PBA Tour Playoffs
The PBA Tour Playoffs is an annual invitational event on the PBA Tour in North America that debuted in the . After two years as a 24-player tournament, the event has been set up in a 16-player bracket-style format since 2021. 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: 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. 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 (current home of the PBA). 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. Tournament history. 2019 event. The took place April 8–10 and June 1–2, 2019 at Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine. The PBA called it the "spotlight event" for its first year of television coverage on Fox Sports. The tournament had a total prize fund of $276,000 with a $100,000 first place prize. The first three “elimination” rounds were held April 8–10, with broadcasts of these events held on eight consecutive Monday nights (April 8 – May 27) on FS1. The final four then competed on live broadcasts held June 1 & 2 on Fox. Ninth-seeded Kris Prather won  the event, sweeping the two matches in the final round over Bill O'Neill. 2020 event. On June 2, 2019, PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced that the 2020 PBA Tour Playoffs would take place April–May 2020 in four cities, as part of the partnership agreement with Bowlero Corporation (now the parent company of the PBA). However, due to the suspension of the 2020 PBA season in mid-March caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was rescheduled for October 10–12, 2020. All events were held in Centreville, Virginia with no fans in attendance. The opening round on October 10 (Round  of 24, Group 1) was broadcast live, with subsequent rounds aired on a tape-delay basis between October 17 and November 8. The overall prize fund was $320,000 (a $44,000 increase over 2019), with a $100,000 winner's share. Second-seeded Bill O'Neill avenged his 2019 runner-up finish, sweeping Anthony Simonsen in the two final round games to take the title. 2021 event. The 2021 Kia PBA Playoffs featured a 16-player field rather than a 24-player field used in the previous two events due to fewer tournaments in the 2021 season (only 9 title  events), and ran from Saturday, April 24 to Sunday, May 16. The 16 players below qualified and were seeded for the 2021 playoffs based on points earned in the five majors and the four additional 2021 WSOB tournaments. The tournament had a $288,000 prize fund with a $100,000 first prize. All 2021 PBA Playoffs matches were double-elimination ("race to two points") except for the final match, which used a "race to three points" format. NOTE: Jason Belmonte qualified 14th but chose to return home to await the birth of his fourth child. Andrew Anderson, who was 17th  in points, moved up to the #16 seed, while the original #15 and #16 seeds moved up one spot. Round 1 (Round of 16). All matches until the finals were a race-to-two points format. Competitors who won both games earned two points and advanced to the Quarterfinals. Any match resulting in a 1-1 tie was broken by a 9th/10th frame rolloff. Winners (bold type) advance to the quarterfinals; losers earn $5,000. "Saturday, April 24th" (1) Kyle Troup 2 vs. (16) Andrew Anderson 1 FINAL Game 1: Troup wins 234–233 Game 2: Anderson wins 225–212 Rolloff: Troup  wins 58-26 (8) Anthony Simonsen 0 vs. (9) Thomas Larsen 2 FINAL Game 1: Larsen wins 244–238 Game 2: Larsen wins 279–224 "Sunday, April 25th" (4) François Lavoie 2 vs. (13) Dick Allen 1 FINAL Game 1: Lavoie wins 266–185 Game 2: Allen wins 258–238 Rolloff: Lavoie wins 59–50 (5) Jakob Butturff 1 vs. (12) Bill O'Neill 2 FINAL Game 1: Butturff wins 257–193 Game 2: O'Neill wins 227–222 Rolloff: O'Neill wins 49–39 "Saturday, May 1st" (2) Chris Via 0 vs. (15) Cristian Azcona 2 FINAL Game 1: Azcona wins 258–226 Game 2: Azcona wins 238–215 (7) Kristopher Prather  1 vs. (10) E. J. Tackett 2 FINAL Game 1: Tackett wins 267–170 Game 2: Prather wins 205–188 Rolloff: Tackett wins 38–26 "Sunday, May 2nd" (3) Tom Daugherty 2 vs. (14) Jason Sterner 1 FINAL Game 1: Daugherty wins 