EJ Tackett Leads the Charge into the Round of 16 at PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic

Tackett Continues to Dominate

EJ Tackett has once again demonstrated why he is one of the most formidable bowlers on the PBA Tour. Through two days of competition at the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic, Tackett has outshined the 76-player field, leading the tournament after 18 games of qualifying. He posted an impressive average of over 233 and accumulated a total pinfall of 4,208 (+608) on the 45-foot Dick Weber oil pattern at Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield, Missouri.

With his exceptional performance, Tackett secured the No. 1 seed heading into the elimination rounds, where he will face Shawn Maldonado in the Round of 16.

Road to the Championship

Tackett is joined in the top eight by Ryan Barnes, Tim Foy Jr., Kyle Troup, Kevin McCune, AJ Johnson, Bill O’Neill, and Chris Via, all of whom received a one-round bye in the elimination match play.

Meanwhile, the Round of 24 on Thursday night produced several thrilling matchups. Notably, Dom Barrett staged an incredible comeback against fellow Englishman Richie Teece, overturning a 3-0 deficit to win four consecutive games and advance to the next round.

Now, Tackett will face Maldonado in a best-of-seven Round of 16 match at 11 a.m. CT (12 p.m. ET) on Friday, with all matches livestreamed on BowlTV.

Tackett’s Strategy and the Significance of This Event

Despite leading the tournament, Tackett remains uncertain about his approach for the upcoming matches.

“My ball reaction has gotten worse every block,” Tackett admitted. “I’ve definitely got to do something different on the fresh. My look hasn’t been very good in the beginning, but the middle has been okay. If I can bowl a decent first game and maybe get away with a win, I would feel pretty confident that my ball reaction would continue to get better.”

Tackett finished third in last year’s PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic, losing a gripping semifinal match to eventual champion Anthony Simonsen. This year, he aims to claim the title in a tournament that holds special meaning for him.

“It is really cool to recognize an icon and be part of this event,” Tackett said, referring to PBA legend Pete Weber. “He said it best when he retired: ‘Hate me or love me, you watched.’ He brought something to our sport that no one else could.”

Tackett also expressed the need for more tournaments honoring PBA legends, mentioning Walter Ray Williams Jr. as a potential future honoree.

Upcoming Matches and Tournament Schedule

The Round of 16 features several intriguing matchups:

Round of 16 Matchups

• No. 1 EJ Tackett vs. No. 17 Shawn Maldonado
• No. 8 Chris Via vs. No. 24 Tomas Käyhkö
• No. 2 Ryan Barnes vs. No. 15 Jake Peters
• No. 7 Bill O’Neill vs. No. 23 Dom Barrett
• No. 3 Tim Foy Jr. vs. No. 14 Tom Daugherty
• No. 6 AJ Johnson vs. No. 22 Andrew Anderson
• No. 4 Kyle Troup vs. No. 13 Zach Wilkins
• No. 5 Kevin McCune vs. No. 12 Timmy Tan

Tournament Schedule (All Times Central)

📅 Friday, Feb. 14 | BowlTV
🕚 11 a.m. — Round of 16 (best-of-seven games)
🕕 6 p.m. — Round of 8 (best-of-seven games)

📅 Sunday, Feb. 16 | FS1
🕛 12 p.m. — Championship Round (stepladder finals)

Can Tackett Go All the Way?

With a stellar qualifying performance behind him, EJ Tackett is poised for a deep run in the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic. However, as he acknowledged, the key to victory lies in adjusting his strategy and ensuring a strong start in match play.

Will Tackett claim the title and cement his legacy in a tournament named after one of bowling’s greatest icons? The battle for the championship continues—don’t miss it!