vs. The World will open the CBS’s PBA coverage. The event is scheduled forApril 4 in Columbus, Ohio, and features team competition between top Americanplayers and a selected international team. Each team will built through adraft process, with captains - Jason Belmonte and EJ Tackett - selecting fromleading PBA players to form their lineups for the televised event. Coverage of the World Series of Bowling will focus on the PBA animal patternchampionships, which are scheduled across four consecutive days.PBAcoverage will continue later in the season with the PBA World Championship,followed by the PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands and the PBA Norm DukeOpen. PBA on CBS Schedule • April 4 – USA vs. The World • May 9 – PBA Animal Pattern 1 Championship • May 10 – PBA Animal Pattern 2 Championship • May 11 – PBA Animal Pattern 3 Championship • May 12 – PBA Animal Pattern 4 Championship • June 13 – PBA World Championship • June 20 – PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands • June 21 – PBA Norm Duke Open

The transfer of PBA Tour broadcasts from FOX to The CW Network does not onlyaffect American audiences, but also international viewers. Since The CW Network is only available in the United States, it was importantto secure a way for fans worldwide to follow the biggest stage in professionalbowling. The Professional Bowlers Association confirmed to BowlingLife’s ErikasJansonas that global fans will still be able to follow the action throughBowlTV, the same livestream service used in past seasons. “International viewers will be able to watch PBA events on the CW via BowlTV -just as they could watch FOX shows in past years,” the PBA stated. The 2026 regular season begins on February 22 with the PBA PlayersChampionship in Arlington, Texas. The CW Network will broadcast ten events inten straight Sundays, all live at 4 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the World Series ofBowling will be livestreamed on CBS. Below is the full PBA Tour Schedule 2026 on The CW Network, with all eventsairing at 4 p.m. ET: February 22: PBA Players Championship – Arlington, Texas –International Training and Research Center February 22: PBA Players Championship March 1: PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic – St. Peters, Mo. – BowleroSt. Peters March 1: PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic March 8: U.S. Open – Indianapolis, Ind. – Royal Pin Woodland March 8: U.S. Open March 15: PBA Illinois Classic – Decatur, Ill. – David Small’s VictoryLanes March 15: PBA Illinois Classic March 22: PBA Indiana Classic – Fort Wayne, Ind. – David Small’s ProBowl West March 22: PBA Indiana Classic March 29: USBC Masters – Allen Park, Mich. – Thunderbowl Lanes March 29: USBC Masters April 5: PBA Ohio Classic – Columbus, Ohio – Columbus Square BowlingPalace April 5: PBA Ohio Classic April 12: PBA New York Classic – Rochester, N.Y. – ABC Gates Bowl April 12: PBA New York Classic April 19: PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship – Portland, Maine –Bayside Bowl April 19: PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship April 26: PBA Tournament of Champions – Fairlawn, Ohio – AMF RivieraLanes April 26: PBA Tournament of Champions Earlier this year, the PBA announced that it hadsigned a multi-year broadcast agreement with The CW Network, marking the end of its partnership with FOX. signed a multi-year broadcast agreement with The CW Network

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced the full PBA TourSchedule 2026, with live broadcasts set to air on The CW Network. The new television partnership introduces “PBA Championship Sundays on TheCW,” bringing professional bowling to a national audience on ten consecutiveSundays. Coverage will begin on February 22, 2026, with the PBA Players Championship inArlington, Texas. Every broadcast will air live at 4 p.m. ET and continuethrough April 26, 2026, when the season closes with the PBA Tournament ofChampions in Fairlawn, Ohio. In total, The CW will feature four major championships. These include the PBAPlayers Championship, U.S. Open, USBC Masters, and the PBA Tournament ofChampions. Six additional title events will also be broadcast, such as the PBA Pete WeberMissouri Classic and the Roth/Holman Doubles Championship from Bayside Bowl inPortland, Maine. Fans can follow qualifying and match play rounds through BowlTV before theChampionship Sunday broadcasts. Below is the full PBA Tour Schedule 2026 on The CW Network, with all eventsairing at 4 p.m. ET: February 22: PBA Players Championship – Arlington, Texas –International Training and Research Center February 22: PBA Players Championship March 1: PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic – St. Peters, Mo. – BowleroSt. Peters March 1: PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic March 8: U.S. Open – Indianapolis, Ind. – Royal Pin Woodland March 8: U.S. Open March 15: PBA Illinois Classic – Decatur, Ill. – David Small’s VictoryLanes March 15: PBA Illinois Classic March 22: PBA Indiana Classic – Fort Wayne, Ind. – David Small’s ProBowl West March 22: PBA Indiana Classic March 29: USBC Masters – Allen Park, Mich. – Thunderbowl Lanes March 29: USBC Masters April 5: PBA Ohio Classic – Columbus, Ohio – Columbus Square BowlingPalace April 5: PBA Ohio Classic April 12: PBA New York Classic – Rochester, N.Y. – ABC Gates Bowl April 12: PBA New York Classic April 19: PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship – Portland, Maine –Bayside Bowl April 19: PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship April 26: PBA Tournament of Champions – Fairlawn, Ohio – AMF RivieraLanes April 26: PBA Tournament of Champions Earlier this year, the PBA announced that it had signed a multi-year broadcast agreement with The CW Network, marking the end of its partnership with FOX.While Championship Sundays will air on The CW, the World Series ofBowling will be broadcasted on CBS. signed a multi-year broadcast agreement with The CW Network

