The Storm Lucky Larsen Masters announced its oil patternone day before qualifying begins at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters Tournament organizer Martin Larsen and Kegel’s Tom Hankey presented thecondition Thursday evening. The pattern measures 38 feet and uses 29.7 mL ofGlide conditioner, with a ratio of 2.17:1. The first qualifying squad will begin at 3 p.m. local time on Friday, August21. The tournament will continue through August 31, with six-game qualifyingsquads running until August 29 before the final steps begin on Sunday. The semifinals and title match will take place on Monday evening. The StormLucky Larsen Masters is the only international event on the 2026 PBA Tourschedule, and an eligible winner will receive a PBA National Tour title. Registration remains open while some squad spots are still available. Entries, squad listsand tournament information can be found on theofficial Storm Lucky Larsen Masters website. official Storm Lucky Larsen Masters website Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-lucky-larsen-masters-2026-oil-pattern/#article","headline": "Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 Oil Pattern Revealed","description": "The Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 oil pattern is 38 feet with 29.7 mL of oil and a 2.17:1 ratio after extensive testing by Kegel.","datePublished": "2026-08-20T21:04:40+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-20T21:04:40+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-lucky-larsen-masters-2026-oil-pattern"},"about": [{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-lucky-larsen-masters-2026-oil-pattern/#event"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Martin Larsen"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Kegel","url": "https://www.kegel.net"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/storm-lucky-larsen-masters-2026-oil-pattern/#event","name": "Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-21","endDate": "2026-08-31","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Olympia Bowling","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "Mellersta Stenbocksgatan 10","addressLocality": "Helsingborg","postalCode": "254 37","addressCountry": "SE"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Storm Lucky Larsen Masters","url": "https://www.luckylarsen.se"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "EJ Tackett"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Jesper Svensson"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Sean Rash"}],"description": "The Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 is an international PBA Tour event held at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden."}]}

Europe’s biggest bowling tournament begins Friday, August 21, when theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026opens at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2026 The tournament will run through August 31 and bring many of the world’s bestbowlers to Sweden for the only international PBA Tour event of the 2026season. A record prize fund of approximately $148,500 will be awarded, with about$20,150 reserved for the champion. Qualifying begins at 3 p.m. local time on Friday and continues throughSaturday, August 29. The final steps will reduce the field to four players onSunday before the semifinals and title match take place on Monday evening. Oil Pattern One of the final unanswered questions will be settled before the first ball isthrown. Organizers are scheduled to publish the complete oil pattern at 6 p.m.local time on Thursday, August 20. Organizers have already revealed that it will measure 38 feet, with a possibledifference of one foot in either direction. PBA’s Top Three Head to the Swedish Riviera The top three players in the current PBA Tour points standings will step onthe lanes at Olympia Bowling. EJ Tackett leads the tour with 32,335 points,followed by Zach Wilkins with 18,143 and Brandon Bonta with 18,023. The three-time defendingPBA Player of the Yearstrengthened his case for a fourth consecutive award by winning thePBA World Championshipin June, becoming the first bowler in PBA history to win this major four yearsin a row. PBA Player of the Year PBA World Championship Tackett is now the clear favorite for the award, but the race remains open,with several players having already won twice this season. Another victory inSweden would make his claim almost impossible to challenge. Wilkins is one of those players who has lifted a trophy twice this season. Hewon his first PBA Tour title afterwild roll-off drama at the PBA Scorpion Championship,and then partnered with AJ Chapman to win theRoth/Holman Doubles Championship. wild roll-off drama at the PBA Scorpion Championship Roth/Holman Doubles Championship The Canadian also came within one match of a major, finishing second toTackett at the PBA World Championship. Brandon Bonta also made his PBA Tour debut impossible to ignore. The rookiewon the season-opening PBA Players Championship by rolling 300in the title match, giving him a major title in his first event of the year.He remained very consistent throughout the season to put his name in the topthree of the points standings. won the season-opening PBA Players Championship by rolling 300 Young Guns Have Already Proven They Can Win While Bonta's rookie season was incredible, Alex Horton and Spencer Robargetook even bigger steps forward, with both winning twice on the PBA Tour in2026. Horton became the first rookie in PBA history to win two titles in one seasonafter capturing a major at thePBA Tournament of Championsand winning thePBA Shark Championship. PBA Tournament of Champions PBA Shark Championship Robarge, meanwhile, broke through at thePBA Ohio Classicbefore earning his second title alongside Annalise O’Bryant at theStorm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles. PBA Ohio Classic Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Do Not Underestimate Past Winners Sean Rash returns to defend thetitle he won last year,while Jesper Svensson will again be one of the biggest threats on home soil.The Swedish left-handerwon the tournament in 2024after finishing second in 2023. title he won last year won the tournament in 2024 Andrew Anderson has reached the semifinals in two of the past three editions,in 2023 and 2025. Former champions Kyle Troup andAJ Johnsonare also in the field, ready to try to win this event for the second time - afeat no one has achieved before - and prove that finishing outside the top 20in tour points this season was only a temporary setback. AJ Johnson It Is Still Not Too Late to Enter Although many of the most popular squads are full or have waiting lists, somespots remain available. It is a rare chance for any bowler to