The 122nd edition of the USBC Open Championships officially began Saturday atthe National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. More than 11,000 teams will compete during this year’s USBC OpenChampionships. Competition will run for 128 consecutive days and conclude onJuly 19. The USBC Open Championships traditionally begin with a ceremonial first ball,a custom that dates back to 1951 under the title “Joe Bowler.” Last year, the event introduced the “Josephine Bowler” distinction, continuingthe long-standing tradition with a new name. This year, Vicki Larsen of Caldwell, Idaho, was selected as the 2026“Josephine Bowler” and delivered the ceremonial first shot to officially openthe tournament. Larsen rolled a nine count, leaving only the 10 pin standingto start the 122nd edition of the USBC Open Championships. Saturday also featured the traditional Mass Ball Shot, where one member fromeach team rolls a ball at the same time to officially mark the start ofcompetition. USBC Open Format Bowlers at the USBC Open Championships will compete in team, doubles andsingles events. Each participant bowls three games in each discipline, for atotal of nine games. Competition is divided into Regular, Standard andClassified divisions based on average. Titles will also be awarded in all-events, which combines the nine-gametotals. Early Leaders After the first day of competition, Storm Bowling of Fort Worth, Texas, leadsthe Regular Team division with 2,857. The team rolled games of 934, 932 and991. In the Standard Team division, Maple Family Centers 1 of Rockville Centre, NewYork, and Plaza Lanes of St. Charles, Missouri, are tied at 2,640. Hoosier Connection #2 of Brownsburg, Indiana, leads the Classified Teamdivision with 2,352. The first doubles and singles squad of the 2026 USBC Open Championships willbegin Sunday at 7 a.m. Pacific Time.

The finalists have been determined for the 2026 Intercollegiate SinglesChampionships following four sectional qualifying events held across the U.S. The national Intercollegiate event will feature 24 women and 24 men competingfor individual titles from April 13-18 at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley inGreen Bay, Wisconsin. Sectional qualifying took place Friday in Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania andTennessee. Each competitor bowled six games. The top four women and top four men at eachlocation earned automatic spots, with additional qualifiers determined byfield size. In the men’s division in Illinois, Leland Jones led with 1,476. Tyler Closefollowed with 1,362, Nate Trentler had 1,350, and Andrew Allen posted 1,314.Connor Rogus finished with 1,312, Ryan Wenman had 1,310, while Jacob Holsteand Camryn Stefanini tied with 1,301. In Texas, Daryus Alo led with 1,393. Dmitri Richardson recorded 1,375. KaedenWhite and Bobby Habetler tied at 1,371. Brandon Handog had 1,351, and BrandonCaruso finished with 1,346. In Pennsylvania, Malakai Pettrie led with 1,317. Severo Gordon posted 1,284.Brody Wildenmann and Hayden Tarris tied at 1,272. David Schaberg also advancedwith 1,271. In Tennessee, Brady Lauber led with 1,413. Landin Jordan followed with 1,401.Joe Woods-Weisman had 1,354, Camden Malott posted 1,343, and Evan Flathrecorded 1,341. On the women’s side in Illinois, Brianna Rogers led with 1,321. Hope Bunkfinished with 1,320, Emily Newbauer had 1,274, and Katarina Hagler posted1,237. Savannah Swiatocha and Karleigh Lemond tied at 1,223. Haylee Batesfinished with 1,222, and Dannielle Henderson had 1,207. In Texas, Sara Duque led with 1,354. Ashtyn Woods recorded 1,310, DeniseBlankenzee had 1,304, Payton Hartgrove posted 1,300, and Kaylin Wahlmeierfinished with 1,291. In Pennsylvania, Kenzi Nieman led with 1,271. Sara Ritchie followed with1,269. Leah Brazier posted 1,254, Elizabeth Springsteen of Muskingum had1,227, Addysen Case of McKendree recorded 1,221, and Amelia Adams finishedwith 1,208. In Tennessee, Kaitlyn Stull led the field with 1,419. Emma Yoder posted 1,359,Gianna Brandolino had 1,355, Bricey Caudill recorded 1,340, and SaphyreNofuente finished with 1,339. After the Singles event is complete, the Team sectional competition willfollow, with total pinfall from 64 Baker games determining which programsadvance to the Intercollegiate Team Championships. The team finals will also be held in Green Bay from April 15-18. Visitbowl.comfor more information. bowl.com

CBS Sports Network will broadcast major women’s, collegiate and youth bowlingevents in 2026 as part of a 10-event television schedule. The broadcast calendar includes collegiate national championships, two livePWBA majors and four Junior Gold Championship finals. The USBC Intercollegiate Championships, taped April 18 in Green Bay,Wisconsin, will air as follows: Tuesday, April 21 – 7 p.m. ET – Intercollegiate Singles Championships(Women)Tuesday, April 28 – 9:30 p.m. ET – Intercollegiate Singles Championships(Men)Tuesday, May 5 – 7 p.m. ET – Intercollegiate Team Championships (Women)Wednesday, May 13 – 7 p.m. ET – Intercollegiate Team Championships (Men) Two PWBA majors will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network: Tuesday, May 19 – 6 p.m. ET – USBC Queens, Las VegasTuesday, June 16 – 7 p.m. ET – U.S. Women’s Open, Indianapolis The season will conclude with coverage of the USBC Junior Gold Championshipsfrom Minneapolis, taped July 18. The finals will air on consecutiveTuesdays:Tuesday, July 21 – 7 p.m. ET – Junior Gold Championships(U12)Tuesday, July 28 – 7 p.m. ET – Junior Gold Championships (U14)Tuesday,August 4 – 7 p.m. ET – Junior Gold Championships (U16)Tuesday, August 11– 7 p.m. ET – Junior Gold Championships (U18)In December, CBS and PBA announced, taht the PBA World Series of Bowling XVII will also be broadcasted on CBS and CBS Sports. In addition, all four championship rounds of PBA50 WSOB title events will air live on CBS Sports. In December, CBS and PBA announced, taht the PBA World Series of Bowling XVII will also be broadcasted on CBS and CBS Sports. all four championship rounds of PBA50 WSOB title events will air live on CBS Sports

