The stepladder finals are officially set at the PBA Pete Weber Missouri
Classic in St. Peters, Missouri. After a full day of elimination match play,
only five players remain in contention for the title.
Just like at the PBA Players Championship, the right side of the lane might get a bit of a rest on Sunday, as only one right-handed player advanced to the stepladder finals.
Four PBA Regional Tour title winner Justin Knowles earned the No. 1 seed after defeating Brandon Runk in the Round of 16 and then taking down Matt Russo in the Round of 8. Knowles now sits one win away from capturing his first PBA Tour title.
Graham Fach secured the No. 2 seed. The Canadian advanced past Packy Hanrahan in the Round of 16 and then defeated Tom Smallwood in the Round of 8 to lock in his position on the show. This marks his second TV appearance of the season after his third place finish at the PBA Players Championship.
Denmark's Thomas Larsen claimed the No. 3 seed after beating Cameron Crowe earlier in the day and then eliminating the defending champion EJ Tackett in the Round of 8.
The PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic will be the first PBA Tour event without EJ Tackett in the finals since the USBC Masters, which took place on March 29, 2025.
25-year-old Hayden Stippich will make his PBA TV debut as the No. 4 seed. He moved through the bracket by defeating the qualification leader Jason Belmonte in the Round of 16 and then overcoming Anthony Neuer to earn his place in the finals.
Matt Russo rounds out the stepladder as the No. 5 seed. He advanced past Brandon Runk in the Round of 16 and secured his spot as the highest-seeded loser in the Round of 8 even though he lost the duel against No. 1 seed Justin Knowles.
The stepladder finals of the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic will go live on Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. CST on The CW.