compete in the same tournament and onthe same lanes as the best players in the world, so do not miss it. Entriesare available on theofficial Storm Lucky Larsen Masters website. official Storm Lucky Larsen Masters website Team Tackett and Team Iceman Meet for Charity The main tournament will be joined by a special Swedish League-format charitymatch on Wednesday, August 26. Team Tackett and Team Iceman, led by JesperSvensson, will face each other at 7:30 p.m. at Olympia Bowling. Team Tackett will feature EJ Tackett, Brandon Bonta, Ryan Barnes, Eric Jones,Andrew Anderson, Kyle Troup, AJ Johnson and Sean Rash. Svensson’s team willinclude Zach Wilkins, Santtu Tahvanainen, Tomas Käyhkö, Thomas Larsen, NoraJohansson, François Lavoie and Richard Teece. The evening will raise money for the Swedish Childhood Diabetes Foundation tosupport the fight against childhood type 1 diabetes. The program will alsoinclude a charity auction of the players’ special match jerseys at 9:30 p.m. Tournament action and the charity match will be available on theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel Storm Lucky Larsen Masters Joins the Thunder Ranking The Storm Lucky Larsen Masters is also the second stop in the new 2026Thunder Ranking by Storm.The ranking connects theStorm 4th No Urethane Openin Finland, the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Sweden and theNorwegian Open by Storm. Thunder Ranking by Storm Storm 4th No Urethane Open Norwegian Open by Storm Players will earn points in Helsingborg toward €1,000, €750 and €500 bonusesfor the top three at the end of the season. Nine bowlers will also receive afree first squad in all three ranking events in 2027, adding another prize tochase during Europe’s biggest bowling week. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews - all wrapped up in a quick3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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AJ Johnson won the 2026 PBA Dave & Diane Kill Central Open on Thursday,defeating top seed Brett Lloyd 217-200 in the championship match at DelphosRecreation in Delphos, Ohio. 2023 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters winner finished seventh after Wednesday’s eight-game qualifying round. He thenmoved up to second place during Thursday’s Advancers Round to secure a spotin the stepladder. 2023 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters winner Lloyd advanced as the top seed, Isaiah Shannon earned the No. 3 seed andHayden Hale secured the No. 4 seed. Ethan Fiore missed the stepladder by one place, while EJ Tackett finished11th. Hayden Hale opened the stepladder with a 203-180 victory over Isaiah Shannon.Johnson then edged Hale 194-192 in the semifinal to advance to the titlematch against Lloyd. Johnson raised his score in the final and defeated Lloyd 217-200 to completehis run to the title. Lloyd earned $1,500 as the runner-up, Hale collected $1,300 for third placeand Shannon received $1,100 for fourth. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-johnson-wins-2026-pba-dave-diane-kill-central-open/#article","headline": "AJ Johnson Wins 2026 PBA Dave & Diane Kill Central Open","description": "AJ Johnson defeated Brett Lloyd 217-200 to win the 2026 PBA Dave & Diane Kill Central Open and the $2,700 top prize.","datePublished": "2026-08-14T10:03:13+03:00","dateModified": "2026-08-14T10:03:13+03:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-johnson-wins-2026-pba-dave-diane-kill-central-open"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "AJ Johnson","url": "https://www.pba.com/players/aj-johnson"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association","url": "https://www.pba.com"},{"@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-johnson-wins-2026-pba-dave-diane-kill-central-open/#event"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-johnson-wins-2026-pba-dave-diane-kill-central-open/#event","name": "2026 PBA Dave & Diane Kill Central Open","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-11","endDate": "2026-08-13","eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventCompleted","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Delphos Recreation","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress": "939 East 5th Street","addressLocality": "Delphos","addressRegion": "OH","postalCode": "45833","addressCountry": "US"}},"organizer": {"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association","url": "https://www.pba.com"},"competitor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "AJ Johnson"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Brett Lloyd"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Hayden Hale"},{"@type": "Person","name": "Isaiah Shannon"}],"description": "AJ Johnson defeated Brett Lloyd 217-200 in the championship match to win the 2026 PBA Dave & Diane Kill Central Open in Delphos, Ohio."}]}

A week after announcing a major restructure of its Regional Tour,the PBA has now revealed how the new PBA ELITE Regional Tour will actuallywork. A week after announcing a major restructure of its Regional Tour As we already knew, the new series will feature 21 ELITE events across sevenregions later this year, with three tournaments scheduled in each region. Butthe latest details announced by the PBA explain who can enter, how playerswill qualify for the RPI and, most importantly, how the system connects to the2027 PBA Tour. Key Details Any PBA member in good standing will be eligible to enter a PBA ELITE RegionalTour event. Collegiate bowlers will also be allowed to compete, although theywill not be eligible for the PBA Regional Players Invitational presented byUSBC. Each event will split its maximum field between two divisions. The Standarddivision will receive 75 percent of the available spots, while 25 percent willbe reserved for the Senior division. Players will not be limited to their home region, but local bowlers willreceive priority. If an event fills entirely with players from its home region, no outsideentries will be accepted. If spots remain 21 days before the tournament,players from other regions will then be allowed to enter. The Senior division will initially be reserved for senior players who alreadyown a PBA title. If those spots are not filled, entry will open to alleligible senior players 21 days before the event. The entry fee is set at $500. One Format Across the ELITE Tour The PBA has also established a standard competition format for the new events,meaning all ELITE Tour stops will follow the same format. Players will bowl seven qualifying games, after which the field will be cut tothe top third. Those advancing will then bowl four more games. After 11 total games, the topeight players in the Standard division and the top eight in the Seniordivision