The Philippine Bowling Federation has announced the selective adoption of the78D minimum hardness requirement for urethane bowling balls. The decision was released through an official technical bulletin. The federation stated that the measure is part of international alignment andpreparation for high performance competition. At the same time, it confirmedthat the application of the urethane standard will be limited to specificelite divisions. The 78D urethane requirement will apply to the Philippine International Open,the Philippine Open, and PBF Circuit Stops. Within these events, the rulecovers Class O and Mixed Open Masters divisions. The new rules of urethane use will also apply to selected youth elitedivisions. These include the Collegiate Division and the Majors Division whenconducted under Youth Quarterly Tournaments, Youth Annual Tournaments, and theNational Youth Championships. All other divisions are excluded from this regulation at this time. Under the equipment standard, only urethane bowling balls manufactured with aminimum hardness of 78D will be permitted in the covered divisions. Thefederation referenced the current USBC National Tournament Ineligible BallList for technical guidance. However, the official hardness measurement takenduring event inspection will determine compliance. Random hardness checks may be conducted at the discretion of the TournamentDirector or Technical Delegate. Any ball measuring below 72D during inspectionwill be declared non compliant and removed from competition. The policy will take effect beginning with the next PBF Circuit Stop qualifiedtournament following the GMTBC Open. All covered events conducted after thatdate must comply with the new urethane requirement.

Bowling lanes may soon be painted purple again. In response to the latesturethane equipment rule changes, Hammer Bowling is releasing an updatedversion of one of the most successful bowling balls ever made. The Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane 78D is set to launch on March 19, 2026,marking a new - harder - chapter for the famous Purple Hammer line. The newversion is designed to comply with current equipment rules. The ball also keeps Hammer’s thick-shell urethane construction, which has beenpart of the brand’s urethane designs for years. The original Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane became one of the most influentialbowling balls of the last decade. Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Earlier versions of the ball changed when - and more importantly how much -urethane was used in modern bowling. Its continuous motion, strong response tosurface changes, and exceptional pin carry allowed players to score well on awide range of patterns, from very short to very long ones. In manyinternational tournaments, the game became closely associated with one ball -the Purple Hammer. 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) Largely because of this ball, organizations such as the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), International Bowling Federation (IBF), European Bowling Federation (EBF), and even the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)introduced new or updated bowling ball hardness regulations. United States Bowling Congress (USBC) International Bowling Federation (IBF) European Bowling Federation (EBF) Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) The new Purple Hammer 78D will officially release on March 19, 2026, and itwill certainly attract attention. The only question now is whether it can comeeven close to matching the success of its predecessor.

One of bowling’s most recognizable equipment brands is coming to an end. Astatement published by the Columbia 300 confirmed that the brand will beretired. The move ends a line that has been part of bowling for more than six decades. A Long History in Bowling Columbia 300 was founded in 1960 and quickly became one of the major names inbowling equipment. Over the years, the company released many popular bowlingballs and helped shape modern bowling technology. For many bowlers, Columbia300 became known for reliable equipment used in leagues, tournaments, and proshops around the world. In the statement published on the brand’s website, the company thanked thebowlers and partners who supported the brand throughout its history. “Columbia 300 holds a special place in the history of the bowling industry andin the hearts of countless bowlers around the world,” the statement said. Several Ownership Changes Like many bowling companies, Columbia 300 went through several ownershipchanges over the years.In the early 2000s, Columbia Industries expanded its lineup by purchasingthe Track and Dyno-Thane brands.In 2007, Columbia Industries and its brands were acquired by EboniteInternational. From that point, Columbia 300 products were produced underEbonite in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.Another major change came in 2019 when Brunswick Bowling Productspurchased Ebonite International and all of its brands. Since then,Columbia 300 bowling balls have been manufactured in Brunswick-ownedfacilities. Like many bowling companies, Columbia 300 went through several ownershipchanges over the years. In the early 2000s, Columbia Industries expanded its lineup by purchasingthe Track and Dyno-Thane brands. In 2007, Columbia Industries and its brands were acquired by EboniteInternational. From that point, Columbia 300 products were produced underEbonite in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Another major change came in 2019 when Brunswick Bowling Productspurchased Ebonite International and all of its brands. Since then,Columbia 300 bowling balls have been manufactured in Brunswick-ownedfacilities. No New Columbia 300 Releases According to the statement, Columbia 300 will no longer appear in futureproduct catalogs starting with the 2026–2027 season. The brand will also nolonger appear at trade shows or industry events. Existing Columbia 300 bowling balls will remain available while supplies last. The Columbia 300 White Dot line has already been discontinued, although somepro shops and retailers may still have remaining inventory. Warranty and Support Will Continue Bowlers who already own Columbia 300 equipment will still receive fullsupport. Existing product warranties will continue to be honored. If a directreplacement is no longer available, a similar product from another brand inthe same company family will be offered. Technical support will also remain available for Columbia 300 products,including help with ball reaction, layouts, and general product questions.

