Over the decades, the PBA Tour has seen many of bowling’s biggest names rise to the top. Some captured the Player of the Year award once, while others built long runs of dominance. Every winner earned a place in the sport’s history.
This complete list of PBA Player of the Year winners runs from Billy Hardwick, the first honoree in 1963, through EJ Tackett in 2026. Tackett’s latest win made him the first player to receive the award in four consecutive seasons.
EJ Tackett Wins the 2026 PBA Player of the Year Award
Tackett earned his fifth career Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year award in 2026, following wins in 2016, 2023, 2024 and 2025. His run from 2023 through 2026 is the longest consecutive winning streak in the award’s history.
He also became the fourth bowler to reach five career awards, joining Jason Belmonte, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Earl Anthony. Read BowlingLife’s coverage of Tackett’s historic fourth consecutive Player of the Year award.
PBA Tour Player of the Year Winners: 1963–2026
The winners below are listed from newest to oldest, using the years shown in the PBA’s official award records. Links in the list open BowlingLife’s coverage of the award announcements.
A note on 2001: The official PBA list moves directly from 2000 to 2002, with no separate 2001 award listed. Parker Bohn III is the winner recorded for 2002.
2026 – EJ Tackett
2025 – EJ Tackett
2024 – EJ Tackett
2023 – EJ Tackett
2022 – Jason Belmonte
2021 – Kyle Troup
2020 – Jason Belmonte
2019 – Jason Belmonte
2018 – Andrew Anderson
2017 – Jason Belmonte
2016 – EJ Tackett
2015 – Jason Belmonte
2014 – Jason Belmonte
2013 – Jason Belmonte
2012 – Sean Rash
2011 – Mika Koivuniemi
2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2009 – Wes Malott
2008 – Chris Barnes
2007 – Doug Kent
2006 – Tommy Jones
2005 – Patrick Allen
2004 – Mika Koivuniemi
2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2002 – Parker Bohn III
2000 – Norm Duke
1999 – Parker Bohn III
1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1997 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1996 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1995 – Mike Aulby
1994 – Norm Duke
1993 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1992 – David Ferraro
1991 – David Ozio
1990 – Amleto Monacelli
1989 – Amleto Monacelli
1988 – Brian Voss
1987 – Marshall Holman
1986 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1985 – Mike Aulby
1984 – Mark Roth
1983 – Earl Anthony
1982 – Earl Anthony
1981 – Earl Anthony
1980 – Wayne Webb
1979 – Mark Roth
1978 – Mark Roth
1977 – Mark Roth
1976 – Earl Anthony
1975 – Earl Anthony
1974 – Earl Anthony
1973 – Don McCune
1972 – Don Johnson
1971 – Don Johnson
1970 – Nelson Burton Jr.
1969 – Billy Hardwick
1968 – Jim Stefanich
1967 – Dave Davis
1966 – Wayne Zahn
1965 – Dick Weber
1964 – Bob Strampe
1963 – Billy Hardwick
Who Has Won the Most PBA Player of the Year Awards?
Jason Belmonte and Walter Ray Williams Jr. share the record with seven awards each. Earl Anthony follows with six, while EJ Tackett’s 2026 win takes him to five, ahead of Mark Roth’s four.
- Jason Belmonte — 7: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
- Walter Ray Williams Jr. — 7: 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2010.
- Earl Anthony — 6: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1983.
- EJ Tackett — 5: 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Mark Roth — 4: 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984.
Tackett now holds the record for consecutive awards with four. Anthony, Roth, Williams and Belmonte each won three in a row; Anthony achieved that feat twice.
Last updated: .
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