will advance to round-robin match play. Each group will then bowl eight match-play games, with winners determinedafter 19 total games. Unlike a traditional stepladder format, the tournament will therefore bedecided through accumulated performance across qualifying, the Advancers Roundand match play. ELITE Events Become the Main Road to the RPI The new structure also changes how players reach the PBA RPI. In the Standard division, the top five non-Priority Status finishers at eachof the 21 PBA ELITE Regional Tour events will earn automatic spots in the RPI. That will create 105 automatic qualifiers. Another 14 players, two from each region, will qualify through the existingregional RPI points lists covering Nov. 15, 2025 through Aug. 31, 2026. The full Standard RPI field will therefore consist of 119 players. A player can only earn one automatic spot. If someone who has alreadyqualified finishes inside the top five again at another ELITE event, theinvitation will move down to the next eligible player in that tournament. The Senior division will follow a similar system. The top two non-Priority finishers from each ELITE event will qualifyautomatically, creating 42 spots. Another seven will come from the previousSenior regional points lists, producing a 49-player Senior RPI field. Priority Status Will Shape the 2027 PBA Tour Perhaps the biggest detail in the new announcement goes beyond the RegionalTour itself. The PBA confirmed that the 2027 PBA Tour will be limited to players holdingPBA Tour Priority Status, with exceptions for the PBA World Series of Bowling,PBA Tournament of Champions and events operated by USBC. Priority Status for 2027 will include players who finished inside the top 75on the 2026 PBA points list, anyone who won a national PBA Tour title between2017 and 2026, and Performance Category members of the PBA Hall of Fame. The top three players from the Collegiate Bowling PBA Points List - BrandonBohn, Bryce Oliver and Carter Street - will also receive Priority Status,while Matt Taylor has been granted a medical exception. The final seven Priority Status spots will come through the new qualificationsystem: three players from the RPI and four from the first PBA Combine. Tour Players Can Compete, But Not Qualify Through the RPI Players who already hold 2027 PBA Tour Priority Status will still be allowedto compete in ELITE Regional events. However, they will be limited to three appearances - no more than two in theirhome region and one outside it. They can win the tournament, collect full prize money and take the title, butthey cannot earn RPI qualifying credit and cannot compete in the RPI. The same three-event limit will apply to players holding 2027 PBA Senior TourPriority Status. For the Senior Tour, Priority Status will include the top 10 players on the2026 PBA Senior Tour points list as well as eligible PBA Hall of Fame membersfrom the Senior and Performance categories. What About Regionals Outside the U.S.? For now, the PBA has mainly explained what the Regional Tour will look likeduring the new ELITE schedule this fall. What happens after those eventsconclude in November, and how the broader regional structure will operatemoving into 2027, remains much less clear. There is also another major part of the Regional Tour that has not yet beenaddressed. PBA Regional competition is not limited to the United States, with programsand events also operating in other parts of the world. So far, the PBA has notexplained whether those international regions will adopt the ELITE model,continue under their existing structure or follow a separate pathway. BowlingLife has contacted the PBA seeking clarification on the future of itsinternational regional programs and several other parts of the restructure,but has not yet received a response. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. 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Champions are determined by accumulated total pinfall and match play bonus points."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How do bowlers qualify for the PBA Regional Players Invitational (RPI)?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "In the Standard division, the top 5 non-Priority status finishers at each of the 21 ELITE events earn automatic spots (105 qualifiers), joining 14 players from regional points lists for a 119-player RPI field. In the Senior division, the top 2 non-Priority finishers per event (42 qualifiers) plus 7 points list qualifiers build a 49-player Senior RPI field."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How does the ELITE Regional Tour connect to 2027 PBA Tour Priority Status?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The 2027 PBA Tour will be restricted to Priority Status holders. Seven total Priority Status spots for 2027 will be earned through the new regional system: 3 spots awarded through the RPI and 4 spots awarded through the inaugural PBA Combine."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Can existing PBA National Tour players compete in ELITE Regional events?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Yes, players holding 2027 PBA Tour Priority Status can enter up to three ELITE Regional events (maximum two in their home region and one outside). While they can win titles and prize money, they cannot earn RPI qualifying spots or compete in the RPI."}}]}]}

Two days after celebrating his 34th birthday, EJ Tackett gave himself one morereason to celebrate. After defeating Ethan Fiore 227-195 in Sunday’s final,Tackett raised the 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic trophy at CommunityLanes in Minster, Ohio. The PBA Central Region event attracted a strong field that included severalfamiliar names from the PBA Tour, among them Graham Fach, Ryan Barnes, AlecKeplinger, Jason Sterner and Patrick Dombrowski. Tackett was already at the top of the standings after the opening eight gamesof qualifying. He dropped to third after the four-game Advancers Round, butmoved back into second through the Round of 16 and remained there after theRound of 8. Tackett entered the finals as the No. 2 seed and defeated Graham Fach with a244-217 win. Earlier in the stepladder final opener, Fach defeated Riley Speer248-232. Waiting at the top was Ethan Fiore, who had won the same tournament in 2025and was looking to defend his title. The final, however, belonged to Tackett. Fiore struggled to stay clean, leaving the 2-8-10 split in the first frame,while Tackett remained in control and put together five consecutive strikesduring the middle of the game. Tackett eventually closed out a 227-195victory. The win was also Tackett’s second at the Kremer Roofing Central Classic infour years. He previously won the event in 2023, when he defeated Zach Weidman236-226 in the title match. The title also came with a $4,000 first-place prize check. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-wins-2026-pba-kremer-roofing-central-classic/#article","headline": "EJ Tackett Defeats Ethan Fiore to Win 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic","description": "EJ Tackett celebrated his 34th birthday week by defeating defending champion Ethan Fiore 227-195 to capture the 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic title and $4,000 top prize in Minster, Ohio.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-10T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-10T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-wins-2026-pba-kremer-roofing-central-classic"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "EJ Tackett","jobTitle": "Professional Bowler"}]},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-wins-2026-pba-kremer-roofing-central-classic/#event","name": "2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic Finals","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-09","endDate": "2026-08-09","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Community Lanes","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Minster","addressRegion": "OH","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{ "@type": "Person", "name": "EJ Tackett" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethan Fiore" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Graham Fach" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Riley Speer" }],"description": "The stepladder finals of the PBA Central Region event in Minster, Ohio, where EJ Tackett defeated Ethan Fiore for the championship."},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/ej-tackett-wins-2026-pba-kremer-roofing-central-classic/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "Who won the 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "EJ Tackett won the 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic, defeating 2025 champion Ethan Fiore 227-195 in the title match to take home the $4,000 first-place prize."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Where was the 2026 PBA Kremer Roofing Central Classic held?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The PBA Central Region event took place at Community Lanes in Minster, Ohio."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What were the stepladder match scores at the event?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "In the opening match, Graham Fach defeated Riley Speer 248-232. In the semifinal match, No. 2 seed EJ Tackett defeated Graham Fach 244-217. In the title match, Tackett defeated top seed Ethan Fiore 227-195."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Has EJ Tackett won this tournament before?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Yes, this victory marks Tackett's second Kremer Roofing Central Classic title in four years, having previously won the event in 2023 when he defeated Zach Weidman."}}]}]}

Chris Barnes could hardly have asked for a better way to finish the 2026 PBA50Tour season. Barnes won the Johnny Petraglia BVL PBA50 Tournament of Champions on Saturdayin Morgantown, West Virginia. This victory also secured his first PBA50Player of the Year award. It was Barnes’ first Player of the Year honor in 18 years. He last earned the award in 2008 competing on the PBA Tour. PBA Tour The POY was still wide open entering the stepladder finals, as points leaderTom Hess, Mika Koivuniemi and Tom Daugherty all could have taken the award bywinning the Tournament of Champions after making the stepladder. Luckily for spectators, that put even more weight on every match of the finals. Barnes entered the stepladder finals as the No. 3 seed after dropping fromfirst place during the final position round of match play. He opened his run against Tom Daugherty. The match remained close through sevenframes before Barnes moved ahead late and won 217-208. In the semifinal, Barnes faced Finland's Mika Koivuniemi and took control witheight consecutive strikes on his way to a 269-236 victory. That set up the title match against top seed Troy Lint. The match began nearly perfectly for both bowlers, but it changed late whenLint's mistake in the 10th frame allowed Barnes to close out a 236-213 victoryand claim the title and $15,000. “Once Troy (Lint) bowled the tenth frame and I knew I had won Player of theYear, it hit all at once that it was probably more important to me than I hadwanted to believe. It has been a long time since I had been Player of the Yearon the kid’s tour,” Barnes said. “To end the season on a win, which I don’tthink I have ever done, and Player of the Year is about as good as it gets.” The win marked Barnes’ 10th career title on the PBA50 Tour, moving him into a tie with Amleto Monacelli. The PBA50 Tournament of Champions also brought the 2026 PBA50 Tour season to a close. On the PBA Tour side, only one event remains on the schedule - the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, which will take place in Sweden from August 21-31. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters Meanwhile, the PBA has already begun preparing for next season. Earlier this week, PBA CEO Peter Murray announced the new PBA ELITE Regional Tour as part of a major restructuring of the regional program. PBA ELITE Regional Tour Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now

Death sucks, but it is an unavoidable part of life. In a bowling community aslarge and as aging as ours, news about bowlers whose lives have sadly endedreaches us often. We say goodbye to former Hall of Famers, coaches and localbowlers who gave years of their lives to the sport. But not every message stops the entire bowling world in its tracks. The one that reached us last Friday did. Jakob Butturff died unexpectedly on July 31 at the age of just 32. Even a weeklater, those words still do not feel real, and are no easier to write. The shock comes not only from how hard it was to believe that he's gone, butfrom everything the bowling world has lost with him. Jakob was not simply a major champion or a future HOF'er. He, above all, wasan incredibly warm human being. Yes, his release did not look like something taken from a traditional coachingmanual. And let’s be honest: many people found his style strange because itlooked so different from what "conventional" bowling technique was supposed tobe. Even commentators during PBA Tour telecasts were always quickto point it out. But Jakob never needed to look conventional. He was simply a hell of a bowler. Over his career, Butters won eight PBA Tour titles, including a major at the2019 USBC Masters, and collected 27 PBA Regional Tour titles. He representedTeam USA seven times, won the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup and rolled a televised300 game in PBA history. A player with that much success could easily have become distant. Years on TV,major championships and a million dollars in earnings on Tour can sometimeschange how a person sees himself and the people around him. But anyone who knew Jakob, even a little, will tell you that he was theopposite. It was as if he carried a master key that could open the door to anyone’sheart. Butters found his way in through warmth, love and true care for the peoplewho surrounded him. That is why the messages shared after his passing were not about his trophies,which are now just gathering dust on a shelf, but about the lasting memorieshe created with everyone he met - memories that will live on in the hearts ofthose who remember him. Last Friday, Jason Belmonte probably wrote the best sentence to describeButturff's legacy better than any list of his achievements on the lanes evercould. “The PBA has lost one of its kindest.” Jakob was incredibly kind to others, even when he was going throughdifficult times of his own. Even while his mother was living with terminal lung cancer, Jakob not only dideverything in his power to help her, but also used part of his tournamentwinnings to support organizations helping people affected by cancer and rarediseases. He always wanted to help, but he did not make those actions the center of hispublic image. He simply helped because that was the kind of person he was. The PBA Tour has lost a major champion. Team USA has lost one of its own. Manypeople have lost a teammate and a friend, but all of us have lost someonewhose presence made this sport, with all its problems, feel a little warmer. Let’s always remember Jakob for what he gave to the sport and, mostimportantly, look after the people you love. Call them. Check on them. Tellthem what they mean to you, because you never know when it might be the lasttime.Jakob’s family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeralexpenses and his Celebration of Life. Any remaining funds will go toward ascholarship in his name, while Ripic’s Carousel Lanes also plans to hold anannual memorial scholarship tournament. Those wishing to support the familycan do sothrough the official GoFundMe campaign. through the official GoFundMe campaign Rest in peace, Jakob. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/remembering-jakob-butturff-legacy/#article","headline": "Remembering Jakob Butturff: PBA Major Champion and One of Bowling's Kindest Souls","description": "The bowling world mourns the sudden passing of 8-time PBA Tour champion and 2019 USBC Masters winner Jakob Butturff at the age of 32.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-07T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-07T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/remembering-jakob-butturff-legacy"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Jakob Butturff","jobTitle": "Professional Bowler","description": "8-time PBA Tour Champion, 2019 USBC Masters Major Champion, and 7-time Team USA member","deathDate": "2026-07-31"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/remembering-jakob-butturff-legacy/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "When did Jakob Butturff pass away?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Jakob Butturff passed away unexpectedly on July 31, 2026, at the age of 32."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What were Jakob Butturff's major career accomplishments?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Jakob Butturff won eight PBA Tour titles, including a major championship at the 2019 USBC Masters. He also earned 27 PBA Regional Tour titles, represented Team USA seven times, won the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup, and rolled a televised 300 game on the PBA Tour."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How can the bowling community support Jakob Butturff's family?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "His family launched an official GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and his Celebration of Life. Remaining funds will establish a scholarship in his name, alongside an annual memorial tournament planned by Ripic's Carousel Lanes."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What made Jakob Butturff's bowling style unique?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Jakob was famous for his highly unconventional and distinct double-jointed wrist release, which set him apart from traditional coaching techniques and made him one of the most recognizable stars on the PBA Tour."}}]}]}

Rumors and criticism surrounding the future of the PBA Regional Tour had beencirculating long before the PBA officially announced the new ELITE Regional Tour. PBA officially announced the new ELITE Regional Tour And even after the announcement, unanswered questions kept the discussionalive and continued to fuel debate across the bowling community. PBA Tour champion AJ Chapman, however, believes manypeople are judging the changes before the PBA has released the full details. “It’s been pretty frustrating reading all the negative comments about thePBA’s announcement today,” Chapman wrote yesterday on social media. “It’s soeasy for people to get on here and complain instead of actually digestingmaterial, especially when it’s not all even announced yet.” The PBA announced earlier this week that its Regional Tour will berestructured into the PBA ELITE Regional Tour beginning in September 2026. The first PBA ELITE schedule will include 21 invitational events across sevenregions, with three tournaments held in each. PBA CEO Peter Murray says theevents will feature larger prize funds, stronger media coverage and a moredirect route toward the National Tour. Chapman believes the new structure could bring the Regional Tour closer to itsmain purpose - identifying players capable of competing at the highestprofessional level. “With these changes, it seems like they’re building an actual pathway to thePBA Tour. Which is how it’s supposed to be,” Chapman wrote. “It’s not the responsibility of the PBA to give a platform for everyone tocompete. It’s their responsibility to give the Elite the chance to compete atthe highest level.” Chapman also argued that bowlers outside the ELITE structure will still haveother places to compete, including state tours, local tournament series,sweepers and handicap events. The 32-year-old knows what the path from regional bowling to the National Tourcan look like. Chapman owns four PBA Regional Tour titles and finally earned his firstPBA Tour title this season alongside Zach Wilkins at the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship. PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship “Bowling is not dying, it’s evolving,” Chapman wrote. “This is about theintegrity of the sport at every level. The picture gets much clearer when youlook at it as a whole.” {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-chapman-defends-pba-elite-regional-tour/#article","headline": "AJ Chapman Defends PBA Elite Regional Tour Restructure Against Community Criticism","description": "PBA Tour champion AJ Chapman addresses online criticism regarding the new PBA Elite Regional Tour, arguing that establishing a clear pathway to the PBA National Tour protects the integrity of professional bowling.