Tenpin Bowling New Zealand, the governing body of New Zealand bowling, hasconfirmed changes to its equipment rules following therecent update from the International Bowling Federation. recent update from the International Bowling Federation New Zealand will adopt the 78D urethane hardness standard for all TBNZSanctioned Events. The rule will take effect from March 23, 2026, after theTBNZ National Team Championships, leaving some time for athletes to adjusttheir equipment. From that date, urethane bowling balls used in New Zealand sanctioned eventsmust be manufactured with a minimum hardness of 78D and must comply with theupdated IBF guidelines. Balls that appear on thelist of non-eligible equipmentwill not be permitted in ranked events. list of non-eligible equipment In line with IBF policy, random hardness checks may be conducted during competition. If a ballmeasures below 72D during inspection, it will be considered non-compliant andremoved from play. BF policy The regulation will apply to all future TBNZ Sanctioned Events after theeffective date. However, the new directive does not apply to league bowling.League competitions will continue to operate under existing USBC conditions,where equipment must be listed on the currentUSBC Approved Ball list. USBC Approved Ball list

The Czech Bowling Association has announced new rules for the use of urethanebowling balls. The decision follows recent equipment changes approved by theInternational Bowling Federationand theEuropean Bowling Federation. International Bowling Federation European Bowling Federation Under the new rule, only urethane balls with a minimum manufacturing hardnessof 78D will be permitted in domestic competitions. This applies to all eventsorganized by the Czech Bowling Association and tournaments included in theofficial sports rankings. The decision takes effect on April 1, 2026. A list of balls that do not meet the required specification is availablehere. here In theofficial announcement, released on March 3, the association stated that the change is intended toprepare Czech players for international competition, as the upcoming eventssuch as the European Championship of Champions, the European Women’sChampionship, and the IBF Youth World Championships will apply the sameurethane regulations under EBF and IBF rules. official announcement "<...> in the interests of fair play and with regard to the nationalteam, we decided not to delay. The goal is for Czech players to train andcompete under the same conditions that await them at the autumn EuropeanChampionship of Champions (ECC) or other international events such as thisyear's European Women's Championship or the U21 World Championship. The newban will already apply at all of these events. Any postponement would only bea waste of time from a preparation perspective," association officialssaid. During all events organized by the Czech Bowling Association, hardness checksmay be conducted. While manufacturing hardness must meet the 78D requirement,the measurement limit used during competition will be 72D, in line with IBFstandards. If a ball measures below 72D during inspection, it will beconsidered non compliant and play with that ball will be voided. The Sportsand Technical Commission will carry out random inspections, with detailedchecks planned for the Czech Individual Championships. On February 27, the International Bowling Federation announced new regulationsfor the use of urethane bowling balls in its events. Soon after, the EuropeanBowling Federation confirmed that it would apply the same rules in itscompetitions.

After leading for most of the week, Anthony Simonsen eventually secured the No. 1 seed for Sunday’s stepladderfinals after winning his Round of 8 match at the 2026 PBA Illinois Classic inDecatur, Illinois. After leading for most of the week Simonsen defeated Bill O’Neill 4-1 to earn the top position for the televisedshow. Again. 29-year-old built an early advantage in the match and maintained controlthroughout, closing it in five games. The win gives Simonsen anotheropportunity to compete for his 17th career tour title just one week afterearning a top seed and thenfinishing runner-up at the U.S. Open. finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open The most dramatic match of the round came between two Finnish bowlers - SanttuTahvanainen and Tomas Käyhkö - who pushed their best-of-seven contest to adeciding seventh game. Santtu trailed 1-3 before firing a 300 to turn the match around. He then won the next two games to advance to the show with a 4-3 win. With the victory, thedefending championsecured the No. 2 seed and is only two wins away from his second PBA Tourtitle. defending champion After missing the last two televised finals, EJ Tackett returned to thestepladder after a 4-1 victory over Boog Krol. Tackett controlled the pace ofthe match and advanced in five games.The three-time reigning PBA Player of the Yearcontinues his strong season and will now wait for Sunday’s broadcast as a No.3 seed. The three-time reigning PBA Player of the Year Shawn Maldonado highlighted the Round of 8 matchplay with a comeback victoryover Matt Ogle. Maldonado trailed 3-1 in the match and faced elimination, butresponded by winning the final three games in a row to secure the 4-3 victory.The win earned him the No. 4 seed for Sunday’s stepladder finals. Despite the loss, Ogle moved on as the highest-seeded loser in the Round of 8and will get another shot at Maldonado when the two meet again in the openingstepladder match. The stepladder finals of the PBA Illinois Classic will air live Sunday, March15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on The CW.

The Round of 16 is complete at the 2026 Groupon PBA Illinois Classic, and onlyeight players remain in the hunt for the fourth title of the season. You know how history loves to repeat itself. The same man who led the field to Round of 8 at the U.S. Open, now leads the field at the PBA Illinois Classic. Anthony Simonsen delivered the most dominant performance of the round, sweeping Brandon Runk 4-0, highlighted by almost two perfect games (299 and 300)to secure his place in the final eight. With his win against Runk, Simonsen also secured a place in the stepladder finals. In theRound of 8, he will face Bill O'Neill, was just as efficient, shutting outZach Wilkins 4-0 to move on. Even if Simonsen loses, he will advance to thestepladder finals as the highest-seeded eliminated qualifier. Meanwhile, Matt Ogle advanced with a 4-2 victory over Kevin McCune, whileShawn Maldonado eliminated Ethan Fiore 4-1. Defending champion Santtu Tahvanainenkept his title defense on track with a convincing 4-0 win over Deo Benard, notallowing his opponent much room to build momentum. Defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen In the Round of 8, Tahvanainen will face Tomas Kayhkö in all Finnish duel,after Kayhkö survived a tight battle against AJ Chapman, winning 4-3. EJ Tackett controlled his match against Ryan Barnes, taking a 4-1 victory, andBoog Krol overwhelmed Alec Keplinger 4-0 to close out the round. The remaining eight players will return to the lanes for the final round ofmatch play at 6 p.m. CST. The winners of each bracket, along with the highest-seeded loser in the Roundof 8, will advance to the stepladder finals. Round of 8 Matchups Anthony Simonsen vs. Bill O’NeillBoog Krol vs. EJ TackettSanttu Tahvanainen vs. Tomas KayhköShawn Maldonado vs. Matt OgleThe stepladder finals will air liveSunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on The CW. Anthony Simonsen vs. Bill O’Neill Boog Krol vs. EJ Tackett Santtu Tahvanainen vs. Tomas Kayhkö Shawn Maldonado vs. Matt OgleThe stepladder finals will air liveSunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on The CW.

