The PBA World Series of Bowling XVI: Bigger and Better than Ever

The WSOB returns to Reno’s National Bowling Stadium in 2025 and aims to break international participation records

There is only one way to end the PBA World Series of Bowling’s (WSOB) eight-year hiatus from the iconic National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.: The biggest and best WSOB ever.

The WSOB XVI will be held March 3-22, 2025. The festivities will feature six televised PBA Tour championship rounds, the finals of the PBA Jr. National Championships and an estimated $1 million prize fund.

The National Bowling Stadium, also the home of December’s BowlTV PBA Regional Players Invitational, will host its fourth WSOB and first since 2017. 

The PBA Tour’s return to Reno was fostered by a partnership with Reno Tahoe and Caesars Entertainment (The Row). This partnership will afford competing players discounted rates at Silver Legacy Resort Casino for the duration of the WSOB, which provides convenient access to the National Bowling Stadium.

“It is a thrill to welcome the PBA back to Reno Tahoe,” Mike Larragueta, Reno Tahoe President and CEO, said. “It doesn’t get any bigger than the World Series of Bowling, and the renovated National Bowling Stadium is the perfect venue to host the best bowlers in the world. The entire destination is grateful for this continued partnership.”

“Caesars Entertainment is truly excited that the National Bowling Stadium in Reno has been selected once again for Bowling’s largest stage!” Mark Huse, SVP & General Manager of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., said. “Always an advocate for the sport, The Biggest Little City in the World is eager to welcome PBA’s World Series of Bowling, and our Caesars Entertainment properties (Silver Legacy, Eldorado, and Circus Circus) are ready to deliver the Family Style Service that we are so well known for. Welcome back to Reno, PBA!”

With a WSOB-record max field size of 296 players, the PBA aims to draw a record number of international players and represented countries with the WSOB XVI.

“The PBA World Series of Bowling has taken pro bowling to a new level of international recognition, helping to grow the game globally in talent, exposure and popularity,” Tom Clark, PBA Commissioner, said. “We’re excited to bring the most impactful pro event in the world back to the National Bowling Stadium, and expect to have the greatest, and largest, field of players in history.”

Throughout WSOB history, international players have won 21 PBA Tour titles and five PBA World Championships. Australia’s Jason Belmonte leads all players with eight career WSOB titles.

Belmonte capped off the WSOB IX — the latest WSOB in Reno — by winning the 2017 PBA World Championship. With that title, Belmonte became the first player to win three majors in a single season, adding his name to an impressive list of PBA champions in Reno.

Anthony Simonsen, Gary Faulkner Jr. and Liz Johnson, who became the second woman to win a PBA Tour title, each won their first career titles at the National Bowling Stadium.

In 2015, Jesper Svensson won his first title on national television and American soil, while Parker Bohn III won his 35th title to move into sole possession of the fifth-most titles in PBA history.

Perhaps the PBA’s most iconic image in Reno is EJ Tackett leaping into his father’s arms after winning the 2016 PBA World Championship.

Nine years later, Tackett returns to Reno as a two-time defending PBA World Champion, two-time Player of the Year (perhaps two-time defending and three-time POY by year’s end) and a father himself.

“Going back to Reno and the National Bowling Stadium in 2025 for the WSOB is going to be quite the experience,” Tackett said. “With the opportunity to win three straight World Championships in the building I won my first major… I can’t even begin to express how special that would be!”

Championship rounds of the WSOB XVI, including the finals of the PBA Nevada Classic, will take place March 15-19, culminating with the PBA World Championship finals on March 22.

The four animal patterns to be used during the WSOB XVI will be finalized at a later date.

Entries for the WSOB XVI and all 2025 PBA Tour events will open Nov. 20, 2024.

More information on the 2025 PBA on FOX Tour schedule is available here.

PBA WSOB XVI Schedule

TV dates are bolded

March 3: Official practice
March 4: PBA Animal Pattern #1 Championship Qualifying Round 1
March 5: PBA Animal Pattern #1 Championship Qualifying Round 2 + Match Play Round of 24 (best-of-five)
March 6: PBA Animal Pattern #2 Championship Qualifying Round 1
March 7: PBA Animal Pattern #2 Championship Qualifying Round 2 + Match Play Round of 24 (best-of-five)
March 8: PBA Animal Pattern #3 Championship Qualifying Round 1
March 9: PBA Animal Pattern #3 Championship Qualifying Round 2 + Match Play Round of 24 (best-of-five)
March 10: PBA Animal Pattern #4 Championship Qualifying Round 1
March 11: PBA Animal Pattern #4 Championship Qualifying Round 2 + Match Play Round of 24 (best-of-five)
March 12: PBA World Championship practice
March 13: PBA World Championship Advancers Round 1
March 14: PBA World Championship Advancers Round 2 + PBA Jr. National Championships match play
March 15: PBA Nevada Classic finals + PBA Jr. National Championships match play and finals
March 16: PBA Animal Pattern #1 Championship match play (best-of-five) and finals
March 17: PBA Animal Pattern #2 Championship match play (best-of-five) and finals
March 18: PBA Animal Pattern #3 Championship match play (best-of-five) and finals
March 19: PBA Animal Pattern #4 Championship match play (best-of-five) and finals
March 20: PBA World Championship match play rounds 1-2 (round robin)
March 21: Media day
March 22: PBA World Championship finals