EJ Tackett Secures Top Seed for PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic Finals

EJ Tackett has dominated the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic from start to finish, leading the event from the first qualifying game to the final frame. Now, he stands just one match away from his 25th career PBA Tour title as the top seed in Sunday’s stepladder finals.

The championship round, airing at 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) on FS1 from Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield, Missouri, will also feature Tim Foy Jr., Timmy Tan, Dom Barrett, and Ryan Barnes.

Road to the Finals

Tackett’s path to the top seed was nothing short of impressive. The two-time reigning PBA Player of the Year secured a one-round bye in the elimination match play bracket before defeating Shawn Maldonado and Tomas Käyhkö. His continued dominance has positioned him as the second-youngest player in PBA history to surpass 20 career titles—trailing only Pete Weber himself.

“It is awesome to know that I have an opportunity to win a tournament with Pete’s name attached to it,” Tackett said. “I hope I can bowl a good game on Sunday and give myself a chance to have a trophy in my case that has his name on it.”

Tim Foy Jr.: A Rising Star

Foy, the third seed, is making his third consecutive championship round appearance after defeating Tom Daugherty and Andrew Anderson. Earlier this season, he finished third in the PBA Owen’s Illinois Classic and competed in the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship.

Despite a dominant run in the PBA East Region last season, where he won four titles and recorded eight top-three finishes in nine events, Foy entered 2024 with concerns about whether he could sustain that success. With his third straight stepladder finals appearance, he has proven himself as a rising star.

“At the beginning of the year, I just wanted to make one (show),” Foy said. “To say I made three, let alone three in a row, I’m just a kid living in a dream right now.”

Timmy Tan’s Cinderella Run

In a dramatic turn of events, Timmy Tan will make his championship round debut after surviving a grueling series of matches. He defeated AJ Chapman in seven games, Kevin McCune in six games, and Kyle Troup in seven games to earn his spot.

His match against Troup came down to the final frame, where Troup needed just a mark to advance. However, a shocking 5-10 leave and a missed spare allowed Tan to move on by a single pin.

“I still can’t believe it,” Tan said, recalling the moment he heard the crowd’s reaction before realizing he had won.

Tan, who previously won gold in the IBF World Cup team event, hopes to become the first Malaysian bowler to win a PBA Tour title. He draws inspiration from his friend Li Jane Sin, who dominated the PWBA Tour in 2024, winning two majors and earning PWBA Player of the Year honors.

“She had an incredible season, and it makes me want to win just like her,” Tan said.

Dom Barrett vs. Ryan Barnes: A Rematch in the Opening Match

Dom Barrett, the 23rd seed, barely made the match play cut but went on an incredible run, overcoming an 0-3 deficit against Richie Teece and later defeating Bill O’Neill and Barnes.

Barnes, the son of PBA Hall of Famer Chris Barnes, had already proven himself last season by reaching the PBA Players Championship finals as an amateur. Now a full-fledged PBA member, he has made match play in all three PBA singles events this season.

Their opening match on Sunday will be a rematch, as Barnes secured the final spot in the stepladder finals as the highest-seeded losing player in the Round of 8.

“I feel like I have what it takes to compete every week,” Barnes said. “It’s really just figuring out how to win. Hopefully, I can continue this success and keep it going.”

Championship Round Matchups

The stepladder finals will begin with Barrett and Barnes facing off, with the winner advancing to meet Tan in the second match. The winner of that match will take on Foy, and whoever prevails will earn a shot at Tackett for the title.

The championship round airs live on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) on FS1.