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-06T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-06T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-chapman-defends-pba-elite-regional-tour"},"about": [{"@type": "Person","name": "AJ Chapman","jobTitle": "Professional Bowler","description": "PBA Tour Champion and 4-time PBA Regional Tour Title Winner"},{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association","url": "https://www.pba.com"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/aj-chapman-defends-pba-elite-regional-tour/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "What is AJ Chapman's perspective on the new PBA Elite Regional Tour?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "AJ Chapman urged bowlers to wait for full details before judging the changes, stating that the PBA's responsibility is to provide a platform for elite players to compete at the highest level and build a legitimate pathway to the PBA National Tour."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the new PBA Elite Regional Tour structure?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Launching in September 2026, the PBA Elite Regional Tour consists of 21 invitational events across seven regions (three per region), offering larger prize funds, increased media coverage, and a direct path to national PBA Tour competition."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Where can non-elite bowlers compete following these regional changes?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Chapman noted that bowlers outside the PBA Elite structure still have many competition venues available, including state tours, local tournament series, sweepers, and handicap events."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What titles has AJ Chapman won in his PBA career?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "AJ Chapman holds four PBA Regional Tour titles and won his first PBA National Tour title alongside Zach Wilkins at the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship."}}]}]}

After days of rumors surrounding the future of the PBA Regional Tour, theProfessional Bowlers Association has announced a major change to its regionalstructure. In an interview with BowlingLife in February, Murray revealed that the PBA was exploring new formats that could be introduced as early as 2027. Now, that vision is beginning to take shape. In an interview with BowlingLife in February, In an open letter to the bowling community on August 4, PBA CEO Peter Murrayconfirmed that the new PBA Elite Regional Tour will launch in September 2026.The invitational program is designed to create a clearer path from regionalcompetition to the PBA National Tour, with fewer but larger events. In an open letter to the bowling community on August 4 According to Murray, 21 tournaments across seven regions, with three events ineach, will offer larger prize funds than before, stronger competition and moremedia coverage. He also noted that event dates, host centers and further details will beannounced on August 10. As a result of this change, all previously scheduled PBA Regional Tour eventsafter August 31 will be canceled. That is why the PBA Regional schedule on thePBA website was adjusted, and the bowling community was quick to notice it. Players who have already entered those tournaments will receive full refundsfrom the PBA. They will also be given a chance to compete in the new PBA Eliteevents, although the exact entry and selection process has not yet beenannounced. The new Elite events will be connected to the annual Regional PlayersInvitational in December. At the same time, the PBA will hold its first PBACombine, where leading regional bowlers will be evaluated for possibleselection to the PBA National Tour. The PBA also confirmed that its Senior Tour and PBA Juniors program willreturn in 2027. Peter Murray's full lettercan be found on pba.com. can be found on pba.com {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/pba-announces-new-pba-elite-regional-tour/#article","headline": "PBA Announces Major Structural Shift with New PBA Elite Regional Tour Launching September 2026","description": "PBA CEO Peter Murray confirms the launch of the PBA Elite Regional Tour in September 2026, featuring 21 high-stakes invitational tournaments across seven regions and canceling existing regional events after August 31.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-04T12:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-08-04T12:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/pba-announces-new-pba-elite-regional-tour"},"about": [{"@type": "Organization","name": "Professional Bowlers Association","url": "https://www.pba.com"}]},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/pba-announces-new-pba-elite-regional-tour/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the new PBA Elite Regional Tour?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The PBA Elite Regional Tour is a revamped invitational program launching in September 2026. It features 21 tournaments across seven regions (three per region) designed to offer larger prize funds, stronger competition, and broader media coverage while creating a clearer path to the PBA National Tour."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What happens to PBA Regional Tour events scheduled after August 31?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "All previously scheduled PBA Regional Tour events after August 31 have been canceled. Players who registered for these events will receive full refunds and will have opportunities to compete in the new PBA Elite events."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "When will full dates and host centers for the Elite Regional Tour be announced?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Full details, including tournament dates, host centers, and specific selection criteria, will be officially announced by the PBA on August 10, 2026."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the PBA Combine?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Held alongside the Regional Players Invitational in December, the PBA Combine is a new event where top regional bowlers will be evaluated for potential selection to the PBA National Tour."}}]}]}

