February 19, 2026 Nolan Hughes

Among the leaders through 30 games of the season-opening PBA Players Championship are the same players who led the tour in 2025.

Three-time reigning PBA Player of the year EJ Tackett leads the major championship entering match play, while last season’s co-runner-up in POTY voting Andrew Anderson ranks third overall.

Graham Fach, who won the first event of 2025, splits the difference between the former Players of the Year. 

Rookie CJ Petrin and Shawn Maldonado round out the top five at Bowlero Euless outside of Arlington, Texas.

Spencer Robarge, Tim Foy Jr., Jesper Svensson, Brandon Bonta, Brad Miller are all inside the top 10.

Matt Ogle, BJ Moore, Sam Cooley, Nick Pate, Mitch Hupé and Bill O’Neill close out the 16-player match play field.

Tackett is averaging just shy of 228 through his 30 games on two different oil patterns. Thursday’s action, as well as all remaining competition, were contested with the 50-foot Badger oil pattern on the left lane and the 37-foot Viper oil pattern on the right lane.

Despite maintaining his qualifying lead, Tackett was frustrated with his performance on Thursday. 

“I didn't bowl that bad, I just really didn't score,” he said. “I really struggled on the left lane. I’m going to have to try to put something together for that left lane and give myself a little bit more confidence. I think it affected me on the right lane, because I was putting too much pressure on myself to strike on the right lane to make up for the left.”

Anderson, sitting in third place, shared Tackett’s frustration. 

“I'm so mad right now,” Anderson said. “I feel like, if I made some spares, I might have already taken the lead. I feel like I'm giving pins away left and right. We're at a major, you don't want to give pins away anywhere. I need to really figure it out later in the block to make a run of the show, but I'm going to be ready to go in the morning.”

O’Neill shot 235 during his final game of the Advancer Round to earn the final berth in the match play field. He, too, was less than satisfied with his showing.

“I couldn't figure out how to get the ball to go through the pins right, and it was pretty frustrating,” O’Neill said. “That's actually more frustrating for me than just bowling bad. When I'm throwing it well, and I can't get the results that I'm looking for, that's what kills me. My biggest strength is knowing where to be on the lane, knowing what balls to use, and being in the right spot of the lane. That's what separates me from a lot of the guys out here, and so when I can't figure it out, it’s pretty frustrating.”

While the PBA Hall of Famer sits 166 pins back of fifth place, he believes in his ability to make a run at a third career PBA Players Championship title.

“Knowing what I’ve achieved in my career is what gives me confidence, not necessarily (my performance in) this event,” said O’Neill, who won this event in 2020 and 2024. “I have confidence in every event I show up to. I think I can win every event. Once that stops being the case, you won't be interviewing me anymore.”

O’Neill will have 16 games to make his run. Between himself and the show are a host of veterans hungry for their first career major and three rookies — CJ Petrin, Spencer Robarge and Brandon Bonta — each nearly half O’Neill’s age.

All qualifying rounds are available to watch on BowlTV.

Leaders after 30 Games
  1. EJ Tackett, 6,838 total pinfall, 227.93 average
  2. Graham Fach, 6,777, 225.90
  3. Andrew Anderson, 6,774, 225.80
  4. CJ Petrin, 6,771, 225.70
  5. Shawn Maldonado, 6,766, 225.53
  6. Spencer Robarge, 6,731, 224.37
  7. Tim Foy Jr., 6,729, 224.30
  8. Jesper Svensson, 6,722, 224.07
  9. Brandon Bonta, 6,713, 223.77
  10. Brad Miller, 6,667, 222.23

Full standings are available here.

PBA Players Championship Schedule

Friday, Feb. 20 — BowlTV
12 p.m. — Match Play Round 1 (eight games; dual Viper and Badger oil patterns)
7 p.m. — Match Play Round 2 (eight games; dual Viper and Badger oil patterns)

Saturday, Feb. 21 — BowlTV
6 p.m. — PBA Hall of Fame and 2025 Season Awards Ceremony

Sunday, Feb. 22 — The CW
4 p.m. — PBA Players Championship finals