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 since 2021. ^[1]

Tournament Structure

PBA Tour Playoffs participants are chosen and seeded based on points earned in qualifying to-date tournaments of the current season. (For 2019, this included 13 events, from the PBA Hall of Fame Classic through the USBC Masters; for 2020, this included 12 events due to the cancellation of the USBC Masters.) PBA Tour points are awarded on a tier system, as follows:

• Tier 3: PBA short format or limited field tournaments (2500 points for first, and descending thereafter)
• Tier 2: PBA standard tournaments with a fully open field (double the points of Tier 3 events)
• Tier 1: PBA major tournaments (triple the points of Tier 3 events)

For 2019 and 2020, the top eight players in points received byes into the second round (round of 16). The #9 through #24 seeds competed in single-elimination matches (one standard ten-frame game each) to determine who advanced to the second round. ^[2]

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. ^[3] 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. ^[4] 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 (current home of the PBA). ^[5]

Since 2021, the PBA Playoffs feature a 16-player field rather than a 24-player field. All PBA Playoffs matches are double-elimination ("race to two points") 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. ^[6]

In 2024, the PBA Playoffs has 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 are then joined by the #12 seed in a bracketed round of eight. The top four seeds automatically gain entry into the quarterfinal round of eight, facing the four survivors of the 5 through 12 brackets. Elimination brackets then continue until a champion is crowned. ^[7]

Tournament history

Past winners

2024 event

16-player field based on 2024 PBA Tour points through April 28. $300,000 prize fund.

Play-in round

Held May 4 in Arlington, Washington.

Stepladder match 1: #16 A. J. Johnson vs. #15 Andrew Anderson (loser earns $5,000)
Stepladder match 2: Match 1 winner vs. #14 Graham Fach (loser earns $6,000)
Stepladder match 3: Match 2 winner vs. #13 Packy Hanrahan (loser earns $7,000)
Stepladder match 4: Match 3 winner vs. #12 Tom Smallwood (loser earns ($8,000)

Round of 12

Held May 5 in Arlington, Washington. Includes the #5 through #12 seeds. Winners join the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. Losers earn $10,000.

Match 1: #8 Zachary Wilkins vs. #9 David Krol
Match 2: #5 Jason Belmonte vs. #12 (Play-in winner)
Match 3: #7 Matt Russo vs. #10 Jesper Svensson
Match 4: #6 Kyle Troup vs. #11 Chris Via

Quarterfinals

Held May 5 in Arlington, Washington. Top four seeds are automatically placed into this round. Winners advance to the semifinals. Losers earn $15,000.

Match 1: #1 E. J. Tackett vs. 8/9 winner
Match 2: #4 Bill O'Neill vs. 5/12 winner
Match 3: #2 Marshall Kent vs. 7/10 winner
Match 4: #3 Anthony Simonsen vs. 6/11 winner

Semifinals

Held May 19 in Kissimmee, Florida. Winners advance to the finals. Losers earn $25,000.

Quarterfinals Match 1 winner vs. Quarterfinals Match 2 winner
Quarterfinals Match 3 winner vs. Quarterfinals Match 4 winner

Finals

Held May 19 in Kissimmee, Florida. Two semifinal winners face each other in a "race to three points" final round.

Winner's share: $75,000
Runner-up share: $50,000

References