Andrew Anderson Wins PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic Title

Anderson Secures His Fifth Career Title with a Dominant Victory Over EJ Tackett

Andrew Anderson showcased his ability to bounce back and claim victory, defeating EJ Tackett in the championship match of the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic presented by Pilgrim’s. The 29-year-old top seed triumphed with a 237-181 win at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, securing his fifth career PBA title and the $30,000 top prize.

Anderson, who won his first two singles titles in 2018 during his PBA Player of the Year season, ended a long title drought with this victory.

A Career Milestone: Anderson’s Return to Singles Success

Reflecting on his win, Anderson emphasized how much this title meant to him.

“I started my career hoping to win one. That’s what everybody dreams of. Then you get one… then you win two, and you start thinking, ‘Maybe we can do something special.’ Now I’m at a point where I want to rack up more titles, maybe even make a Hall of Fame bid and cement my name in history.”

Anderson also acknowledged his desire to sustain success in this new phase of his career.

“I just hope this is the start of the second part of my career, where I can start winning again—not necessarily all the time, but often. EJ is on an unreal run. What he’s doing is almost superhuman. If I can take a few titles from him here and there, I’ll gladly take them.”

Despite winning doubles titles in 2021 and 2024 with Kris Prather, Anderson had not won a singles championship since 2018. His victory on Saturday ended a 2,478-day drought since his last singles win at the 2018 PBA Xtra Frame Greater Jonesboro Open.

“I’ve probably thought about this for at least 2,300 of those days. I’ve won on TV before—doubles, league titles, MVP—but that elusive singles title kept slipping away. Finally getting over that hurdle feels amazing.”

Championship Revenge: Anderson’s Redemption Against Tackett

The final match was a rematch of this year’s U.S. Open championship, where Tackett had defeated Anderson to claim the green jacket. This time, however, Anderson capitalized on his opportunity for revenge.

“At the U.S. Open, I didn’t bowl well for myself. I was nervous, hesitant, and just not aggressive enough. This time, I wanted to play aggressively and execute my game plan without fear.”

Anderson came out firing, starting the match with six consecutive strikes, while Tackett struggled with two open frames due to missed shots on the right lane.

Tackett, who had just emerged from an exhausting semifinal battle against Ethan Fiore, admitted that fatigue played a role in his performance.

“I ran out of lane after that marathon semifinal. The seven-frame roll-off took everything out of me, both physically and mentally. It also sped up the lane transition, making things even trickier.”

Historic Semifinal Battle: The Longest Roll-Off in PBA History

The tournament’s most intense moment came in the semifinal matchup between EJ Tackett and Ethan Fiore, which featured the longest roll-off in PBA history. After tying at 238, both players struck every shot in the roll-off until Fiore left a 7-pin on the seventh frame, handing the victory to Tackett.

Earlier in the tournament, Fiore defeated Alec Keplinger in the second match. Keplinger needed a perfect 10th frameto advance but left a 10-pin on his first shot, falling short of the comeback.

In the opening match, Jesper Svensson started strong with three consecutive strikes but followed with four straight spares, allowing Keplinger to capitalize with eight consecutive strikes from the third through the 10th frame to take the win.

What’s Next: PBA Action Continues in Reno

The excitement at the National Bowling Stadium is far from over. The PBA World Series of Bowling XVI will host its championship rounds from Sunday to Wednesday, leading up to the PBA World Championship finals on Saturday, March 22.

PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic Final Results

Championship Round Scores

• Match 1: No. 4 Alec Keplinger def. No. 5 Jesper Svensson, 257-214
• Match 2: No. 3 Ethan Fiore def. No. 4 Alec Keplinger, 247-226
• Match 3: No. 2 EJ Tackett def. No. 3 Ethan Fiore, 238-238 (Roll-off: X-X, X-X, X-X, X-X, X-X, X-X, X-9 — longest roll-off in PBA history)
• Championship: No. 1 Andrew Anderson def. No. 2 EJ Tackett, 237-181

Final Standings and Prize Money

1. Andrew Anderson – $30,000
2. EJ Tackett – $18,000
3. Ethan Fiore – $13,000
4. Alec Keplinger – $10,000
5. Jesper Svensson – $9,000

With plenty more PBA action ahead, fans can look forward to another thrilling week of competition.