Diana Zavjalova Wins 2023 PWBA Waterloo Open in Spectacular Fashion

Diana Zavjalova of Latvia made an incredible run in the stepladder finals at the 2023 PWBA Waterloo Open, clinching her first PWBA title since 2018. Entering the finals as the No. 4 seed, Zavjalova delivered four consecutive victories to claim her fifth career title at Cadillac Xtreme Bowling Center, streamed live on BowlTV.com.

A Night of Dominance

The 32-year-old right-hander showcased a stellar performance throughout the night, culminating in a thrilling 279-244 victory over top seed Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio. The title match was a striking spectacle, with both players combining for 20 strikes in 24 frames. Zavjalova delivered 11 strikes, with only a solid 9-pin in the eighth frame preventing a perfect game.

Pluhowsky, despite striking on nine of her final ten shots, fell short due to an early spare and an open frame, allowing Zavjalova to seize the lead and never relinquish it.

With the win, Zavjalova secured a $10,000 first-place prize, a coveted trophy, and a spot in the 2023 PWBA Tour Championship. Pluhowsky finished as the runner-up, earning $5,000.

Breaking the Drought

For Zavjalova, this victory was about more than just trophies and prize money—it was the answer to a long-standing question: “When are you going to win again?”

Before Thursday night, her last PWBA Tour title was at the 2018 St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open in Florida. Despite multiple stepladder finals appearances in recent years, including four TV finals in 2023 alone, she had struggled to break through.

“This has been a very long time coming,” Zavjalova said. “I’ve been knocking on this door for a long time. I just kept being myself and kept knocking, and now I’m just happy.”

Path to the Championship

Zavjalova’s dominance began in Match 1 with a 244-204 victory over No. 5 seed Kerry Smith of Lititz, Pennsylvania, a two-time PWBA Regional champion making her first championship-round appearance.

She then faced No. 3 seed Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio. Martin, at just 17 years old, made history in 2021 as the youngest PWBA Tour title winner. However, Zavjalova outperformed her, finishing with seven consecutive strikes to secure a 249-223 win.

Next, Zavjalova went up against Jordan Richard, the 2023 PWBA Player of the Year frontrunner and a three-time title winner that season. While Richard stayed consistent, she struggled to generate strikes, allowing Zavjalova to capitalize and advance to the championship match.

Looking Ahead to the Tour Championship

Zavjalova’s impressive form saw her average 235.75 across 28 games, including a stepladder total of 984 (244, 249, 212, and 279). With momentum on her side, she immediately turned her focus to the PWBA Pepsi Open, set to begin the following morning.

“I like that I have the opportunity to keep the momentum going,” she said. “Even though it’s a new tournament, I feel very comfortable in this bowling center.”

The Waterloo Open marked the beginning of PWBA Championship Week, which includes the Pepsi Open and the PWBA Tour Championship—the final major of the 2023 season. The championship event, starting Sunday, will feature top bowlers competing for a $50,000 first-place prize.

With her long-awaited victory in Waterloo, Zavjalova has reestablished herself as a top competitor on the PWBA Tour. Now, she looks ahead to the next challenge, eager to continue her winning ways.