EJ Tackett has been named the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year for 2025.Tackett received 86.5 percent of the vote from PBA members andmedia. Andrew Anderson and Ethan Fiore followed with six percent each, whileJason Belmonte, Graham Fach, Jesper Svensson, and Chris Via were alsonominated. This is his fourth career award and his third in a row. With this achievement,Tackett joins Earl Anthony, Mark Roth, Walter Ray Williams Jr., and Belmonteas the only players to win three consecutive Player of the Year honors. Tackett’s 2025 season included several milestones. He led the PBA Tour inpoints with 34,690, in earnings with $438,540, and in average with 228.60. He recorded 11 top-five finishes, 12 top-10 finishes, 13 top-25 finishes, andcashed in 15 events. During the season, Tackett added multiple career titles, surpassing DonJohnson to enter the top ten on the all-time list with 27. He also secured two major championships. At theU.S. Open, Tackett made a late charge from outside the cut to win his second title inthe event. Later, he captured thePBA World Championship, finishing a demanding World Series of Bowling with a victory over JasonBelmonte. U.S. Open PBA World Championship The Player of the Year award carries the name of Christopher Schenkel, theHall of Fame broadcaster who was the longtime voice of the PBA. He passed awayin 2005.

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and Longmarch Bowling haveannounced a 10-year agreement to relaunch the PBA China Regional Program. The relaunch begins in October 2025 with three scheduled tournaments at theLongmarch Bowling Center in Shanghai. The first event, the PBA China Tribute to Pioneers Championship, will takeplace from September 18–21, 2025. It will be followed by the PBA ChinaScorpion Championship on January 2–3, 2026, and the 2026 PBA China Cup onOctober 2–4, 2026. This new partnership builds on the PBA’s history in China. The relationship began in 2014 when Longmarch Bowling helped recruit playersin China to join the PBA through the “Pioneers Program.” More than 100 Chinesebowlers have become members since then, with several competing in the PBAWorld Series of Bowling. In 2019, the PBA China Tiger Cup became the first PBA event in the country,featuring the season’s top seven PBA-ranked players alongside hundreds ofcompetitors from China and Asia. The program was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PBA and Longmarch Bowling aim to use this relaunch to expand competitiveopportunities for Chinese bowlers, attract new talent, and strengthen thesport’s presence in the region. The 10-year agreement is part of the PBA’s wider plan for global growth, withChina seen as an important market for the sport’s future.PBA Regional events outside the United States have proven successful, with PBA Sweden and PBA Japan already established on the international calendar.

