Zach Wilkins already had one PBA Tour title this season. Now he has one all to himself.
The Canadian two-hander won the PBA Scorpion Championship, the third title event of the PBA World Series of Bowling XVII, after defeating Sweden’s Jesper Svensson in a dramatic Race-to-Two championship match that needed a roll-off to decide the winner.
Wilkins entered the finals as the No. 1 seed after leading Scorpion qualifying, and he defended that position all the way to the title.
But the final almost ended in heartbreak.
In Game 1, Wilkins had the match in his hands, but a late 2-4-6-10 leave changed everything. Needing only two pins, he got just one, allowing Svensson to take the opener 176-175.
Wilkins answered immediately in Game 2. He built a big lead early, stayed in control, and forced a roll-off with a 269-204 win.
In the roll-off, Svensson had a chance to flip the match back in his favor, but left a 7 pin standing.
The win gave Wilkins his second PBA Tour title of the season. His first came in April, when he teamed with AJ Chapman to win the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship.
With the victory, Wilkins became the only player so far this season with multiple PBA Tour titles. It also marked the first individual PBA Tour title of his career.
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The PBA Scorpion Championship was the third title event of WSOB XVII.
Packy Hanrahan won the opening event, the PBA Cheetah Championship, by defeating Matt Sanders 2-0 in the Race-to-Two title match.
Darren Tang then won the PBA Chameleon Championship on Sunday, becoming the first player in PBA history to win PBA Tour titles both one-handed and two-handed.
The World Series of Bowling continues Tuesday with the PBA Shark Championship, airing live on CBS Sports Network.
Match Results
Round of 12
Kris Prather def. Thomas Larsen, 206-196
Graham Fach def. Darren Tang, 237-172
Jesper Svensson def. Nate Stubler, 236-201
Santtu Tahvanainen def. Sean Rash, 198-195
Quarterfinals
Zach Wilkins def. Kris Prather, 252-188
Zach Weidman def. Graham Fach, 267-245
Jesper Svensson def. EJ Tackett, 248-223
Chris Via def. Santtu Tahvanainen, 227-213
Semifinals
Zach Wilkins def. Zach Weidman, 206-177
Jesper Svensson def. Chris Via, 299-241
Championship Match
Zach Wilkins def. Jesper Svensson, 2-1 in a roll-off
Game 1: Svensson def. Wilkins, 176-175
Game 2: Wilkins def. Svensson, 269-204
Roll-off: Wilkins def. Svensson
PBA World Series of Bowling XVII Schedule
Tuesday, May 12
6 p.m. local / 7 p.m. ET - PBA Shark Championship semifinals
8 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET - PBA Shark Championship finals
Saturday, June 13
11 a.m. ET - PBA World Championship semifinals on CBS Sports Network
1 p.m. ET - PBA World Championship finals on CBS and Paramount+
