PBA Tour Playoffs


The PBA Tour Playoffs is an annual invitational event on the PBA Tour in North America that debuted in the 2019 season. After two years as a 24-player tournament, the event was set up in a 16-player bracket-style format four three seasons, then as a 12-player format in 2025.

Tournament Structure

PBA Tour Playoffs participants are chosen and seeded based on points earned in qualifying to-date tournaments of the current season. PBA Tour points are awarded on a tier system, as follows:
  • Tier 3: PBA short format or limited field tournaments
  • Tier 2: PBA standard tournaments with a fully open field
  • Tier 1: PBA major tournaments
For 2019 and 2020, the top eight players in points received byes into the second round. The #9 through #24 seeds competed in single-elimination matches to determine who advanced to the second round.
For 2019, Round 2 and all subsequent rounds featured double-elimination matches, also known as the "race to two points". Any player winning both games in a match earns two points and advances to the next round. If the match is split one game each, the players bowl a 9th/10th frame roll-off to determine who wins the second point and the right to advance. If the 9th/10th frame roll-off results in a tie, a one-ball, sudden death roll-off is used until a winner is determined. For 2020, only the championship finals used the race to two points format. All other rounds were single-elimination matches.
The PBA Players Committee originally voted to make the playoffs a non-title event, citing the low number of games bowled as the primary reason. However, on December 6, 2019, the PBA announced that the winner of the 2019 PBA Playoffs would retroactively be awarded a PBA Tour title, and that the winner of the 2020 PBA Playoffs and subsequent events will be credited with a PBA title. As of 2020, winners also receive a WWE championship belt, as part of a cross-promotion with WWE wrestling, which is also broadcast on Fox Sports.
Since 2021, the PBA Playoffs feature a 16-player field rather than a 24-player field. All PBA Playoffs matches are double-elimination except for the final match, which uses a "race to three points" format. Players bowl a maximum of four games, with the first player to win three games earning the championship. If the match is split two games each, the players bowl a 9th/10th frame roll-off for the third point and the title.
In 2024, the PBA Playoffs had a 16-player starting field, with the 12 through 16 seeds competing in a separate stepladder event to qualify for the #12 seed. The 5 through 11 seeds were then joined by the #12 seed in a bracketed round of eight. The top four seeds automatically gained entry into the quarterfinal round of eight, facing the four survivors of the 5 through 12 brackets. Elimination brackets then continued until a champion was crowned.
In 2025, only the top 12 players in points made the initial field. Bracketed head-to-head matches for the 5 through 12 seeds determined the four players who would meet the top four seeds in the quarterfinal round.

Tournament history

Past winners

  • *Second point earned in a 9th/10th frame roll-off.

    2025 event

The 2025 PBA Playoffs took place April 28–30 and May 24 in Allen Park, Michigan. All rounds except the final were recorded for TV broadcasts over the first three weekends of May. The final round was live on May 24. This season's event started with the top 12 players in points through the first 14 events of the season. The top four in points were automatically placed into the quarterfinals, with the 5 through 12 seeds competing in a play-in round for the other four quarterfinal spots. All matches this season were a "race to two points" format, except for the finals, which was a "race to three points." All matches featured a dual oil pattern. Total prize fund of $300,000 included a $100,000 winner's share.

Play-in round

Held April 28, broadcast May 3 & 4. Winners join the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. Losers earn $7,500.
Match 1: '#9 Anthony Simonsen defeated #8 Ethan Fiore, 2–0
Match 2: #12 Kyle Troup defeated #5 Tim Foy Jr., 2–0
Match 3: #7 Jesper Svensson defeated #10 Jakob Butturff, 2–1
Match 4: #6 Chris Via' defeated #11 Ryan Barnes, 2–1

Quarterfinals

Held April 29, broadcast May 10 & 11. Top four seeds automatically placed into this round. Winners advance to semifinals. Losers earn $15,000.
Match 1: '#1 E. J. Tackett defeated #9 Anthony Simonsen, 2–1
Match 2: #4 Graham Fach defeated #12 Kyle Troup, 2–1
Match 3: #7 Jesper Svensson defeated #2 Andrew Anderson, 2–1
Match 4: #6 Chris Via' defeated #3 Jason Belmonte, 2–0

Semifinals

Held April 30, broadcast May 18. Winners advance to the finals. Losers earn $30,000.
Match 1: '#1 E. J. Tackett defeated #4 Graham Fach, 2–0
Match 2: #7 Jesper Svensson' defeated #6 Chris Via, 2–0

Finals

Held May 24. Two semifinal winners face each other in a "race to three points" final round.
Finalists: #1 E. J. Tackett vs. #7 Jesper Svensson
Match 1: Svensson defeated Tackett, 217–208
Match 2: Svensson defeated Tackett, 225–220
Match 3: Tackett defeated Svensson, 246–216
Match 4: Svensson defeated Tackett, 246–226
Jesper Svensson earns $100,000.
E. J. Tackett earns $50,000.