Chris Via and Bryanna Coté claimed the title at the 25th anniversary edition of the Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, held at Copperfield Bowl in Houston. After finishing qualifying in 22nd place, the pair surged during match play and secured the top spot heading into the final game. With a total pinfall of 10,416 (+1,216) over 46 combined games, they held a comfortable lead of 260 pins over Kyle Troup and Liz Johnson, who finished in second with +1,042. Latest win marked Coté’s sixth PWBA title and Via’s second PBA title. For the win they were awarded with $25,000. Via also rolled the only two 300 games of the tournament and donated both $300 bonuses to the Striking Against Breast Cancer foundation. Last year's champions Anthony Simonsen and Danielle McEwan finished in 22nd. Last year's champions Last year's champions The final PBA title event of the season will be the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Helsingborg, Sweden, while the PWBA season wraps in August with Championship Week in Rochester, New York. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Helsingborg, Sweden Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Helsingborg, Sweden Championship Week in Rochester, New York Championship Week in Rochester, New York Top 5 Final Standings: Top 5 Final Standings: Chris Via / Bryanna Coté – 10,416 (+1,216)Kyle Troup / Liz Johnson – 10,242 (+1,042)Darren Tang / Sin Li Jane – 10,039 (+839)Andrew Anderson / Erin McCarthy – 9,952 (+752)Tommy Jones / Shannon Pluhowsky – 9,918 (+718) Chris Via / Bryanna Coté – 10,416 (+1,216) Kyle Troup / Liz Johnson – 10,242 (+1,042) Darren Tang / Sin Li Jane – 10,039 (+839) Andrew Anderson / Erin McCarthy – 9,952 (+752) Tommy Jones / Shannon Pluhowsky – 9,918 (+718)

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

Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, claimed the 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open title after winning two matches during Sunday night’s stepladder finals at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The finals took place as part of the Junior Gold Championships Opening Ceremony, drawing over 6,500 spectators into the arena. It marked one of the most attended and visually striking finals in recent PWBA history. Barnes, seeded second, first faced Verity Crawley of England in the semifinals. Crawley had advanced with a 212–193 win over Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo in Match 2. Barnes kept a clean game and used Crawley’s mid-game opens to take control, winning 214–194 to earn a spot in the title match. In the championship match, Barnes met Kayla Smith of Rockford, Illinois. Smith had secured the No. 1 seed after a strong final qualifying round but struggled with carry in the final. Barnes built momentum early with five consecutive strikes and held the lead to close out the match 236–191. The win marks her second title of the 2025 season and sixth overall on the PWBA Tour. second title of the 2025 season second title of the 2025 season The stepladder finals opened with Sweden’s Nora Johansson making her PWBA finals debut. Johansson, the first two-handed player to reach a PWBA stepladder final, led early against Restrepo but closed with back-to-back splits, losing 209–215. All matches were contested at the Resch Center on a specially built lane installation. The event was aired live on CBS Sports Network. PWBA Anniversary Open Stepladder Finals - Match Results Match 1: Rocio Restrepo def. Nora Johansson, 215 - 209Match 2: Verity Crawley def. Rocio Restrepo, 212 - 193Semifinal: Josie Barnes def. Verity Crawley, 214 - 194Final: Josie Barnes def. Kayla Smith, 236 - 191 Match 1: Rocio Restrepo def. Nora Johansson, 215 - 209 Match 1: Match 2: Verity Crawley def. Rocio Restrepo, 212 - 193 Match 2: Semifinal: Josie Barnes def. Verity Crawley, 214 - 194 Semifinal: Final: Josie Barnes def. Kayla Smith, 236 - 191 Final:

After four rounds of qualifying at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley, the field at the 2025 PWBA Anniversary Open has been cut to the top five players who will advance to Sunday’s televised stepladder finals at the Resch Center. Kayla Smith of Rockford, Illinois, will make her first stepladder finals appearance as she claimed the No. 1 seed after an outstanding final round, averaging over 265 across six games. Her block of 1,593 was the second-highest six-game series on the PWBA Tour since its relaunch in 2015, just two pins shy of Breanna Clemmer’s 1,595 at the 2022 St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open. Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, who led the standings through all previous rounds, will enter as the No. 2 seed. She’s seeking her second title of the year after winning the 2025 USBC Queens. who led the standings through all previous rounds who led the standings through all previous rounds Verity Crawley of England took the No. 3 position, returning to the PWBA stepladder finals for the first time since 2023. Nora Johansson impressed with a massive climb from 27th to 2nd in Round 3 and held her ground on Friday to lock in the No. 4 seed for the televised finals. This marks her first career appearance in a PWBA televised final. Rocio Restrepo of Colombia rounds out the top five. Full results Full results Live CBS Sports Network broadcast of the PWBA Anniversary Open begins Sunday, July 13, at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Finland has announced its national team for the upcoming European YouthChampionships 2026, which will be held in Berlin, Germany. The tournament willbring together Europe’s top junior bowlers later this spring. The Finnish girls’ team remains unchanged from last season. All four players who helped Finland win the team silver medal at the 2025 European Youth Championships will represent the country again in Berlin -Salla Hautala, singles vice-champion Emma Palermaa, Neea Pöllänen, and Julia Vesanen. Finland win the team silver medal at the 2025 European Youth Championships singles vice-champion Emma Palermaa The boys’ team will look different compared to the previous championships. Three of the four selected players will make their European YouthChampionships debut. Aatu Tapanimäki is the only returning athlete from lastyear’s Finnish boys’ team, while Saku Huomo, Kasper Koivunen, and LuukasLuostarinen will all represent Finland for the first time. The European Youth Championships 2026 will take place in Berlin from March 28to April 6, 2026, bringing together the continent’s top junior talent for tendays of high-level competition over the Easter period. The tournament will be hosted at City Bowling Hasenheide, one of Berlin’spremier bowling centers. National teams from across Europe will compete in singles, doubles, team, andmasters events. Last week Sweden also announced their team roster for the event. Sweden also announced their team roster for the event.

