The 2026 PBA Tour season started with Ben Robinson leading the PBA PlayersChampionship PTQ after seven games in Arlington, Texas. The PBA Players Championship marks the first tournament and first major of the2026 PBA Tour season. The event opened with the Pre-Tournament Qualifier, where 73 players competedfor 14 spots in the main field. After seven games on the Aulby 39-foot oil pattern, Ben Robinson of the UKsecured the top position with a total of 1,664 pins. He averaged 237 for theround and finished 264 pins above par. Robinson built his lead with consistent striking and clean spare shooting. Hestruck on 64 percent of his shots, well above the 54 percent field average.Just as important, he did not miss a single spare during the seven-game block. Brian Robinson finished second with 1,614 pins. Nate Garcia followed in thirdplace with 1,608. Tyrell Ingalls placed fourth with 1,606, while Ryota Iguchirounded out the top five with 1,597. Brad Miller advanced in sixth position with 1,586. Carlos Granados finishedseventh with 1,570. Johnathan Norman secured eighth place with 1,566, justahead of Trey Brand, who had 1,565. Riley Patton claimed the tenth spot with 1,559. David Simard followed ineleventh with 1,557. Kyle Michalosky took twelfth place with 1,554. MasonEdmondson finished thirteenth with 1,553. Nathan Ruest-Lajoie secured thefinal advancing position in fourteenth with 1,549. The top 14 players moved on to the main field and will join 82 othercompetitors in the main event. The PBA Players Championship now continues with a practice session. Officialqualifying rounds are scheduled to begin Tuesday at 11 a.m. CST on the Viper37-foot oil pattern. Viper is one of two patterns used for the major event, along with the Badger50-foot pattern. The official start of qualifying at the PBA Players Championship will alsomark the deadline for team submissions in the BowlingLife Fantasy League, somake sure to submit your team. All information about the BowlingLife Fantasy League can be foundhere. make sure to submit your team here 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)

EJ Tackett added another win to his rivalry with Jason Belmonte by taking thevictory in the PBA USA vs. The World Captains Match on Sunday. Both captainsalso picked two teammates for the PBA USA vs. The World televised finals onApril 4. PBA USA vs. The World Captains Match Representing Team USA, Tackett defeated Belmonte with a score of 266–227.Tackett struck on 11 of his 12 shots. His only open frame came in the eighth,when he left a 7-10 split. The match was held inside the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Aunique setup included two real wood lanes installed inside the museum, withoutany lane markings or arrows. The victory gives Tackett and Team USA an advantage heading into the PBA USAvs. The World televised finals on April 4. Tackett secured lane choice and thefirst selection in setting the lineup order for the upcoming team event. The finals will feature four singles matches between Team USA and Team World.Each singles match will count for one point. Two additional points will beawarded to the team with the higher total pinfall. If the teams are tied, aone-ball roll-off will decide the outcome. Following the Captains Match, both players selected two teammates for theApril event. Tackett chose Andrew Anderson and Ethan Fiore to join Team USA. Meanwhile,Belmonte selected Jesper Svensson of Sweden and Dom Barrett of the UK torepresent Team World. The fourth and final player on each team will be determined based on 2026competition points after the PBA Indiana Classic in March.

Kyle Sherman will be the new lead color analyst for Professional BowlersAssociation (PBA) broadcasts on CW Network, starting with the 2026 PBA Tour season. The first public signs of this possible move appeared on February 1, when reports stated that The CW Network was targeting Kyle Sherman as a candidate for the color analyst position on PBA Tour telecasts. appeared on February 1 Sherman will replace Randy Pedersen, who served in this role for more than twodecades. Pedersen began his broadcasting role for PBA in 2001 and became oneof the most recognizable voices in professional bowling televisioncoverage. In his new position, Kyle Sherman will work alongside Rick Allen, who's been announced CW's play-by-play commentator for PBA telecasts in December. Allenis best known for his work in NASCAR and other American sports broadcasts. who's been announced CW's play-by-play commentator for PBA telecasts in December Allan will handle the main commentary duties, while Sherman will provide moreanalysis and player insight. 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) The new role will require a suit and tie, but it will not keep Sherman out ofhis bowling jersey. The two-time PBA Tour title winner will continue tocompete full time on the PBA Tour during the 2026 season. The first broadcast featuring Kyle Sherman as lead color analyst is expectedto take place during the PBA Players Championship. The finals are scheduled toair live on Sunday, February 22, 2026, on The CW. Want to experience the full PBA Tour season in a new way? Join the BowlingLife Fantasy League. It is completely free and offers fans another way to followthe PBA Tour throughout the year. More information can be found on our fantasy page. Join the BowlingLife Fantasy League fantasy page

