January 23, 2025 Nolan Hughes

The championship round of the 2025 season-opening PBA Delaware Classic is set at Mid County Lanes and Entertainment in Middletown, Del.

The stepladder finals will air live on FS1 at 5 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Jakob Butturff earned the top seed, qualifying fourth after 18 games on the high-scoring, 35-foot Cheetah oil pattern. The left-hander defeated EJ Tackett and Ryan Barnes in best-of-seven-games bracket match play.

After a down 2024 season, which Butturff described as the worst of his career, the eight-time PBA Tour champion looks to have returned to dominant form.

Nick Pate will be the No. 2 seed, followed by Graham Fach, AJ Johnson and Michael Davidson. The top four seeds each won their respective bracket, while Davidson represented the highest-seeded loser in the Round of 8.

Pate advanced out of the pre-tournament qualifier on Monday, just like last year’s PBA Delaware Classic champion, Boog Krol. Pate, who is seeking his first career title, defeated Marshall Kent, Kyle Troup and Trevor Roberts to reach the stepladder finals.

Fach took down BJ Moore, who had made two consecutive championship rounds on the Cheetah pattern, in Wednesday’s Round of 24. On Thursday, Fach defeated fellow southpaws Cam Crowe and Justin Knowles.

No player had a more eventful Thursday than Johnson, escaping a seven-game thriller against Andrew Anderson (including a 289-279 Game 7 victory) before overcoming a 3-1 deficit against Davidson in the Round of 8.

Johnson said he gets his resilience and competitive attitude from his father, who celebrated his 60th birthday today.

Davidson’s record-breaking qualifying performance, in which he bested Mike Aulby’s 12-game scoring record, netted him the top seed for bracket match play and earned him the fifth seed for the stepladder finals. 

Tickets are available for the championship round while supplies last here.

Round of 8 Results

No. 24 AJ Johnson def. No. 1 Michael Davidson, 4-3

No. 18 Graham Fach def. No. 7 Justin Knowles, 4-1

No. 11 Nick Pate def. No. 19 Trevor Roberts, 4-2

No. 4 Jakob Butturff def. No. 5 Ryan Barnes, 4-2

Round of 16 Results

No. 1 Michael Davidson def. No. 17 Brandon Runk, 4-1
No. 24 AJ Johnson def. No. 8 Andrew Anderson, 4-3

No. 18 Graham Fach def. No. 2 Cam Crowe, 4-1
No. 7 Justin Knowles def. No. 23 Keven Williams, 4-2

No. 19 Trevor Roberts def. No. 3 Tomas Käyhkö, 4-3
No. 11 Nick Pate def. No. 6 Kyle Troup, 4-1

No. 4 Jakob Butturff def. No. 13 EJ Tackett, 4-3
No. 5 Ryan Barnes def. No. 12 Matt Ogle, 4-3

Match scores are available here.

Tournament Schedule

Mid County Lanes & Entertainment | Middletown, DE

All times Eastern

Saturday, Jan. 25
5 p.m. — Finals | FS1