The 56th Brunswick Ballmaster Open concluded on Sunday at Tali Bowling Hall inHelsinki with Santtu Tahvanainen taking the title after a strong performance in thefinal. In the championship match, Santtu Tahvanainen defeated Rami Mukkula 204-170, securing the trophy and the top prize of €10,000. It was a slow and nervous start to the final, as both players traded spares and opens. As the game progressed, Santtu Tahvanainen found better consistency, and when Mukkula opened in the ninth after a split, Santtu took advantage to seal the match. The win caps a demanding week of competition that once again attracted astrong international field to Helsinki. Earlier in the finals, Rami Mukkula booked a place in the title match bydefeating Linus Boström, while Santtu Tahvanainen advancedto the final after a win over Jarno Lahti. More details from the final matches, including comments from the winner, willbe added shortly. Almost 490 players from 22 countries took part in this year’s BrunswickBallmaster Open.

The Round Robin stage of the 2026 Brunswick Ballmaster Open has been completedin Helsinki, with the field now narrowed down to the final four players whowill compete for the title.The Ballmaster Open trophy is guaranteed to stay in Finland this year, with all four finalists coming from the home nation. There is also a chance for a repeat winner, as defending champion Jarno Lahti reached the TV finals following a solid match play round. Group A After two seven-game round-robin groups, Rami Mukkula finished on top of GroupA and secured the highest overall position heading into the finals. Mukkula posted a combined total of 3,841 pins, including 1,973 scratch fromFinal Step 2 and 1,688 pins during the Round Robin matches. His consistentscoring across all matches kept him ahead of the field throughout the groupstage. Defending champion Jarno Lahti finished second with a total of 3,746. TomasKäyhkö placed third with 3,702, followed by Carsten Hansen in fourth at 3,668.Victor Gundersen took the fifth position in Group A with 3,654. Group B Group B produced a tight race for the top positions as well. Santtu Tahvanainen led the group with a total score of 3,734, while LinusBoström followed closely behind at 3,657. Arttu Järvinen finished third with 3,643, and Ülari Lees took fourth place at3,607. Jesper Svensson ended the round robin in fifth position with 3,570. With the round robin phase complete, the top two players from each group willnow advance to the televised finals. From Group A, Rami Mukkula and JarnoLahti move on, while Santtu Tahvanainen and Linus Boström qualify from GroupB. The four remaining players will now battle for the title later today.Inthe first televised semifinal, Santtu Tahvanainen will stand against the 2025champion Jarno Lahti. After that, Rami Mukkula will face LinusBoström. Both semifinals and finals will feature a one gamematch. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife , the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms . Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

