2011 PBA World Series of Bowling
2011 PBA World Series of Bowling Q & A
The third annual PBA World Series of Bowling provides a unique opportunity for PBA members to compete at the highest level. With a revamped format this season, PBA is providing answers to some commonly asked player entry questions. Check back with pba.com for additional developments and information about WSOB in the days and weeks to come.
Q. What are the dates for the WSOB and where will it be conducted?
A. The 2011 WSOB will be conducted Nov. 4-20 at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Q. What events will be conducted during the WSOB?
A.The WSOB will include: the Viper Open, Chameleon Open, Scorpion Open and Shark Open; PBA World Championship; Carmen Salvino Classic, Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship, Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship and other special events.
It begins on Friday, Nov. 4, with practice sessions and an "All-In Showdown" special event with a $5,000 entry fee. Saturday through Tuesday, Nov. 5-8, eight-game qualifying rounds followed by a cut to the top 16 for an additional 6 game qualifying round will be conducted in the Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Opens. The top 4 in each event will advance to the televised final elimination round. These four events are open to all players.
Total pinfall for the combined 32 qualifying games in the four "animal pattern" events will determine the top 60 competitors (based upon a capacity field of 240 entries) advancing to the PBA World Championship eight-game cashers’ round on Wednesday, Nov. 9. After the cashers’ round, the top 16 based on 40 games will advance to the televised PBA World Championship quarterfinal elimination rounds. The champion of each quarterfinal round will advance to the televised final elimination round.
The Carmen Salvino Classic is a "PBA Tour exempt players" event, but also will include a Tour Qualifying Round for non-exempt players. The new "All Region South Point Open" will serve as the TQR for the Salvino Classic (See "What is the format for the Carmen Salvino Classic" below).
There also will be a PBA Regional Members/Non-Members Doubles event on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12-13.
The Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 15-16, is a new two-in-one event that also includes the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship.
The World Series will conclude with four days of television production Thursday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 20, on lanes specially built in a South Point Exhibit Hall.
Q. What is the World Series of Bowling entry fee?
A. The base entry fee for the World Series is $800. That entry fee enters players into the four "animal pattern" events and the PBA World Championship. It does NOT include the All Region South Point Open/Salvino Classic TQR*, regional doubles or the "All In" special event.
*See What is the format for the Carmen Salvino Classic? below.
Q. How do I enter the BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown?
A. The BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown is now full.
Q. Can I bowl in the World Series if I'm not a PBA member?
A. American bowlers who are not PBA members are not eligible for the core World Series events, but they may enter the All Regional South Point Open (member entry fee $220; non-member entry fee $285) and the PBA Regional Member/Non-Member Doubles (member entry fee $220, non-member entry fee $285). International bowlers who are members of their nation’s WTBA affiliate organization may enter at the same entry fees as non-exempt PBA members. Non-members, American or international, are not eligible to win PBA titles in any event.
Q. How many PBA Tour titles will be awarded during the WSOB?
A. Eight – Viper Open Championship, Chameleon Open Championship, Scorpion Open Championship, Shark Open Championship, PBA World Championship (a major), Carmen Salvino Classic Championship, Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship and Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship. PBA titles will be awarded ONLY to PBA members; international players who are not PBA members will not be awarded titles, nor will they receive privileges associated with PBA membership (PBA Tournament of Champions eligibility and statistical recognition for earnings, averages, points, etc.)
Q. What is the format for the Viper/Chameleon/Scorpion/Shark Opens?
A. For these four events, all players will bowl eight qualifying games (Squads A and B will alternate starting times each day. All squads will bowl on fresh conditions. After eight games, the top 16 in each daily event will bowl an additional 6 game qualifying round, with the top 4 advancing to the televised final elimination round.
Q. What is the format for the PBA World Championship?
A. The combined pinfall for the eight-game Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark qualifying rounds (32 total games) will be determine the standings for the first cut. The top 60 players (based upon a capacity field of 240) will advance to the eight-game Cashers' Round. After the cashers’ round, the top 16 qualifiers based on 40 games will advance to the televised PBA World Championship, quarterfinal elimination rounds. The high seeded player in each elimination round will have the opportunity to pick the pattern used for their round.
Q. What is the format for the Carmen Salvino Classic?
A. The Carmen Salvino Classic will be open to all PBA Tour exempt players PLUS a minimum of 15 players who will advance from the TQR to round out a field of 64.
Special entry rules will apply to the TQR:
- If you are a WSOB entrant and want to bowl the TQR and the All Region South Point Open, the entry fee is an additional $220 (the TQR entry fee is waived).
- If you are NOT a WSOB entrant, but would like to bowl in the All Region South Point Open ONLY, the entry fee is $220.
- If you are NOT a WSOB entrant, but would like to bowl in the All Region South Point Open AND the Salvino Classic TQR, the entry fee is $370.