The Round of 24 wrapped up Thursday night at the 2026 PBA Illinois Classic,with eight best-of-seven matches deciding who would move on to face the topeight seeds in the Round of 16. Finland's Tomas Käyhkö delivered one of the strongest performances of theround, sweeping Darren Tang 4-0. The Finnish two-hander took control earlyright from the beginning and never allowed the match to slip away, advancingcomfortably into the Round 16, where he will meet AJ Chapman. Meanwhile, Deo Benard survived a full seven-game battle against Matt Russo,winning 4-3. The tightly contested matchup went back and forth before Benardsecured the deciding game to advance. Brandon Runk also needed all seven games to eliminate Kyle Troup, closing outa 4-3 victory to earn a meeting with top seed Anthony Simonsen in the nextround. Canada's Zach Wilkins handled Julian Salinas in six games, winning 4-2 to moveon, Shawn Maldonado edged2026 U.S. Open champion Patrick Dombrowskiin another seven-game thriller, while Ryan Barnes defeated Michael Davidson4-2 to secure the spot in the Round of 16. 2026 U.S. Open champion Patrick Dombrowski Kevin McCune advanced with a strong 4-1 win over Jake Peters, while AlecKeplinger a bit surprisingly knocked out Jason Belmonte in seven games. Round of 16 Matchups Anthony Simonsen vs. Brandon RunkBill O’Neill vs. Zach WilkinsMatt Ogle vs. Kevin McCuneEthan Fiorevs. Shawn MaldonadoSanttu Tahvanainen vs. Deo BenardAJ Chapman vs.Tomas KäyhköEJ Tackett vs. Ryan BarnesBoog Krol vs. Alec Keplinger Anthony Simonsen vs. Brandon Runk Bill O’Neill vs. Zach Wilkins Matt Ogle vs. Kevin McCune Ethan Fiorevs. Shawn Maldonado Santtu Tahvanainen vs. Deo Benard AJ Chapman vs.Tomas Käyhkö EJ Tackett vs. Ryan Barnes Boog Krol vs. Alec Keplinger Round of 16 action begins Friday at 12 p.m. ET. The winners will move on tothe evening Round of 8. The winners of each bracket, along with thehighest-seeded loser in the Round of 8, will advance to Sunday’s stepladderfinals. The stepladder finals will air live Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT)on The CW.

The six-game Advancers Round is complete at the 2026 Groupon PBA IllinoisClassic, and the field has now been reduced to 24 players who will compete inelimination match play. The top eight players after 22 total games earned first-round byes. Anthony Simonsen leads the field with 5,284 total pins. Matt Ogle sits secondwith 5,245, followed by defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen in third with5,237. EJ Tackett holds fourth at 5,156, while Boog Krol advances in fifthwith 5,114. defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen AJ Chapman secured sixth with 5,095, Ethan Fiore claimed seventh with 5,091,and Bill O’Neill locked up the eighth and final bye position with 5,089. View this post on Instagram A post shared by PBA TOUR (@pbatour) View this post on Instagram A post shared by PBA TOUR (@pbatour) Advancing alongside them are Zach Wilkins, Shawn Maldonado, Tomas Kayhko, AlecKeplinger, Michael Davidson, Deo Benard, Kevin McCune, Kyle Troup, BrandonRunk, Jake Peters, Matt Russo, Ryan Barnes, Jason Belmonte, Darren Tang,Patrick Dombrowski, and Julian Salinas. Salinas captured the final advancing position with 4,880 total pins. Brad Miller finished just outside the cut line in 25th place with 4,877,missing advancement by only three pins. Elimination match play begins Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT), witheach match contested in a best-of-seven format. The winners of each bracket, along with the highest-seeded loser in the Roundof 8, will advance to the stepladder finals. The stepladder finals will air live Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT)on The CW.

Qualifying is officially complete at the 2026 Groupon PBA Illinois Classic,and the 96-player field has now been cut to the top 32 players advancing atDavid Small’s Victory Lanes in Decatur, Illinois. After evening's A squad, the defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen took thelead in Round 2. defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen After sitting second overall following the first eight games, the Brunswick Ballmaster Open champion increased his scoring in the second block even moreand finished with 3,882 total pins to claim the top position heading intoThursday’s Advancers Round. Brunswick Ballmaster Open champion Anthony Simonsen, who also had an amazing run in Round 2, finished just five pins behind in second place with 3,877. Anthony Simonsen Boog Krol, the Round 1 leader, settled into third with 3,857. EJ Tackettsecured fourth with 3,791, followed by Matt Ogle in fifth at 3,770. Boog Krol, the Round 1 leader, AJ Chapman claimed sixth with 3,726, Michael Davidson took seventh with 3,721,Nate Purches finished eighth with 3,700, Deo Benard placed ninth with 3,698,and Jake Peters rounded out the top ten with 3,676. The top 32 players now move on to Thursday’s six-game Advancers Round at 12p.m. ET, which will determine the 24 players advancing to elimination matchplay. Elimination match play begins Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET, with each matchcontested in a best-of-seven format. The winners of each bracket, along with the highest-seeded loser in the Roundof 8, will advance to the stepladder finals. The stepladder finals will air live Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT)on The CW.