Final Step 2 of the Brunswick Ballmaster Open was completed on Saturday, as 32players returned to the lanes for an eight-game round starting from scratch.With everything on the line, the session played a decisive role inshaping the path toward the televised finals later today. Finland’s Rami Mukkula delivered the strongest performance of the round. Hetopped the standings with a total of 1,973 pins over eight games, highlightedby a high-scoring and consistent block that secured him the top seed headinginto Final Step 3. Estonia’s Ülari Lees followed closely in second place with 1,936. SanttuTahvanainen finished third at 1,934, while Denmark’s Carsten Hansen placedfourth with 1,932. Norway’s Victor Gundersen completed the top five on 1,928. Linus Boström took sixth place with a total of 1,924, just ahead of MarkusJansson, who finished seventh at 1,901.Defending champion Jarno Lahtiadvanced in eighth place with 1,889. Tomas Käyhkö secured ninth with 1,882,and Karo Hilokoski rounded out the top ten at 1,860. Defending champion Jarno Lahti The final six qualifying positions for Final Step 3 were secured by ArttuJärvinen in 11th place with 1,822, followed by Emanuel Jonsson at 1,809. BenRobinson, who also rolled a perfect game during the Final Step 2, advancedwith a total of 1,805, while Jesper Svensson finished close behind on 1,800.Carl Eklund posted 1,782 to take 15th place, and William Berggren claimed thefinal qualifying spot with 1,779, completing the group of 16 players movingon. 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) With Final Step 2 complete, the remaining 16 athletes now advance to FinalStep 3. The field is split into two groups of eight, with pinfall from Step 2carried forward. Each group will compete in a seven-game round-robin format, with bonus 30points awarded for each win and 15 points for a tie. After all seven matchesare completed, the top two players from each group will qualify for thetelevised finals later today. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife , the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms . Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

Essi Pakarinen has been named Player of the Year 2025, following a season thatincluded major international success. Pakarinen’s 2025 season was highlighted by her performance at the World Championships in Hong Kong, where she won four gold medals with the nationalteam. her performance at the World Championships in Hong Kong She claimed titles in singles, doubles, trios, and all-event, becoming thefirst Finnish bowler to achieve four gold medals at a single WorldChampionships. The award was presented during theBrunswick Ballmaster Openat Tali Bowling Hall in Helsinki, where Jesper Svensson and Emanuel Jonsson are in the lead after qualification. Brunswick Ballmaster Open Jesper Svensson and Emanuel Jonsson are in the lead after qualification

The qualification stage at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open is officiallycomplete after Squad 18 and one-game Desperado wrapped it up on Saturday atTali Bowling Hall. Squad 18 delivered another strong scoring block to close qualification, led bySweden’s William Berggren, who topped the squad with a 1439 total over sixgames. Norway’s Magnus Haram Mittet stayed close behind with 1433, while EmilSvensson followed with 1398. Juho Rissanen finished fourth with 1392. With qualification squads complete, the Top 16 players in the overallstandings were settled. These bowlers earn an automatic bye and move straightinto Final Step 2, scheduled for tomorrow. At the top of the standings, Sweden’s Emanuel Jonsson and Jesper Svenssonfinish qualification tied on 1495, sharing the lead after 18 squads. They arefollowed by William Svensson in third and Finland’s Niko Oksanen in fourth,with Estonia's Ülari Lees rounding out the top five. The rest of the Top 16 includes Mathias Ankerdal, Rami Mukkula, MikkelSørensen, Tomas Käyhkö, William Berggren, Magnus Haram Mittet, JoonasJehkinen, Emil Svensson, Mika Koivuniemi, Elliot Moulin, and Jonas Dons. In total, 48 players advance to the final stages of the Brunswick BallmasterOpen. The remaining 32 qualifiers, coming from overall standings, early bird spots,and desperado, will return to the lanes later today for Final Step 1. Thatsix-game block is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM local time. Fullresults can be foundhere. here Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife , the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms . Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

