PBA Tournament of Champions Recap
The 2026 PBA Tournament of Champions delivered a dramatic finish at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio, as Alex Horton captured his first career PBA Tour title and the $100,000 top prize. Horton’s run was impressive from start to finish, as he moved from 16th after qualifying to the No. 2 seed for the stepladder finals.
Qualifying Results
The Tournament of Champions field was limited to PBA champions, which made every block of qualifying especially important. After the opening rounds, the top of the standings began to take shape, and Horton kept himself in striking distance by staying consistent and making good adjustments as the event progressed.
By the end of qualifying, Zach Wilkins had established himself as the player to beat, while Horton had done enough to secure a spot in match play despite not being among the early leaders. The qualifying phase set up a strong mix of familiar names and rising talent, with the event moving into the top 24 for match play.
Match Play Standings
Match play changed the whole picture for Horton. He put together the best record in the field at 17-7, which allowed him to surge all the way to the No. 2 seed for the televised finals. That jump was one of the key storylines of the week, since it showed Horton not only could score, but could also win head-to-head against elite competition.
The final match play standings sent five bowlers to the stepladder: Zach Wilkins, Alex Horton, Andrew Anderson, Brandon Bonta, and Jason Belmonte. Wilkins finished as the top seed with 10,259 total pinfall and a 233.19 average over 42 games, while Horton sat close behind at 10,166 and a 229.90 average.
TV Stepladder
The televised finals opened with Jason Belmonte defeating Brandon Bonta, 247-213, before Andrew Anderson knocked off Belmonte, 236-163. Anderson then faced Horton in the semifinal, where Horton chose to throw urethane and found the kind of controlled ball reaction that kept him in the match. Horton held his nerve late and edged Anderson 223-212 to advance to the title match.
In the championship round, Horton faced Wilkins, who had earned the top seed with a strong week and had just won his first PBA Tour title the week before. Horton started fast with four straight strikes and stayed in control the rest of the way, defeating Wilkins 224-176 to secure the title. The win gave Horton his first national title, his first major, and a breakout moment on one of bowling’s biggest stages.
Why It Mattered
Horton’s victory mattered because the Tournament of Champions is one of the most exclusive events in bowling, reserved for PBA champions only. Winning it after starting outside the top 10 in qualifying made the run even more impressive, especially against a finals lineup that included Belmonte, Anderson, and Wilkins