Diana Zavjalova moved into the early lead at the 2026 PWBA Tour Championship after the opening eight games of round-robin match play Sunday at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.
The Latvian went 6-1-1 and averaged 231.13, producing 1,849 pins before match play bonuses. Her six wins and one tie lifted her total to 2,044, giving her an 80-pin advantage over defending PWBA Player of the Year New Hui Fen.
Zavjalova returned to the lanes one day after losing 225-189 to eventual champion Alexis Runk in the semifinals of the PWBA Pepsi Open.
“I just kind of leave it behind and move forward one step at a time,” Zavjalova said to the PWBA. “I tell myself under my breath before every single shot, ‘One good shot at a time.’”
Lauren Russo is currently third with 1,901. Newly crowned Pepsi Open champion Alexis Runk held fourth at 1,890, and Jillian Martin and PWBA Cleveland Open winner Shayna Ng shared fifth with 1,886.
Crystal Elliott followed in seventh with 1,883, Maranda Pattison was eighth with 1,878 and Maria Jose Bohr placed ninth with 1,859. Sweden’s Nora Johansson completed the top 10 at 1,857.
All 24 players return Monday for two more eight-game match-play blocks at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern. After 24 games, the top five will advance to Tuesday’s stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Both Monday rounds and Tuesday’s finals will stream live on BowlTV. The stepladder will also be simulcast on Bowling TV.
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