The qualification stage at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open is nearing itsconclusion, as Squad 17 was completed on Saturday at Tali Bowling Hall. Withonly one squad left to play, the fight for final positions remains wide openheading into the last qualifying block. Squad 17 delivered another round of high-level scoring, led by Sweden’sElliot Moulin, who topped the squad with a strong 1414 total over six games.He was followed closely by Denmark's Jonas Dons on 1413, while Parker Bohn III finished third with a 1403 series. Finland’s Karo Hilokoski stayed rightin the mix as well, finishing fourth on 1401. Just behind the 1400 mark, Carsten Hansen posted 1394, with Robin Ilhammarnext on 1367. Markus Heinonen, Onni Riikonen, and Bjørn Saksager Jensen allstayed close, while Emma Halttunen rounded out thetop ten. After seventeen squads, Sweden’s Jesper Svensson and Emanuel Jonsson remainsat the top of the overall standings with a 1495 total. Top 16 after 17 of 18 Squads Emanuel Jonsson – 1495Jesper Svensson – 1495William Svensson – 1473Niko Oksanen – 1468Ülari Lees – 1466Mathias Ankerdal – 1464Rami Mukkula – 1463Mikkel Sørensen – 1452Tomas Käyhkö – 1440Joonas Jehkinen – 1424Emil Svensson – 1415Mika Koivuniemi – 1415Elliot Moulin – 1414Magnus Haram Mitter – 1414Jonas Dons – 1413Elissa Mehmet – 1408 Emanuel Jonsson – 1495 Jesper Svensson – 1495 William Svensson – 1473 Niko Oksanen – 1468 Ülari Lees – 1466 Mathias Ankerdal – 1464 Rami Mukkula – 1463 Mikkel Sørensen – 1452 Tomas Käyhkö – 1440 Joonas Jehkinen – 1424 Emil Svensson – 1415 Mika Koivuniemi – 1415 Elliot Moulin – 1414 Magnus Haram Mitter – 1414 Jonas Dons – 1413 Elissa Mehmet – 1408 In total, 48 players will advance to the final stages of thetournament. Current results can be found here. here. The current top 16 players in the standings would get an automatic bye intoFinal Step 2, which is scheduled for tomorrow. The remaining 32 advancing spots (early bird, desperado, and overallstandings) will get back on the lanes for the Final Step 1. Six games arescheduled to begin at 7:30 PM local time later today. At themoment, the cut line sits at 1389, shared by Sweden’s Pontus Andersson andFinland’s Santtu Tahvanainen. Players who fail to advance through overall standings and early bird, willstill have one last opportunity to move on, as the top three finishers in theone-game desperado, also scheduled for later today, will earn a place in thenext stage of competition. The qualification stage now continues with Squad 18. With margins still tightacross the field, every pin in the final squad is will matter. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife , the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms . Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

Squad 16 wrapped up the day at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open qualifiers,delivering a wave of high scores and multiple perfect games at Tali BowlingHall. After days of steady scoring, the tournament suddenly exploded on Fridayevening. Pyry Puharinen had been the only player to roll a perfect gameearlier in the event, but Squad 16 alone added four more 300 games for the 300eXtra competition on Sunday. England’s Charlie Biss started the streak by rolling his very first perfectgame, striking all twelve shots in game two to record the second 300 of thetournament. View this post on InstagramA 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 one game later, history was made again as Finland’s Eliisa Hiltunenrolled a perfect game in game three. If records do not fail, she became thefirst woman in Brunswick Ballmaster Open 300 Extra Game history to achieve thefeat. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) The perfect games kept coming in game four, when Latvia’s Pēteris Cimdiņšadded another 300, making it the fourth perfect game of the event. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) The run was completed when defending champion Jarno Lahti delivered his ownperfect game later in the squad, marking the fourth 300 of the session and thefifth overall at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2026. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) Beyond the perfect games, Squad 16 also reshaped the top of the standings. Sweden’s Jesper Svensson delivered the highest total of the squad, finishingfirst with 1495 over six games and an average just under 250. He tied withfellow Swede Emauel Jonsson at the top of overall standings.Elissa Mehmet followed in second place with 1408, while MarkusJansson secured third with 1404. Teodor Samuelsson finished fourthon 1401, and Jarno Lahti rounded out the top five at exactly 1400.Eskil Lind and Dominic Barrett tied just behind them on 1395,keeping the margins tight throughout the top ten. Arnar Jonsson, AnnaAndersson, and Wilmer Kvarnström completed the top ten. With Squad 16 now complete, the qualification stage heads into its final day. Two final squads are scheduled to take place tomorrow starting at 10AM localtime, followed by the Desperado round at 5:30PM. Final Step 1 is set to beginat 7:30PM. After the qualification rounds, 48 bowlers will advance to the finals. The top38 players in the overall standings will qualify directly, while the remaining10 places will be decided through additional qualification paths - early birdand desperado. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife , the tournament's official media partner, across their websiteand social media platforms . Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