Squad B has completed its second eight-game block at the 2026 Groupon PBAIllinois Classic and now awaits the final results from Squad A, which beginsat 6 p.m. CST. Anthony Simonsen delivered outstanding performance and now leads thestandings. Simonsen caught fire in the middle of the block,stringing together 26 consecutive strikes across games three through six. He started the block with 208 game and then fired 279, 268, 300, and 279again. He finished the block with 1,972 pins, bringing his 16-game total to3,877 to take over the overall lead. EJ Tackett currently sits second with 3,791, followed by Matt Ogle in third at3,770. Nate Purches is fourth with 3,700, while Shawn Maldonado holds fifth at3,665. Matt Russo stands sixth with 3,638. Tomas Kayhkö is seventh at 3,622, KyleTroup is eighth with 3,596, Kevin McCune is ninth at 3,574, and Brad Millerrounds out the Squad B top ten with 3,551. A squad will soon start their eight remaining qualification games on the43-foot Carmen Salvino oil pattern. Once qualifying concludes, only 32 playerwill advance to Thursday morning’ssix-game Advancers Round. Those scores will determine the 24 players who moveon to elimination match play. Match play continues Friday with two rounds scheduled. The winners of eachbracket, along with the highest-seeded loser in the Round of 8, will earnspots in Sunday’s televised stepladder finals on The CW.

Qualifying Round 1 is complete at the 2026 Groupon PBA Illinois Classic afterboth squads finished their opening eight games at David Small’s Victory Lanesin Decatur, Illinois. Scoring pace in Squad B was slightly lower than in Squad A, which meansBoog Krol remains the overall leader after the first round. Boog Krol remains the overall leader after the first round Defending championSanttu Tahvanainenremains second overall with 1,940. Santtu Tahvanainen Shawn Maldonado was the top performer from Squad B and now sits third overallwith 1,918. 2026 U.S. Open runner-up Anthony Simonsen follows closely infourth with 1,905. Matt Russo holds sixth at 1,886, Matt Ogle is seventh with 1,881, and EJTackett is eighth with 1,875. Nate Purches is currently 13th with 1,852, KevinMcCune stands 18th with 1,817, Jason Belmonte is 22nd with 1,803, AlexanderHorton is 24th with 1,794, and Brad Miller rounds out the Squad B top ten at1,794. The overall top 10 after Round 1 Boog Krol – +408Santtu Tahvanainen – +340Shawn Maldonado – +318Anthony Simonsen – +305Michael Davidson – +300Matt Russo – +286Matt Ogle – +281EJ Tackett – +275Zach Wilkins – +273Deo Benard – +272 Boog Krol – +408 Santtu Tahvanainen – +340 Shawn Maldonado – +318 Anthony Simonsen – +305 Michael Davidson – +300 Matt Russo – +286 Matt Ogle – +281 EJ Tackett – +275 Zach Wilkins – +273 Deo Benard – +272 At the current cut line for the Advancers Round, Eric Wurmnest Jr. holds 32ndposition with 1,765 total pins. Qualifying continues Wednesday with Squad B returning for their secondeight-game block at 12 p.m. ET, followed by Squad A at 7 p.m. ET. Each player will complete 16 total qualifying games across Tuesday andWednesday on the 43-foot Carmen Salvino oil pattern. Once qualifying concludes, only 32 players will advance to Thursday morning’ssix-game Advancers Round. Those scores will determine the 24 players who moveon to elimination match play. Match play continues Friday with two rounds scheduled. The winners of eachbracket, along with the highest-seeded loser in the Round of 8, will earnspots in Sunday’s televised stepladder finals onThe CW. The CW.

The 2026 PBA Tour powered by Go Bowling rolls into Decatur, Illinois this weekfor the Groupon PBA Illinois Classic. The fourth title event of the season isunderway at David Small’s Victory Lanes, where Squad A has completed theopening eight-game qualifying round. David Krol leads the tournament after the first block with 2,008 over eightgames for a 251 average, including a perfect game. Defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen from Finland is currently in secondplace with 1,940. Michael Davidson holds third at 1,900, followed by ZachWilkins in fourth with 1,873. Deo Benard rounds out the top five at 1,872. Defending champion Santtu Tahvanainen Mitch Hupé and Alec Keplinger are tied for sixth at 1,858. Ryan Barnes standseighth with 1,841, while Bill O’Neill and Jake Peters share ninth place with1,831. Squad B will take the lanes at 6 p.m. CST to bowl their eight-game session andcomplete the first half of qualifying. Each player will compete in 16 total qualifying games across Tuesday andWednesday on the 43-foot Carmen Salvino pattern. Once qualifying concludes, only the top third of the field will move forwardto an additional six-game round on Thursday morning. Those scores willdetermine the 24 players who advance to elimination match play. Match play continues Friday with two sessions scheduled. From there, bracketwinners, along with one additional player based on seeding, will advance toSunday’s televised stepladder finals on The CW. The CW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Palermaa family celebrated a special moment as both Emma Palermaa and ToniPalermaa were recognized with awards from the Finnish Bowling Association. Emma Palermaa was named Youth Player of the Year 2025 by the association’syouth and education committee. The 15-year-old had a strong seasonthat included five medals at the European Youth Bowling Championships. InFinland, Emma claimed the women’s Finnish national championship title. She also won gold at the European Championship of Champions in Vienna. She also won gold at the European Championship of Champions in Vienna Earlier in the season, she secured the Finnish youth championship title ingirls' division. She also added a doubles gold medal. In the women’s national championships, Emma earned two bronze medals indoubles alongside and took team silver medal. Emma's father, Toni Palermaa, received the Coach of the Year 2025 award. Throughout the year, he worked closely with Emma. In addition to coaching hisdaughter, Toni contributed to the development of Finland’s youth nationalteam. He supported young players beyond official training camps and played arole in the ongoing progress of the national program. The honors were presented during the Finnish Championship League finals.