Spencer Robarge and Annalise OBryant won the 2026 Storm PBA/PWBA StrikingAgainst Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles after a close finish at Copperfield Bowlin Houston. The young pair entered Sunday’s 12-game round-robin match play with a 52-pinlead, but their position changed during the second half of match play. Graham Fach and Breanna Clemmer erased a 111-pin gap during the 10th game andmoved ahead of the leaders, together with Deo Benard and RocioRestrepo-Hostetler, who also passed Robarge and OBryant. Fach and Clemmer entered the position round in first place, but their lead didnot last. The Russos also had an opportunity to move into the top position,but an unfortunate break at the end shut down their hopes. That left the championship in the hands of Robarge and OBryant, along withBenard and Restrepo-Hostetler. OBryant doubled in the 10th frame before Robarge struck on his first shot.Benard then left the 2-4-7-8 and failed to convert the spare, giving Robargethe chance to close out the tournament. The 23-year-old rookie delivered the strike and secured the title for histeam. Robarge earned the second PBA Tour title of his rookie season afterwinning the PBA Ohio Classic,joining Alex Horton as the second rookie to win two PBA Tour titles duringthe 2026 season, while OBryant collected her first PWBA Tour title. winning the PBA Ohio Classic The SABC Mixed Doubles was the second-to-last title event of the 2026 PBA Tourseason. The final stop will be theStorm Lucky Larsen Masters,scheduled for August 21-31 at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden. Storm Lucky Larsen Masters {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-annalise-obryant-win-2026-sabc-mixed-doubles/#article","headline": "Spencer Robarge and Annalise OBryant Win 2026 SABC Mixed Doubles","description": "Spencer Robarge and Annalise OBryant captured the 2026 Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles title after a dramatic 10th-frame finish at Copperfield Bowl in Houston.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-08-03T10:00:00-05:00","dateModified": "2026-08-03T10:00:00-05:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-annalise-obryant-win-2026-sabc-mixed-doubles"}},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-annalise-obryant-win-2026-sabc-mixed-doubles/#event","name": "2026 Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Finals","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-08-02","endDate": "2026-08-02","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Copperfield Bowl","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Houston","addressRegion": "TX","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Spencer Robarge" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Annalise OBryant" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Deo Benard" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Rocio Restrepo-Hostetler" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Graham Fach" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Breanna Clemmer" }],"description": "The final 12-game match play round of the 2026 SABC Mixed Doubles tournament in Houston, Texas."},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/spencer-robarge-annalise-obryant-win-2026-sabc-mixed-doubles/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "Who won the 2026 Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Spencer Robarge and Annalise OBryant won the title after a clutch performance in the 10th frame of the position round at Copperfield Bowl in Houston."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What milestones did this win mark for Robarge and OBryant?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The victory earned 23-year-old rookie Spencer Robarge his second PBA Tour title of the 2026 season (joining Alex Horton as two-time rookie winners), while Annalise OBryant collected her first career PWBA Tour title."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the next event on the 2026 PBA Tour schedule?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The final title event of the 2026 PBA Tour season will be the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, taking place from August 21–31 at Olympia Bowling in Helsingborg, Sweden."}}]}]}

John Janawicz won the 2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic after climbing from the fifthseed and winning four consecutive matches in Thursday’s stepladder finals. The two-time reigning PBA50 Player of the Year defeated Mika Koivuniemi256-225 in the championship match to claim his 11th career PBA50 Tour titleand second victory of the season in five tournaments. A hand injury had kepthim away from competition after his win at the Ballard Championship. Janawicz had led the PBA50 Norfolk Classic through qualifying and theAdvancers Round, but a loss to Parker Bohn III during bracket match playdropped him to the fifth seed for the stepladder. That meant he needed to defeat every other finalist to win the title. Janawicz began the ladder with a 258-215 victory over Ricky Schissler. He thenrolled seven consecutive strikes to start his match against Tony Campagna Jr.and advanced with a 267-183 win. The semifinal brought a rematch with Bohn III, who had beaten Janawicz earlierin the day. Janawicz finished the match with seven straight strikes to advance246-214. In the final, No. 1 seed Mika Koivuniemi was looking for his second title ineight days after winning the Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship. He startedwith five strikes in his first six frames, but his run ended with a 7-10 splitin the seventh. Koivuniemi recovered to finish with 225, but Janawicz stayed patient andstruck on all three shots in the 10th frame to close out the match in hisfavor. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now For the win, Janawicz earned $7,500. The PBA50 Tour season will conclude with the PBA50 Tournament of Champions inMorgantown, West Virginia. Janawicz will enter the event as the defendingchampion. