All you have to do to participate is become a USBC member. If you want to experience competition in a stadium-like atmosphere while combining your bowling experience with a vacation to the tournament city, this is the event for you.

Would you believe that the Open Championships (formerly called the ABC Championships Tournament) has a long and storied tradition older than football's Rose Bowl, baseball's World Series and auto racing's Indianapolis 500? It's true. The ABC Championships Tournament was born in 1901 when six lanes were installed in the Welsbach Building in downtown Chicago. The tournament ran four days, hosting 41 teams from nine states and offering a $1,592 prize fund. Tournament organizers leased the second floor of the Welsbach Building in Chicago, a brick structure located behind the Marshall Field's store on Wabash Avenue. The Brunswick Balke-Collender Corp. agreed to donate six lanes and all the necessary furnishings.

Today, this four-and-a-half-month annual bowling celebration attracts between 60,000 and 90,000 participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Bowlers compete for a mammoth prize fund that tops $6 million.

The tournament installation - usually 48 lanes - is so big that it must be conducted in convention centers or sports arenas. A typical Open Championships installation requires enough plywood to construct five three-bedroom homes and more than six miles of wiring is required to take care of the event's electrical needs.

More than 30 locally-hired carpenters, electricians and laborers help install the unique tournament venue which includes 48 lanes, temporary offices and exhibition space for vendors.

The tournament format remains mostly the same as it was from the beginning. You must be a USBC Adult member to compete in the tournament, which consists of team, doubles and singles events. You usually bowl the three-game team event the first day and six games of doubles and singles on the next. There are two divisions based on skill level: The Regular Division, for those who average higher than 180, and the Classified Division, for bowlers who average 180 or below. Classified doubles partners can't have more than a 360 combined average, while Classified team members can't have a combined team average of more than 900).

Important Dates

Rosterlineup Deadline
10/1/11

Last day to enter tournament
03/1/12

Tournament start date
02/11/12

2012 USBC Open Championships pattern | 2012 USBC Open Championships lane graph

The 2010 and 2011 USBC Open Championships patterns are still available for your reference:

2010 USBC Open Championships pattern | 2010 USBC Open Championships lane graph

2011 USBC Open Championships pattern | 2011 USBC Open Championships lane graph

The tournament was held for the first time in 1901 when six lanes were installed in the Welsbach Building in downtown Chicago. The event ran for four days, hosting 41 teams from nine states, while offering a prize fund of $1,592.

Today, it takes a team of more than 30 carpenters and laborers a month to transform a venue into a state of the art 48-lane bowling center (60 lanes in 2009) before the Open Championships begin its 140-day run (recent tournaments have run anywhere from 135-154 days). The event attracts 60,000 to 90,000 participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries and features a prize fund that exceeds $6 million. Every third year, the Open Championships is conducted at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.

Open to all bowlers who hold a USBC adult membership (except bowlers who are exempt members of the PBA Tour), the Open Championships has two divisions - Classified for bowlers who average 180 or less (360 combined doubles average; 900 combined team average) and a Regular Division for those who average 181 and higher.

Why should I enter the Open Championships?
As one of the most prestigious events in the sport, which was established in 1901, the USBC Open Championships is the national championships for grassroots USBC members. It is an opportunity for every USBC member to compete for a national title, bowl in a one-of-a-kind bowling stadium and possibly cash in on a huge prize fund.

Since the event is held in different cities each year, it also provides members with an opportunity to see the country. Most entrants enhance the experience in the event by also taking in all the attractions that the host cities have to offer. For the thousands of loyal Open Championships participants, the event is the highlight of the bowling season.

How do I verify my average?
There are three ways to verify your average. However only the bowlers who qualify for the Classified Division in any event have to verify.

*The easiest way to verify your average is to use the Find a Member search on bowl.com. You can search by name or member ID. Once you locate your record, you can pull up your averages from past seasons. Print out the page that lists your 2007-08 average, and either send it with your entry, or bring it with you to Las Vegas.

*If you are unable to print out your record from bowl.com, you can also bring a copy of your local association yearbook that lists your highest average.

*Have your local association manager verify it for you. If you don't know already, you can ask your league secretary how to get in touch with your association manager.

How much does it cost to enter the USBC Open Championships Championships?
When you think about it, the cost to enter one of the world's largest and most prestigious bowling tournaments is really quite inexpensive.