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

The Women’s Singles qualifying round is complete at the IBF WorldChampionships 2025 in Hong Kong, with Denmark’s Karen Kærgaard Nielsenfinishing first after a steady and consistent six-game block, scoring 279 202 244 211 278 223 for a 1437 total (239,5 avg.). 132 athletes from 22 nations bowled at the 40-lane Top Bowl at Kai Tak SportsPark for 32 available spots in the next phase of the Singles eventqualification. Karen Kærgaard Nielsen was followed closely by Sweden’s Nora Johansson with1432, who finished second. Korea’s Kim Bo Ah secured third place with 1392,while the United States’ Shannon Pluhowsky finished fourth with 1340.Singapore’s New Hui Fen completed the top five with 1330. Fen also delivered one of the key moments of the day, rolling a perfect 300game during Squad 2. This marks the second perfect game of the tournament sofar, following Abdulrahman Al Doseri’s 300 for Qatar in the Men’s Singles qualifying on Tuesday. Men’s Singles qualifying View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bowling News • Reviews • Tips (@bowlinglife.eu) Sweden’s Victoria Johansson posted 1329, Mexico’s Iliana Lomelí Lemus recorded1318, Sweden’s Anna Andersson followed with 1311, Malaysia’s Siti Safiyah and Malaysia’s Natasha Roslan tied on 1300 to round out the top ten. Sweden’s women's team delivered a strong start to the championship, giving team coachRobert Andersson a wonderful birthday present as four Swedish athletesadvanced to the Round of 32. Sweden stands alongside Korea and Singapore asthe nations with the highest number of qualifiers in the next stage of thewomen's competition (4). The 32 qualifiers will now move into four round-robin groups for Thursday’ssecond stage. Each group will bowl seven matches, earning three points for a win and onepoint for a tie. The bowler with the highest point total in each group willmove on to the semifinals later on Thursday. In theory, all of Sweden’s or Singapore’s athletes could advance to the semifinals if they finish first in their respective groups. 32 Players Split Into Four Groups Group A (Places 1, 8, 9, 16, 17, 24, 25, 32) Karen Kærgaard Nielsen (DEN)Anna Andersson (SWE)Siti Safiyah (MAS)Shin Hye Bin (KOR)Peppi Konsteri (FIN)Jung Da Wun (KOR)Song Si Ra (KOR)Shayna Ng (SGP) Karen Kærgaard Nielsen (DEN) Anna Andersson (SWE) Siti Safiyah (MAS) Shin Hye Bin (KOR) Peppi Konsteri (FIN) Jung Da Wun (KOR) Song Si Ra (KOR) Shayna Ng (SGP) Group B (Places 2, 7, 10, 15, 18, 23, 26, 31) Nora Johansson (SWE)Iliana Lomelí Lemus (MEX)Natasha Roslan (MAS)Daphne Tan (SGP)Bryanna Coté (USA)Essi Pakarinen (FIN)Pan Yu Fen (TWN)Teng Jo Yu (TWN) Nora Johansson (SWE) Iliana Lomelí Lemus (MEX) Natasha Roslan (MAS) Daphne Tan (SGP) Bryanna Coté (USA) Essi Pakarinen (FIN) Pan Yu Fen (TWN) Teng Jo Yu (TWN) Group C (Places 3, 6, 11, 14, 19, 22, 27, 30) Kim Bo Ah (KOR)Victoria Johansson (SWE)Bec Whiting (AUS)Adelia Nur (MAS)Christina Mas (ESP)Megan Gales Dicay (DEN)Mirai Ishimoto (JPN)Tay Ning (SGP) Kim Bo Ah (KOR) Victoria Johansson (SWE) Bec Whiting (AUS) Adelia Nur (MAS) Christina Mas (ESP) Megan Gales Dicay (DEN) Mirai Ishimoto (JPN) Tay Ning (SGP) Group D (Places 4, 5, 12, 13, 20, 21, 28, 29) Shannon Pluhowsky (USA)New Hui Fen (SGP)Breanna Clemmer (USA)Hanna Engberg (SWE)Wang Ya Ting (TWN)Mika Guldbaek (DEN)Marian Lara Posadas (PHI)Felicia Wong (CAN) Shannon Pluhowsky (USA) New Hui Fen (SGP) Breanna Clemmer (USA) Hanna Engberg (SWE) Wang Ya Ting (TWN) Mika Guldbaek (DEN) Marian Lara Posadas (PHI) Felicia Wong (CAN) Schedule Ahead Women’s Singles Round 2, semifinals, and finals will take place on Thursday,November 27. The Women’s Doubles event begins on November 28, followed byMen’s Doubles on November 29. Medal rounds for both Doubles divisions will becontested on November 30. Trios and Team of Five events will follow in early December, with the finalstages held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai. A full schedule and all results from the IBF World Championships 2025 areavailable at tournaments.bowlinglife.eu. tournaments.bowlinglife.eu 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

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”.