The 2026 PBA Tour season is about to get underway. PBA Players Championship, starting February 16 at Bowlero Euless and the ITRCin Arlington, Texas, will mark the beginning od the new season, where thefirst major title will be decided. Later in April, the PBA Tour heads to Columbus Square Bowling Palace in Ohiofor the return of the PBA USA vs. The World. The premier international teamcompetition will see two squads selected by captains EJ Tackett and JasonBelmonte. That event is scheduled to be televised on April 4 from Columbus,Ohio, airing on CBS and Paramount+ as part of the PBA schedule. But before that, both capitains will stand against each other in a one-gamematch that will determine lane choice and lineup selection order for theupcoming USA vs. The World event. The PBA USA vs. the World Captains Match will take place on Sunday, February15, at the International Bowling Museum. The special exhibition match will beheld on the museum’s vintage lanes and streamed on PBA YouTube channel. PBA YouTube channel According to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, all viewershipproceeds from the stream will directly support the museum. The funds will helpwith its ongoing mission to preserve and share the history of bowling. The PBA USA vs. the World returns after a two-year break. The last time it washeld was in 2023, when Team World swept Team USA over two days in Milwaukee.Team World also claimed victory in the 2019 edition of the competition.

The CW Network is reportedly targeting Kyle Sherman as a potential coloranalyst for upcoming PBA Tour broadcasts. According to a report by 11thFrame.com editor Jeff Richgels, the CW isactively looking at Sherman for the role ahead of its first season airing PBATour events. No deal has been announced yet. report by 11thFrame.com editor Jeff Richgels Sherman is a two-time PBA Tour champion from Missouri and has built a strongpresence both on and off the lanes. His PBA Tour titles include the 2019 StormPBA-PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, alongside AmandaGreene, and the 2022 PBA Cheetah Championship. He also owns five PBA RegionalTour titles and was a member of Team USA during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Beyond competition, Sherman is widely known for his media work in bowling.Along with Brad Miller, he co-runs the popular YouTube channel Brad and Kyle,which focuses on bowling tips, education, and lane play. The channel has grownto more than 219,000 subscribers, making Sherman one of the most visiblebowling personalities among younger fans, perfectly fitting the profile the CWNetwork is seeking. Brad and Kyle The CW has already announced Rick Allen as the new play-by-play voice for PBA Tour telecasts. Allen is best known for his work in NASCAR broadcasting. IfSherman joins the booth, he would serve as the color analyst alongside Allen. announced Rick Allen as the new play-by-play voice for PBA Tour telecasts At present, Randy Pedersen continues to fill the color analyst role for PBATour broadcasts. If the reported plans move forward, it would likely signal achange in that position as the CW begins a new chapter of coverage. This possible move follows another recent change in PBA broadcasting. Longtimelaneside reporter Kimberly Pressler confirmed on January 21 that her time with PBA Tour telecasts had come to an end, coinciding with the tour’s transitionaway from FOX and toward its new broadcast partnership with the CW Network. Kimberly Pressler confirmed on January 21 that her time with PBA Tour telecasts had come to an end

The Professional Bowlers Associationhas named Peter Murray as itsnew Chief Executive Officer, with Murray also taking on the role of Head ofMedia forLucky Strike Entertainment,the organization that owns the PBA. The Professional Bowlers Association Peter Murray Lucky Strike Entertainment The move places long-term strategy, media development, and audience growth atthe center of the PBA’s next phase. Rather than focusing only on competitionstructure, the appointment points toward a broader effort to modernize howprofessional bowling is presented, packaged, and consumed. Who is Peter Murray? Murray arrives from theProfessional Fighters League,where he served as founding CEO and helped turn a start-up MMA promotion into aninternationally distributed sports property. Under his leadership, the PFLsecured major broadcast partnerships, expanded globally, and built its brandaround storytelling, athlete visibility, and season-long narratives. Professional Fighters League Before that, Murray held senior roles across the sports and media landscape,including executive positions at the National Football League,William Morris Endeavor,Under Armour, and Insignia Sports. His career has consistently focused on theintersection of sport, media rights, branding, and fan engagement. That background matters, because it suggests the PBA’s priorities are shiftingbeyond the lanes. Importance for the PBA The PBA is already heading into a big transition. Starting in 2026, the tourmoves into a new TV era withcoverage on The CW Network.With Murray in charge, the focus clearly shifts toward how the sport ispackaged for viewers. coverage on The CW Network With a new CEO whose expertise lies in understanding how media, live experiences, and community intersect, fans can expect more behind-the-scenes access, a stronger focus on personalities, and more player-driven storytelling. The appointment suggests the PBA wants to feel more modern, more visible, and easier to follow for fans who don’t already watch every week. Lucky Strike’s bigger picture Murray will also become the Head of Media for the Lucky Strike Entertainment. The idea is to connect pro bowling more closely with everydaybowling. Watching shows, following players, and engaging with the tour couldbecome part of the in-center experience, not just something you see on TV. If it works, it could help close the gap between casual bowlers and theprofessional game. A cautious but interesting step Lucky Strike and the PBA are betting that the next phase of growth comes frombetter stories, better exposure, and stronger connections with fans. Now the real question is simple: can they deliver on it?

The PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands is officially set for the 2026 season, and with rosters now confirmed, the focus shifts from theory to execution. After completing its first full season last year, the Elite League enters year two with a clearer identity. The format is familiar, the expectations are established, and every brand now knows what a full season of results actually requires. first full season last year Six manufacturer-backed teams will compete throughout the PBA Tour season, with points earned in singles events counting toward the Manufacturer’s Cup. What Year Two Represents The debut season answered the most important question: does a season-long, brand-based competition belong on the PBA Tour calendar? The answer was yes. Over the course of the season, teams that produced steady results separated themselves from those relying on isolated strong finishes. By the time the finals arrived, the standings reflected months of performance rather than short-term form, with Storm carrying its season-long lead all the way to the Manufacturer’s Cup. That context matters heading into 2026. This is no longer a learning season. It’s a continuation. The 2026 Teams and Rosters Storm Dom BarrettJason BelmontePatrick DombrowskiFrançois LavoieBrad MillerKyle ShermanJesper SvenssonDarren TangKyle TroupChris Via Storm once again fields one of the deepest lineups in the league. One notable change is the addition of Dom Barrett, who transfers from Brunswick to Storm ahead of the 2026 season. Dom Barrett Brunswick Motiv Sam CooleyEthan FioreAJ JohnsonSean Lavery-SpahrBailey MavrickNick PateMatt RussoTom SmallwoodSanttu TahvanainenEJ Tackett Motiv fields a well-rounded lineup built around EJ Tackett, last season’s PBA Tour Player of the Year. The roster blends proven experience with younger talent, including Ethan Fiore, who showed last season that he belongs at this level. Brunswick Graham FachTim Foy Jr.Packy HanrahanTommy JonesMatt OgleJake PetersMatt SandersJason SternerNate StublerKeven Williams Brunswick continues with a balanced mix of veteran presence and proven tour regulars. 900 Global Andrew AndersonChris BarnesRyan BarnesBrandon BontaMitch HupéThomas LarsenChase NadeauBrian RobinsonChris SloanTimmy Tan 900 Global’s lineup features a combination of established names and players with strong recent form. Roto Grip Justin KnowlesWes MalottKevin McCuneBJ MooreKris PratherAnthony SimonsenFrank SnodgrassBen SobelStu Williams Roto Grip enters 2026 with a roster that blends power, versatility, and experience across different lane environments. Hammer Jakob ButturffCam CroweTom DaughertyTomas KäyhköMarshall KentAlec KeplingerBoog KrolShawn MaldonadoBill O’NeillZach Wilkins Hammer brings a roster with a wide range of styles and experience, giving the team flexibility across different lane conditions and formats throughout the season. How the Competition Unfolds As in previous seasons, team standings are determined by points earned during PBA Tour singles events. Before each tournament, managers select five players whose results will count toward the team total. Not all events are weighted equally, meaning majors and longer formats can significantly influence the standings. During the regular season, players may use any product-registered equipment available within their brand families. Once the finals arrive, competition switches to baker format, equipment is restricted to each team’s specific brand, and urethane is not permitted except for limited spare use. Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season With rosters now confirmed, the Elite League moves fully into its competitive phase. There are no unknowns about the format anymore - only decisions, execution, and results over time. The 2026 season will show which brands can sustain performance across an entire year and which ones struggle to keep pace once the standings begin to take shape. Full coverage of the PBA Elite League, including roster updates, schedule news, and all major developments throughout the season, will be available on bowlinglife.eu. bowlinglife.eu

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

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

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

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

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