Qualifying scores bowled in the All Region South Point Open, a special singles event for PBA regional players, will also be used as the standings for the TQR. The All Region Open/TQR qualifying round will be bowled on Friday, Nov. 11.
A minimum of 15 players will advance from the TQR to join the exempt players for two, six-game Salvino Classic qualifying rounds on Monday, Nov. 14. After 12 games, the top 16 players will advance to an additional 6 game qualifying round, with the top four then advancing to the televised final elimination round.
Another important part of the Salvino Classic for exempt tour players is inclusion of its 12 qualifying games as part of the qualifying total for the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship.
Q. What is the format for the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championships?
A. The Elite Players Championships begins with two six-game qualifying rounds on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Those 12-game pinfall totals, combined with 12-game qualifying totals from the Salvino Classic, will determine the top 32 players who will advance to bowl an additional six-game qualifying round on Wednesday morning.
For the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, the 30-game totals will determine the field and seeding position; the top 16 players will pair up to form 8 doubles teams: The #1 qualifier will then choose a partner from the remaining 15 players, the next highest qualifier from the 14 remaining players, etc. The process continues to form the 8 teams that will compete in the Baker TV Stepladder Finals. Please note that the first three matches in the stepladder competition will not be televised; only the final four matches of the event.
For the Elite Players Championship, the top 16 qualifiers will advance to the quarterfinal elimination rounds. The high seeded player in each elimination round will get their choice of pattern for the round.
Q. What is the television format for these events?
A. A total of 14 television shows will be produced for delayed airing on ESPN on specially-installed lanes in a South Point Exhibit Hall over a four-day span (Thursday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 20).
Two of the television events will be the inaugural World Tenpin Bowling Federation's World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA. The WBT Finals will feature the top three men and top three women who have qualified during an international series of WTBA events. The World Bowling Tour is organized and operated by the World Tenpin Bowling Association and is open to all men and women who are eligible for WTBA competition. The PBA is a presenting partner in producing the television finals for that event.
The 2011 WBT, which concludes with the Australian Masters, will pay prizes of $10,000, $6,000 and $4,000, respectively, to the top three places in each of the televised men's and women's stepladder finals.
Q. What is this year's WSOB and World Championship prize fund?
A. In all, the WSOB will award up to $1 million in prize money. The top 32 players in each of the four animal pattern events will earn prize money with the winner of each earning $15,000, a PBA Tour title and a berth in the Tournament of Champions. The 14 game, qualifying leader in each event will also receive a $1,000 bonus.
The PBA World Championship will pay the top 60 (based on a capacity field of 240 entries) with a $1,800 low-to-cash. First prize in the World Championship will be $50,000. The 40 game, qualifying leader will also receive a $5,000 bonus.
The Carmen Salvino Classic will pay 64 places with a $15,000 first prize and $1,000 low-to-cash. The 18 game, qualifying leader will also receive a $1,000 bonus.
The Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship will pay 49 places with a $35,000 first prize and $2,000 low-to-cash.
The Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship will pay eight places with a $15,000 first prize.
The All Region South Point Open, the PBA Regional Member/Non Member Doubles and the "All-In Showdown" prize funds will be based on entries.
Q. Do I have to be a PBA member to enter the WSOB?
A. You must be a "Full PBA Member" to enter all WSOB events except the Carmen Salvino Classic TQR, All Region South Point Open and PBA Regional Member/Non Member Doubles. "Standard Members" will be required to upgrade to full status. Members of the Japan Professional Bowlers Association (JPBA), Korean Professional Bowlers Association (KPBA) and non-U.S. World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) federations are invited by the PBA. If a prospective entrant does not fall into any of the above categories, he/she must become a PBA member at any time prior to entering the WSOB.
Q. How do I become a PBA member?
A. To obtain PBA membership information contact PBA at (206) 332-9688 or visit http://www.pba.com/Join/
Q. How do I enter the World Series of Bowling?
A. Click here to enter online. An entry form may be downloaded here. Entrants also can request an entry form by calling (206) 332-9688. Entries may be scanned and e-mailed back to PBA, faxed to (206) 332-9722, or mailed to the PBA office.
Q. What is the philosophy behind this year's WSOB concept and schedule?
A. The WSOB was designed to be the ultimate destination event for all PBA members. Multiple titles are up for grabs, a huge overall prize fund, 12 nationally-televised shows. An affordable entry fee and accommodations all in one city for a short amount of time make it an affordable experience for entrants.
Q. What equipment can be used during the WSOB?
A. Information regarding all PBA Product-Registered equipment will be updated and posted here on a regular basis.
Q. What's the best way to follow WSOB action?
A. PBA.com and PBA.com's Xtra Frame video service will provide comprehensive coverage of WSOB throughout its two-week run. Xtra Frame schedule and subscription information will be posted at: http://www.xtraframe.tv/.