245–204 Game 2: Sterner wins 225–213 Rolloff: Daugherty wins 39–39, 10–9 (6) Jesper Svensson 1 vs. (11) Sam Cooley 2 FINAL Game 1: Svensson wins 268–248 Game 2: Cooley wins 223–223 (9–9, 10–9) Rolloff: Cooley wins 35–16 Round 2 (Round of 8). Quarterfinals Winners (bold type) advance to the semifinals; losers earn $10,000. "Sunday, May 9th" (1) Kyle Troup 2  vs. (9) Thomas Larsen 0 FINAL Game 1: Troup wins 260–204 Game 2: Troup wins 239–199 (4) François Lavoie 2 vs. (12) Bill O'Neill 1 FINAL Game 1: O'Neill wins 190–182 Game 2: Lavoie wins 217–188 Rolloff: Lavoie wins 46–40 "Monday, May 10th" (10) EJ Tackett 1 vs. (15) Cristian Azcona 2 FINAL Game 1: Tackett wins 257–213 Game 2: Azcona wins 240–214 Rolloff: Azcona wins 49–47 (3) Tom Daugherty 1 vs. (11) Sam Cooley 2 FINAL Game 1: Daugherty wins 226–209 Game 2: Cooley wins 236–218 Rolloff: Cooley wins 37–26 Round 3 (Final 4). Semifinals Winners (bold type) advance  to the Finals; losers earn $24,000. "Saturday, May 15th" (1) Kyle Troup 2 vs. (4) François Lavoie 0 FINAL Game 1: Troup wins 248–237 Game 2: Troup wins 259–224 (11) Sam Cooley 2 vs. (15) Cristian Azcona 0 FINAL Game 1: Cooley wins 264–243 Game 2: Cooley wins 232–219 Round 4 (Finals). Winner earns $100,000; runner-up earns $60,000. Unlike the previous two Playoffs tournament finals, both of which featured a race-to-two format, this year's championship had a race-to-three format, with a maximum of four full games. Winning a game earned a  player one point, with the first player to three points winning the title. Should the match be tied at two games apiece, a 9th/10th frame rolloff would award the third point and determine the winner. "Sunday, May 16th" (1) Kyle Troup 3 vs. (11) Sam Cooley 1 FINAL Game 1: Troup wins 235–206 Game 2: Cooley wins 300–248* Game 3: Troup wins 223–210 Game 4: Troup wins 221–209 2022 event. The 2022 Kia PBA Playoffs features a 16-player field, and runs from Sunday, April 10 to Sunday, May 15. The 16 players qualified and were seeded for the 2022  Playoffs based on points earned in the five majors and the eight standard 2022 title events through April 3. The tournament has a $300,000 prize fund with a $100,000 first prize. All 2022 PBA Playoffs matches are double-elimination ("race to two points") except for the final match, which uses a "race to three points" format. Round 1 (Round of 16). All matches until the finals are a race-to-two points format. Competitors who win both games earn two points and advance to the Quarterfinals. Any match resulting in a 1-1 tie is broken by a  9th/10th frame rolloff. Winners (bold type) advance to the quarterfinals; losers earn $5,000. "Sunday, April 10" (1) Jason Belmonte 1 vs. (16) Bill O'Neill 2 Game 1: O'Neill wins 247–227 Game 2: Belmonte wins 258–213 Rolloff: O'Neill wins 59–48 (8) Sean Rash 0 vs. (9) Kyle Troup 2 Game 1: Troup wins 266–218 Game 2: Troup wins 266–195 (4) Dominic Barrett 2 vs. (13) Packy Hanrahan 1 Game 1: Barrett wins 280–226 Game 2: Hanrahan wins 255–233 Rolloff: Barrett wins 59–38 (5) Kristopher Prather 2 vs. (12) Brad Miller 0 Game 1: Prather wins 210–205 Game 2: Prather wins  258–212 "Saturday, April 16" (2) Anthony Simonsen 0 vs. (15) Shawn Maldonado 2 Game 1: Maldonado wins 204–192 Game 2: Maldonado wins 267–174 (7) Jakob Butturff 0 vs. (10) A. J. Johnson 2 Game 1: Johnson wins 270–232 Game 2: Johnson wins 245–224 "Sunday, April 17" (3) E. J. Tackett 1 vs. (14) Jesper Svensson 2 Game 1: Svensson wins 258–223 Game 2: Tackett wins 242–227 Rolloff: Svensson wins 38–24 (6) Tommy Jones 2 vs. (11) Kyle Sherman 0 Game 1: Jones wins 237–198 Game 2: Jones wins 233–221 Round 2 (Round of 8). Quarterfinals Winners (bold type) advance to  the semifinals; losers earn $12,500. "Sunday, April 24" (9) Kyle Troup vs. (16) Bill O'Neill (4) Kristopher Prather vs. (5) Dominic Barrett "Sunday, May 1" (10) A. J. Johnson vs. (15) Shawn Maldonado (6) Tommy Jones vs. (14) Jesper Svensson Round 3 (Final 4). Semifinals Winners (bold type) advance to the Finals; losers earn $30,000. "Sunday, May 8" TBD Round 4 (Finals). Winner earns $100,000; runner-up earns $50,000. "Sunday, May 15" TBD