The future of European bowling is heading to Thillois this spring. On May 2 and May 3, 2026, the Bowling Plaza Reims Thillois will host the BowlingGP 4Teams Youth 2026. This team event has one of the most unique formats in Europe and promises two days of high-energy competition for players under the age of 25. Register Your Team! A Fair Fight for Every Athlete What makes BowlingGP 4Teams Youth event special is how it brings different ages together. The competition is designed for teams of 4 players, allowing for a mix of talents across the squad. The tournament is open to U14, U17, U21, and U25 categories. To make sure every team has a fair chance, the rules include specific handicaps: U14 players receive 45 bonus pins per game.U17 players receive 20 bonus pins per game.U21 players receive 10 bonus pins per game.Women receive a handicap of 8 pins per game. U14 players receive 45 bonus pins per game. U17 players receive 20 bonus pins per game. U21 players receive 10 bonus pins per game. Women receive a handicap of 8 pins per game. This system allows teams with different ages and genders to compete on the same level, meaning any team can win! Look Back at the 2025 Success Last year, the BowlingGP 4 Teams Youth brought together youth bowlers from across Europe. It was a weekend full of strikes, splits, pressure moments, and celebrations - a true showcase of Europe's next generation of bowling stars. Last year, the BowlingGP 4 Teams Youth brought together youth bowlers from across Europe Two Days of Non-Stop Action The weekend is packed with different formats to test every skill: Saturday: Teams start with the 4Teams qualification series followed by two rounds of Doubles competition.Sunday: The action continues with 4Teams qualifications.The Finals: The top four teams move into a Final4 to play Baker format to decide the winner. Saturday: Teams start with the 4Teams qualification series followed by two rounds of Doubles competition. Saturday: Sunday: The action continues with 4Teams qualifications. Sunday: The Finals: The top four teams move into a Final4 to play Baker format to decide the winner. The Finals: Compete for Big Rewards The stakes are high at this year's BowlingGP. The tournament offers a prize fund of 5,500 Euro in trophies and prizes. 1st Place: Trophy and prizes worth 1,000 Euro.2nd Place: Trophy and prizes worth 750 Euro.3rd and 4th Place: Trophy and prizes worth 500 Euro each.Perfect Game: A special 125 Euro prize is awarded for any 300 game bowled. 1st Place: Trophy and prizes worth 1,000 Euro. 1st Place: 2nd Place: Trophy and prizes worth 750 Euro. 2nd Place: 3rd and 4th Place: Trophy and prizes worth 500 Euro each. 3rd and 4th Place: Perfect Game: A special 125 Euro prize is awarded for any 300 game bowled. Perfect Game: Register Now to Secure Your Spot Space is very limited - only 22 teams can participate, and spots are filling fast! The registration fee is 360 Euro per team of four (90 Euro per player). If you want to experience the team spirit and professional atmosphere of the BowlingGP 4Teams Youth, gather your teammates and sign up today. Join the next generation of stars in France this May! Register to BowlingGP 4Teams Youth! Don't miss a single strike or update from the tour! Follow BowlingGP on social media to see live results, behind-the-scenes content, and photos from the event! BowlingGP Facebook BowlingGP Instagram Facebook Instagram

Following the recent decision by the International Bowling Federation (IBF)and the European Bowling Federation (EBF) regarding the hardness of urethanebowling balls, the Finnish Bowling Association has also taken the decision howthe new ruling should be implemented in national competition. The Board of Directors took the decision at its meeting on March 11 tointroduce the 78D urethane hardness rule in stages across its competitions. In Finland, the new urethane rule will take effect on July 1, 2026. From the 2026–2027 season, the regulation will apply to Finnish Championshipcompetitions at all levels, the Finnish Championship league for men and women,the Finnish Bowling Tour, and the Finnish Youth Ranking. In the following seasons, the Finnish Bowling Association plans to expand theurethane rule step by step to cover all competitions held in Finland. The Board has assigned the Competition and Series Committee to prepare moredetailed rules for the staged implementation and to define how compliance willbe monitored. In February 2026, the IBF confirmed that only urethane balls manufactured with a minimum hardness of 78D and approved by the USBC will be allowed in its major competitions. Days after, the EBF has also confirmed that the same urethane rule will apply to all EBF events starting April 6, after the 2026European Youth Bowling Championships. IBF confirmed that only urethane balls manufactured with a minimum hardness of 78D and approved by the USBC will be allowed in its major competitions EBF has also confirmed that the same urethane rule will apply to all EBF events However, there will be no changes to the ongoing 2026 European Bowling Tourseason, and current events will continue under existing regulations.

The Austrian Bowling Federation has informed its members about new urethaneequipment regulations. The Austrian Bowling Federation has decided to fully align with EBF and IBFdecision to permit only urethane bowling balls that are manufactured with aminimum hardness of 78D. Beginning April 6, 2026, the new urwthane ball use regulation will apply toAustrian national championships in the STM Trio and Team categories. The rule will not apply to Mixed Doubles, Mixed Trio, or youth competitions. Regional associations in Austria may suspend the regulation at state leveluntil August 31, 2026. However, from the 2026–27 season onward, the rule willapply across all national competitions organized by the Austrian federationand its regional bodies. The federation also confirmed that random hardness checks will be carried outduring championships starting with the 2026–27 season. Balls that do not meet the required standard will be declared non compliantand removed from competition. Any final game played with a non compliant ballmay be scored as zero.

