Ice Man Returns: Jesper Svensson Captures His Second Major at PBA Tournament of Champions

Jesper Svensson | Picture credit: Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)

Sweden’s Jesper Svensson is once again the PBA Tournament of Champions winner, lifting the trophy for a second time after a convincing victory in Sunday’s stepladder finals at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio.

The 'Ice Man' defeated Jakob Butturff 221–197 in the championship match, capping off a dominant week where he led after match play and entered the finals as the No. 1 seed. With this win, Svensson now owns 14 PBA Tour titles, tying him with Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi for the most by a European bowler, and two major championships.

Championship Match: Svensson Shuts Down Butturff to Reclaim TOC Title

In the title match, Svensson started strong with four strikes in a row using the Storm IQ Tour 78-U. Butturff, coming off five straight wins between the prelims and stepladder, struggled to find the right reaction on the lanes. An open frame in the third and scattered spares made it difficult for the lefty to build momentum.

While Butturff finally struck in the fifth, he couldn’t string them together. Svensson remained clean, calmly picking up spares and never letting go of the lead. He sealed the win 221–197, returning to the top of the TOC podium for the first time since 2016.

Match 3: Butturff Blazes Past Fach to Reach Championship Match

Before facing Svensson, Jakob Butturff rolled through Canada’s Graham Fach in the semifinal. Butturff started with four strikes and built a massive lead while Fach struggled early with an reactive resin ball choice, leaving an open in the fourth.

Even after switching from Hammer Black Widow Mania to a Brunswick Mesmerize and finding a late triple, Fach couldn’t close the gap. Butturff stayed clean and finished with a 234–182 win — his fifth consecutive match victory, including two from Saturday’s prelims.

Match 2: Butturff Survives Late Drama to Eliminate Tackett

In the second match, EJ Tackett — who was chasing the Triple Crown in a single season — fell just short against Butturff in a game filled with ups and downs.

Tackett started slowly but built a late charge with a string of strikes before a 4-pin in the eighth stopped the run. Butturff missed a 2-4-7 spare but bounced back in the ninth with a strike. Tackett left splits in both the ninth and tenth frames, converting one but ultimately handing Butturff the chance to close it out.

Butturff picked up the same 2-4-7 spare he had missed earlier and secured a tight 196–190 victory.

Match 1: Butturff Outlasts McCune in Tight Opener

The stepladder finals opened with Jakob Butturff taking on Kevin McCune, who had made his second consecutive major finals appearance after finishing fifth in last week’s PBA Players Championship.

Both players started with urethane equipment and exchanged early blows, with McCune holding a slim three-pin lead at the commercial break. Butturff returned with back-to-back strikes, while McCune fell short in the ninth and tenth.

Butturff needed a mark and three pins — he struck in the 10th and finished at 231, advancing with a win over McCune’s 215.

Recapping the Road to the Finals

The 2025 PBA Tournament of Champions, powered by 1800 Tequila, was held at the iconic AMF Riviera Lanes — a venue rich with PBA history.

Through 42 games of qualifying and match play, nine players advanced to the two-part stepladder finals. Jakob Butturff earned his spot by winning Saturday’s prelims, defeating Matt Sanders, AJ Johnson, and Keven Williams. On Sunday, he defeated McCune, Tackett, and Fach before falling to Svensson.

Jesper Svensson’s victory gave him a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle on the U.S., where his last title win was back in 2022 at the Storm Cup. The 'Ice Man' won his 13th PBA Tour title last year at the 2024 Storm Lucky Larsen Masters in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Final Championship Round Results

• Match 1: Butturff def. McCune, 231–215

• Match 2: Butturff def. Tackett, 196–190

• Match 3: Butturff def. Fach, 234–182

• Championship Match: Svensson def. Butturff, 221–197

  
  

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