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/john-janawicz-wins-2026-pba50-norfolk-classic/#article","headline": "John Janawicz Climbs from No. 5 Seed to Win 2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic","description": "John Janawicz won four consecutive stepladder matches, defeating Mika Koivuniemi 256-225 in the championship match to capture his 11th career PBA50 Tour title at the 2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-07-31T10:00:00-04:00","dateModified": "2026-07-31T10:00:00-04:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/john-janawicz-wins-2026-pba50-norfolk-classic"}},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/john-janawicz-wins-2026-pba50-norfolk-classic/#event","name": "2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic Stepladder Finals","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-07-30","endDate": "2026-07-30","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Norfolk","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Norfolk","addressCountry": "US"}},"competitor": [{ "@type": "Person", "name": "John Janawicz" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Mika Koivuniemi" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Parker Bohn III" },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Campagna Jr." },{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Ricky Schissler" }],"description": "The stepladder finals of the 2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic, where No. 5 seed John Janawicz ran the ladder to win his 11th PBA50 Tour title."},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/john-janawicz-wins-2026-pba50-norfolk-classic/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "Who won the 2026 PBA50 Norfolk Classic?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "John Janawicz won the title, climbing from the No. 5 seed to defeat top seed Mika Koivuniemi 256-225 in the final match to earn his 11th career PBA50 Tour victory and a $7,500 grand prize."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "How did John Janawicz reach the championship match from the fifth seed?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Janawicz ran the ladder by winning four straight stepladder matches, defeating Ricky Schissler (258-215), Tony Campagna Jr. (267-183), and Parker Bohn III (246-214) before taking down Koivuniemi in the final."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the next and final event of the PBA50 Tour season?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The PBA50 Tour season concludes with the PBA50 Tournament of Champions in Morgantown, West Virginia, where John Janawicz will compete as the defending champion."}}]}]}

Summer is usually a quieter time for bowling, but this week the lanes inHouston will be anything but quiet. The PBA and PWBA will come together at Copperfield Bowl for the annual SABCMixed Doubles, bringing 160 teams and many of the biggest names from bothprofessional tours into the same competition. The event begins Thursday with two official practice sessions before thereturn of Beauties vs. Beasts, featuring five players from each division basedon the 2025 qualifying standings. Five teams of two will compete in a five-gameBaker-format contest for a share of the $4,000 prize fund. The teams are Erin McCarthy and Keven Williams, Jordan Snodgrass and Alec Keplinger, Josie Barnes and Justin Knowles, Diana Zavjalova and Deo Benard, and Sin Li Jane and Shawn Maldonado. Main-event qualifying will follow on Friday and Saturday, with the championsdecided on Sunday. Each mixed doubles team will bowl seven qualifying games. The top quarter ofthe field will advance to Sunday’s semifinals. The remaining teams will then bowl four more games, after which the field willbe reduced to the top 12. Those teams will enter round-robin match play todecide the 2026 champions. Last year, Bryanna Coté and Chris Via won the title. Via returns to defend it,but Coté will not compete this year as she recovers from surgery. Last year, Bryanna Coté and Chris Via won the title Via will instead partner with Shannon Pluhowsky. The SABC Mixed Doubles will be streamed live on BowlTV. Coverage begins withBeauties vs. Beasts on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET and continues through Sunday’sfinals. Your Weekly Bowling Digest The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now {"@context": "https://schema.org","@graph": [{"@type": "NewsArticle","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-sabc-mixed-doubles-preview/#article","headline": "PBA and PWBA Stars Head to Houston for 2026 SABC Mixed Doubles","description": "160 mixed doubles teams gather at Copperfield Bowl in Houston for the annual SABC Mixed Doubles, featuring the Beauties vs. Beasts showdown and elite PBA and PWBA competition.","image": ["https://fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/bowlinglife/media/Posts_Uploads/Discord_ad_banner_bowlinglife.png"],"datePublished": "2026-07-30T10:00:00-05:00","dateModified": "2026-07-30T10:00:00-05:00","author": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu"},"publisher": {"@type": "Organization","name": "BowlingLife","logo": {"@type": "ImageObject","url": "https://bowlinglife.eu/logo.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-sabc-mixed-doubles-preview"}},{"@type": "SportsEvent","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-sabc-mixed-doubles-preview/#event","name": "2026 SABC Mixed Doubles","sport": "Bowling","startDate": "2026-07-30","endDate": "2026-08-02","location": {"@type": "Place","name": "Copperfield Bowl","address": {"@type": "PostalAddress","addressLocality": "Houston","addressRegion": "TX","addressCountry": "US"}},"description": "The annual joint PBA and PWBA mixed doubles event bringing 160 teams to Houston, featuring qualifying, match play, and the Beauties vs. Beasts exhibition."},{"@type": "FAQPage","@id": "https://bowlinglife.eu/2026-sabc-mixed-doubles-preview/#faq","mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question","name": "When and where does the 2026 SABC Mixed Doubles take place?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The tournament is hosted at Copperfield Bowl in Houston, Texas, running from Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2, 2026."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "What is the Beauties vs. Beasts match?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The Beauties vs. Beasts match is a Thursday kickoff event featuring five PWBA stars (Erin McCarthy, Jordan Snodgrass, Josie Barnes, Diana Zavjalova, Sin Li Jane) against five PBA stars (Keven Williams, Alec Keplinger, Justin Knowles, Deo Benard, Shawn Maldonado) in a five-game Baker match for a $4,000 prize pool."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Who is defending the title at the 2026 tournament?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Chris Via returns to defend the title he won in 2025. With his former partner Bryanna Coté recovering from surgery, Via is teaming up with PWBA star Shannon Pluhowsky for 2026."}},{"@type": "Question","name": "Where can fans stream the SABC Mixed Doubles?","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The entire event will be broadcast live on BowlTV, starting with the Beauties vs. Beasts event on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET through Sunday's championship match play."}}]}]}