Anna Andersson captured the title at the 2026 Merci Ladies Open in Sweden after closing out the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Finland’s Eliisa Hiltunen in the championship match. The opening game was decided by just two pins, 226–224. In the second game, Andersson took control and secured the win 248–203. Although she won both the qualification and the title, her road to the podium was not easy. Her first two attempts in qualifying were unsuccessful, but on her third attempt she found her rhythm and recorded 1455, the highest qualifying total among the 44 participants. "After watching one of my team mates bowl, I came up with a new game plan, that I didn’t have much faith in considering how bad the carry had been until this point, shot 1455 out of the blue and suddenly I was leading the tournament," Anna Andersson said after the win on her socials. socials From that point, everything was clicking into place. During Final Step 1, Andersson recorded a 300 game and finished second in the round to advance to match play. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Amanda Gadd 2-0. She then won her semifinal 2-1 against Ottilia Gunnarsson to reach the final and later secure the title.For her win, Anna Andersson received 12.000 SEK (approx. $1.300). In the third-place match, Ottilia Gunnarsson defeated Anneli Blomqvist, who finished fourth. The HCP division was won by Linda Johansson, who defeated Doris Lundsten 2-0 in the final. Johlina Winkler finished third and Madeleine Andersson placed fourth.

The British Tenpin Bowling Association has confirmed that it will not make anychanges to its current urethane equipment regulations. The BTBA Executive Council decided to keep its existing rules in place afterreviewing the recent equipment updates issued by the European BowlingFederation and the International Bowling Federation. International Bowling Federation In its announcement on March 6, the BTBA stated that all bowling balls listedon the United States Bowling Congress Approved Ball List remain legal for usein BTBA-sanctioned leagues and tournaments. The only exception would be if a tournament manager sets specific equipmentrules for their event. According to the BTBA, the recent urethane rule updates from the EBF and IBFapply only to official EBF championships and IBF events. These changes do notaffect domestic competition under its authority. recent urethane rule updates For athletes selected to represent England in international events, nationalteam coaches and staff will work directly with players to ensure they meet theequipment standards required for those championships. On February 27, the International Bowling Federation announced new regulationsfor the use of urethane bowling balls in its events. Soon after, the EuropeanBowling Federation confirmed that it would apply the same rules in itscompetitions.

August in Finland is a special time of year. The days are still warm, andpeople enjoy the last stretch of summer by the lakes or along the sandyseaside. For bowlers, though, there is another reason to look forward to it,as August is the month of the International Hammer Challenge. From August 14 to 23, 2026, the tournament will once again take over Tali Bowlin Helsinki. Registration for the Hammer Challenge 2026 opened on Friday, March 6, at 12:00and players are now able to secure their squads through theofficial entry system. official entry system The total prize fund for this year’s Hammer Challenge is €52,380, with €7,000awarded to the winner. Players who reach the B-final will receive a gift card to the 2027 BrunswickBallmaster Open. In 2025, International Hammer Challenge gathered 286 participants, making itone of the largest bowling tournaments in Finland. Last year,Petteri Salonen advanced to the main field from the seniors qualificationand continued through the final rounds to win the title. In the championship match, he defeated Alex Joki, who also began his runfrom the B-final. Petteri Salonen advanced to the main field from the seniors qualificationand continued through the final rounds to win the title In addition to the main competition, the event will feature the 300eXtra,250eXtra, and No250eXtra challenges. These side events provide extraopportunities to win prizes during the tournament week. More details about squads, formats, and tournament information can be foundhere. here

