2026 PBA Tour

2026 PBA Illinois Classic

Event dates
-
Host center
David Small's Victory Lanes

2870 N Jasper St.
Decatur, IL 65526
United States

TIMES LISTED ARE LOCAL (CENTRAL STANDARD TIME)

Monday, March 9

Pre-Tournament Qualifier (PTQ) (seven games): 8:30 a.m.

Practice: 3 p.m.

Pro-Am: 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10

Qualifying Rd. 1 – A Squad (eight games; 3 on a pair): 11 a.m.

Qualifying Rd. 1 – B Squad (eight games; 3 on a pair): 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11

Qualifying Rd. 2 – B Squad (eight games; 3 on a pair): 11 a.m.

Qualifying Rd. 2 – A Squad (eight games; 3 on a pair): 6 p.m.

Cut to 1:3 for PBA Illinois Classic Advancers Round

Thursday, March 12

Advancers Round (six games; 4 on a pair): 11 a.m.

Cut to top 24 for PBA Illinois Classic Elimination Match Play

Top 8 receive 1st Rd. byes

PBA Illinois Classic Rd. of 24 (best-of-7): 6 p.m.

Friday, March 13

PBA Illinois Classic Rd. of 16 (best-of-7): 11 a.m.

PBA Illinois Classic Rd. of 8 (best-of-7): 6 p.m.

Four winners plus highest eliminated qualifier in Rd. of 8 advance to PBA Illinois Classic (LIVE) on The CW

Sunday, March 15

PBA Illinois Classic (LIVE) on The CW: 3 p.m.

Tournament Host Center:

David Small's Victory Lanes

2870 N Jasper St

Decatur, IL 65526

(217) 875-3141

Maximum Field:

96

Point Values:

Tier 2

Eligibility:

Participant must be a Full PBA member to enter unless they are a collegiate bowler currently on a team roster. College players can enter any PBA Tour PTQ event, with the exception of the PBA Tournament of Champions, after entries close for PBA members and they have created their PBA account online. To enter, email Tony Lanning at [email protected].

Priority Entries:

PBA Tour Priority Eligibility is determined based on the following criteria. Priority entries must be entered no later than Jan. 12, 2026.

  1. Top 75 from the 2025 PBA Tour point list
  2. Top 3 (including ties) from the Collegiate Points List after 2024-25 season
  3. Top 3 finishers from the 2025 Regional Players Invitational (RPI)
  4. PBA National Tour Title champions within the past 10 years
  5. PBA Hall of Famers (PBA Tour Superior Performance category only)
  6. PBA Tour Medical Exemptions
  7. Commissioner’s Exemptions

PTQ Entries:

PTQ Entries open January 5, 2026. PTQ entries close Feb. 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT. All PBA members who are not currently classified as priority entrants will need to enter the PTQ. 

Anyone needing instructions on how to enter online can contact membership services at (206) 332-9688.

Entry Fees:

PBA Illinois Classic: $500

PBA Illinois Classic PTQ: $250 (bowlers advancing from the PTQ will be charged an additional $250)

Equipment Notice:

All bowling balls on the PBA National Tour (including PTQs) must be manufactured on or after 8/1/2022. Only registered equipment that has been cleared and listed on PBA.com will be allowed in any PBA Tour Event.

NOTE: For the PBA National Tour, any older second shot balls (spare balls) made of plastic or rubber may be approved for use at spares or as a fill ball by the Tournament Director or Director of Rules and Equipment on case by case basis.

The 2026 list of acceptable Urethane and Urethane-Like equipment made at 78.0HD+ is available on the schedule page under “quick links”.

Schedules and details are subject to revision.

OIL PATTERN INFO:

PBA Illinois Classic: TBD

PBA Illinois Classic PTQ: TBD

PRIZE FUND: $200,000

1st - $30,000

1:3 players will cash