The Sarawak International Open 2025 concluded on Saturday at Megalanes Sarawakin Kuching, Malaysia, with Muhammad Aqil Bin Faizal of MMBC, Penang taking theOpen Masters title. The 18-year-old secured victory in the LastMan Standing stepladder shootout, defeating 10-time PBA Tour title winner and2022 Sarawak champion Dominic Barrett in the final, 253–248. In the championship match, both bowlers opened with five consecutive strikes.Barrett left a single pin in the sixth frame, while Aqil struck again in thesixth and seventh to build a 19-pin lead. Both players spared the eighth andninth frames, before Barrett finished strong with three strikes in the tenthfor 248. Aqil needed a spare in his final frame and, after leaving asix-count, he converted and followed with a strike in the bonus frame to sealthe win with 253. The path to the final began with the first stepladder match, where Ahmad MuazBin Fisol of Malaysia, seeded fourth, was eliminated after posting 177.Barrett advanced with 267, joined by Ryo Fukumitsu of Japan with 249, whileAqil stayed close with 247. In the next match, Fukumitsu fell short on 213against Barrett’s 225 and Aqil’s 245, setting up the decisive title matchbetween the Brit and the Malaysian. Aqil collected the top prize of RM20,000 (approx. 4,000 Euros). Barrett earnedRM10,000 (approx. 2,000 Euros) as runner-up, while Fukumitsu and Ahmad Muaztook home RM5,000 (approx. 1,000 Euros) and RM2,500 (approx. 500 Euros)respectively. This year’s Sarawak International Open attracted 145 contestants in the OpenDivision, continuing its role as one of Malaysia’s major international bowlingevents.

On Monday, the European Bowling Federation (EBF) confirmedit will drop the 78D hardness rule for the European Bowling Tour (EBT). The change starts with the 2026 EBT season and the 2025–26 EBTYouth season. All IBF/USBC-approved balls, including high performance urethaneand urethane-like bowling balls, will be allowed at every EBT stop.Meanwhile, PBA-sanctioned events on European soil will continue tofollow PBA rules. it will drop the 78D hardness rule for the European Bowling Tour (EBT) On EBT, the optional 78D rule lastedonly one season. Allowing each event to adopt the 78D rule did not deliver the expectedresult. The EBT calendar shrank by more than half, and organizers blamed therule for fewer entries. only one season In an interview with Erikas Jansonas ofBowlingLife, EBF President Valgeir Guðbjartsson said the optional rule had astronger negative effect than expected. “When we made the 78D rule optional for organizers last year, we hoped itwould not negatively affect EBT. Unfortunately, the number of tournamentsdropped significantly — from 14 in 2024 to just 6 in 2025. In several cases,organizers cited the optional nature of the rule as a reason for notparticipating. Additionally, we faced criticism for deviating from IBF'sstandard rules regarding bowling balls.” Asked what outcome the EBF expects now from removing the 78D rule, he pointedto rebuilding the calendar and stability.“EBF does hope thattournaments will be return to EBT and it can continue to grow.” After EBF's decision, any ball on theUSBC Approved Ball Listwill be eligible for use, including urethanes softer than 78D. USBC Approved Ball List Meanwhile, in the United States, discussions about urethane governance havebeen in the headlines over the past month.On July 23,USBC released an official statementexpressing increasing concerns about the ongoing use of urethane bowling ballsin certified competition.USBC then surveyed bowlersabout potential changes and now and majority wants change. Eventhough USBC will probably take totally different path on urethanes, EBFPresident said the systems remain aligned as long as ball approvals areunchanged. “USBC, as part of IBF, has not taken a differentdirection. They continue to manage the approved ball lists and checks. As longas this remains unchanged, IBF — and therefore EBF — will follow USBC's leadon this matter.” USBC released an official statement USBC then surveyed bowlers USBC’s Equipment Specifications Committee plans to meet in late August orearly September 2025 to provide a structured solution. Until then, it’sunclear whether ball changes will affect the Approved Ball List or only thenational tournament rulebook.When asked why the EBF did not waitfor the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee decision, Guðbjartsson citedEBT scheduling needs. “We could not wait longer, as we have toprepare the EBT for next year.”