The European Bowling Federation has issued an official statement regarding therecent urethane bowling ball regulation announced by the International BowlingFederation. The statement also addresses how the decision will affect EBF competitions andclarifies the eligibility of russian and belarusian youth athletes in EBForganized tournaments. Regarding athlete eligibility, the EBF confirmed that it will follow therecommendations of the International Olympic Committee and the IBF concerningyouth athletes holding russian or belarusian passports. These athletes will be allowed to compete in EBF and IBF youth events,provided their national federation is in good standing and all standard IBFprotocols and regulations are followed. The decision not to allow any russian or belarusian athletes to participate inEBF events was made in 2022. The brutal war caused by russia has resulted insignificant loss of life. According to official data, more than 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have beenkilled on the battlefield. Other Ukrainian sources, cross-referenced by theBBC, suggest the number could be as high as 200,000. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports that15,168 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 41,534 wounded during fouryears of full-scale war, including 3,018 child casualties. The war is considered Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II. In 2022, Russian Bowling Federation president Sergey Lisitsyn took part in apro-war rally in Moscow on March 18, where he openly supported Putin and theso-called "special military operation" in Ukraine. During that rally, he madestatements justifying Russia’s actions and accusing the West of spreadingRussophobia. "We see that the special operation being carried out today on Ukrainian soilallows us to achieve our goals with minimal losses for our fraternalpeoples," Lisitsyn said, per Inside the Games "Given the unprecedented external pressure from the West, which for eightyears condoned the flourishing of Nazism in Ukraine, today we clearlyunderstand that the special operation was just an excuse to replicateRussophobic sentiments and escalate the situation around Russia and everythingRussian." Lisitsyn said, per Inside the Games Urethane Use The EBF has issued an official statement regarding the recent urethane bowlingball regulationannounced by the International Bowling Federation. The EBF has also confirmed that it will apply the same urethane bowlingball regulation announced by the International Bowling Federation. The newurethane ball hardness requirement will come into effect for EBF EuropeanChampionships starting from 6 April 2026, after the European YouthChampionships 2026 in Berlin, Germany. announced by the International Bowling Federation According to the EBF, it will also conduct random hardness checks during itsEuropean Championships. Any ball found below the permitted hardness level willbe declared non compliant and removed from competition.Theofficial USBC list of non eligible bowling balls is availablehere here No Change on EBT The EBF also clarified that no changes will apply to the ongoing EBT Tour for2026. All current events will continue under the existing equipment rules.Athletes competing in the 2026 tour do not need to make immediate changes totheir bowling balls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over the decades, the PBA Tour has seen many of the sport’s biggest names riseto the top. Some players captured the Player of the Year awardonce, while others returned year after year and built long runs of dominance.No matter how often they won it, every Player of the Year left a clear mark onbowling history. With a new PBA Tour season approaching, BowlingLife has put together acomplete list of every PBA Tour Player of the Year winner since the award wasofficially recognized in 1963. The list starts with BillyHardwick, the first honoree and still the youngest ever to win it at age of23, and runs through to EJ Tackett, who has claimed the award for threestraight seasons now. Below is the full list of PBA Tour Player of the Year winners, beginning withthe most recent and going back to the very start. PBA Tour Player of the Year Award Winners List 2025 – EJ Tackett2024 – EJ Tackett2023 – EJ Tackett2022 – Jason Belmonte2021 – Kyle Troup2020 – Jason Belmonte2019 – Jason Belmonte2018 – Andrew Anderson2017 – Jason Belmonte2016 – EJ Tackett2015 – Jason Belmonte2014 – Jason Belmonte2013 – Jason Belmonte2012 – Sean Rash2011 – Mika Koivuniemi2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.2009 – Wes Malott2008 – Chris Barnes2007 – Doug Kent2006 – Tommy Jones2005 – Patrick Allen2004 – Mika Koivuniemi2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.2002 – Parker Bohn III2001 – Norm Duke2000 – Norm Duke1999 – Parker Bohn III1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1997 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1996 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1995 – Mike Aulby1994 – Norm Duke1993 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1992 – David Ferraro1991 – David Ozio1990 – Amleto Monacelli1989 – Amleto Monacelli1988 – Brian Voss1987 – Marshall Holman1986 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.1985 – Mike Aulby1984 – Mark Roth1983 – Earl Anthony1982 – Earl Anthony1981 – Earl Anthony1980 – Wayne Webb1979 – Mark Roth1978 – Mark Roth1977 – Mark Roth1976 – Earl Anthony1975 – Earl Anthony1974 – Earl Anthony1973 – Don McCune1972 – Don Johnson1971 – Don Johnson1970 – Nelson Burton Jr.1969 – Billy Hardwick1968 – Billy Hardwick1967 – Jim Stefanich1966 – Dave Davis1965 – Wayne Zahn1964 – Dick Weber1963 – Billy Hardwick

Bowling has come a long way. From rolling stones thousands of years ago towooden balls and today’s high-tech gear with advanced cores and coverstocks,the game has constantly evolved. This time, we’re hopping in thetime machine to explore theHistory of bowling ballsand see how each era shaped the sport we know today. History of bowling balls Stone era: Ancient Egypt (~3200 BC) The earliest bowling balls were carved from stone in Ancient Egypt. Theseheavy spheres had no holes, no cores, or polish - just raw shape and weight. They were used in ritual games and early forms of pin play, proving that theidea of rolling a ball toward targets has been around for thousands of years. Wood era: Before the 1900s By the 1800s, balls were being made from lignum vitae, a dense tropical wood.Many were crafted in two halves, pegged together, and often cracked with use. While they lacked consistency, these wooden balls marked the beginning ofmodern equipment design and represented a huge step forward in the history ofbowling balls. Rubber era: 1905–1960s The introduction of rubber balls changed the sport forever. In 1905, the Evertrue became the first of its kind, followed in 1914 byBrunswick’s Mineralite, which used a secret rubber formula. Rubber balls weresmoother, more durable, and consistent compared to wood. For decades, rubber was the competitive standard, often built with cork cores. Polyester era: 1960s–1980s The 1960s broughtplastic (polyester) bowlingballs. Columbia’s Crown Jewel and other models became popular for their motionand durability. But pros soon complained about the lack of hook. Some bowlerstried chemical soaks to soften covers until safety rules banned such tries. plastic (polyester) Even though stronger hooking balls eventually took over, most bowlers stillkeep a plastic ball in their bag today. Urethane era: 1980s The early 1980s marked another leap forward with urethane. Models like the AMF Angle created more friction and stronger hook potential,especially on shorter or drier lane conditions. Urethane sparked a shift in ball performance expectations and still has aloyal following for its smooth, controllable motion. Reactive resin era: 1990s In the early 1990s, reactive resin covers took over. Balls like the Nu-LineX-Calibur introduced microscopic pores that absorbed oil, creating explosivebackend hook and higher pin carry. This innovation fueled a scoring boom and forever changed how bowlers attackedlane conditions. Reactive resin remains the dominant material in performancebowling today. Modern design: technology meets performance Today’s bowling balls combine engineered coverstocks and advanced cores.Manufacturers fine-tune specs like RG, differential, and surface finish togive bowlers specific options for heavy oil, medium conditions, or dry lanes.Most bowlers now carry 6–12 balls to tournaments, each with a specializedpurpose. Final thoughts From stone to wood, rubber to polyester, urethane to reactive resin, thehistory of bowling balls is the story of constant innovation. Every new material changed the way the game was played and opened newpossibilities for scoring and strategy. Understanding this history makes today’s equipment even more fascinating - andshows just how far the sport has come.

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

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

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