August 22, 2024 Nolan Hughes

The final title event of the 2024 PBA Tour is set to begin this week in Helsingborg, Sweden.

In last year’s event, which marked a return to the PBA Tour calendar after five years, AJ Johnson captured his long-coveted first career title.

Johnson defeated Ryan Barnes, Kris Prather, Anthony Simonsen in match play, then Sweden’s own Jesper Svensson in the title match.

“People always say, ‘If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,’” Johnson said. “I think I did that today.”

Johnson will make the long journey from Reno, Nev. to Sweden after representing Team USA at the 2024 PANAM Bowling Championships.

“Anytime you get a win like that, it ultimately gives you more confidence on the lanes and allows you to bowl with more freedom and clarity,” Johnson said. “Getting that win, it gave me that sense of belonging out here. Before, I felt like I was trying so hard because I wanted it so bad. Now, I can let it happen and let my abilities take over.”

Format

The Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, bearing the name of Swedish bowling star Martin Larsen, features a unique format as players can bowl multiple of the 26 qualifying squads from August 23-31.

Qualifying rounds will be livestreamed for free on the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters YouTube channel.

After all squads are complete, 52 players will advance. All pinfall will be dropped after each round. 

Qualifiers 27-40 and a dozen unique qualifiers — as outlined on page 3 here — will bowl a six-game advancer round, Final Step 1. Of those 30 players, the top 12 will advance to Final Step 2.

On Sept. 1, the top 16 of 36 players after another six-game round (Final Step 2) will advance to bracket match play.

The Round of 16 and Round of 8 features three-game total pinfall matches, followed by single-game matches in the semifinals and finals.

The winner will receive 16.000 SEK (about $15,660 USD) and earn a PBA Tour title.

The final day of competition will be livestreamed on the all-new LaneTalk TV, featuring commentary from FOX Sports' Dave Ryan and Randy Pedersen.

The following players are scheduled to compete in at least one squad.

PBA Tour: AJ Johnson, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, François Lavoie, Jesper Svensson, Kyle Troup, Marshall Kent, Martin Larsen, Nathan Bohr, Nathan Ruest-Lajoie, Sean Rash, Tomas Käyhkö, Wesley Low Jr.

PWBA Tour: Crystal Elliott, Danielle McEwan, Maria José Rodriguez, Verity Crawley

Storylines

The key storyline in Sweden is the Player of the Year Race, which Anthony Simonsen flipped on its head with his tremendous summer.

After winning the PBA Tour Finals in June and the Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles in July, Simonsen now leads the tour with three titles.

Tackett sits just one title behind, but also has a major victory to his credit. Tackett also led the tour in points and average and leads in earnings.

With two titles each to their name, Marshall Kent, Boog Krol and Kyle Troup will also be on the POY ballot; Bill O’Neill, one title and top-10 in earnings, will also qualify.

Tournament Schedule

Aug. 23 — Squads 1-2
Aug. 24 — Squads 3-6
Aug. 25 — Squads 7-9
Aug. 26 — Squads 10-11
Aug. 27 — Squads 12-13
Aug. 28 — Squads 14-15
Aug. 29 — Squads 16-19
Aug. 30 — Squads 20-23
Aug. 31 — Squads 24-26, Final Step 1
Sept. 1 — Final Step 2, match play and finals

More information on the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters is available here.