The entry fee is $45 per event, per bowler: (Breakdown per event: $25 for prizes and $20 for expenses); All-Events - optional $15. ($14 for prizes and $1 to Team USA). The total cost is $150 PER BOWLER, which allows them to compete in team, doubles, singles and all-events.

What is the process for scheduling doubles/singles?
Doubles and Singles are scheduled after full fees are received.

If I need to use a substitute bowler, who receives prize money, the original bowler or the sub?
The prize money goes to the sub. The sub is the person who bowled the games therefore the sub gets the money.

What exactly is All-Events?
All-events is a combination of team, doubles, and singles scores. It takes all nine games and combines then into a extra prize fund.

If I substitute for a bowler on the team, do I have to pay the entry fee?
That is determined between the captain and the substitute bowler.

Can I bowl more than once in an event?
You may only bowl in each event once.

Why is it so important for companion teams to have their paperwork returned together?
Many teams travel to the Open Championships together. Turning in their paperwork at the same time allows them to be scheduled on the same squads for team and doubles/singles.

Can I bowl in only one of the events?
You can bowl team without bowling doubles and singles or vice-versa, but doubles and singles is a package deal. You cannot sign up for just one or the other.

How soon do I need to arrive before my team squad?
We recommend arriving two hours before your squad time in case of changes need to be made. For doubles and singles, we recommend one hour if there are no changes or need for a sub.

What is the dress code?
It has often been said that looking your best helps instill a sense of pride that can assist you in competing at your very best.

Increasingly, Open Championships bowlers are showing their pride by participating in the Pride Award program, which recognizes teams that dress alike. All teams that dress in matching shirts and pants (no jeans) will receive a special lapel pin.

But whether or not your team participates in the Pride program, the Open Championships requires that you abide by its dress code which is as follows:

All participants must wear a shirt with a butterfly-type (polo shirt) or mock collar and casual slacks, trousers or jeans. Women may wear Capri pants provided the length is below the knees.

*Please note that shirts with mock collars are now allowed by individual bowlers in any event, provided they are wearing casual slacks or trousers (no jeans allowed with "mock" collar shirts).

During competition in any event, bowlers are not permitted to wear hats, sweats, shorts, skirts, skorts, culottes or zubas (pants with elastic cuffs). If you are wearing any of these items you will be asked to change into more appropriate attire.

All apparel must be neat, clean and in good condition.

Any questionable items or special circumstances will be addressed by the Manager on Duty.

Bowlers will be asked to change their attire if deemed inappropriate by tournament management or designee. Tournament management or designee decision shall be final.

Why do you collect Social Security Number?
Since you have the opportunity to win prize money the social security number is needed for tax purposes.

What do I do if I do not want to provide my teammates with my SSN?
The social security number is required before you begin competition.

Traveling with my bowling equipment can be a pain, especially when flying. How do you ship bowling balls? Will the hotels accept them? Where do you ship them to?
Through a service provided called Bowling Ball Express (BBE), you can ship your bowling balls directly to the tournament site.

You can ship them to the hotel if they accept them, however, they may not be responsible for them. It saves you the hassle of carrying them from hotel to tournament venue. You can also ship the balls home when you are finished with your bowling.

50+ Super Brackets

Super Side Pots (cashers)

Super Sidepots

Eagle's Nest Captain-Only Brackets

Participation Prize Lists

Tic Tac Toe

Solo Super Brackets

Senior Super Brackets

Century Doubles Ranking

Team USA Qualifying

Super Sidepots

USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships Final Results

Open Singles

Senior Singles

Classic Singles

205 & Under Singles

180 & Under Singles

Open Doubles

Senior Doubles

Mixed Doubles

Dual Entry

Side Pots

Official Tournament Participation Prizes

Brackets

Brackets are quite simple: each “bracket” includes eight randomly-selected bowlers on your squad during team, doubles and/or singles events. You need to bowl a higher game than the bowler you are paired against to advance out of each round. If you win all three matches, you win your bracket.

During team, doubles and singles, there are $5 and $10 brackets. First prize in the $10 brackets is $50, and second place pays $20, while first prize in the $5 brackets is $25 and second place pays $10. In addition to regular brackets, there are special brackets for senior bowlers age 50 and older. A bowler may enter a maximum of 80 brackets.

New for 2012, there will be $5 individual brackets for Classified bowlers during doubles and singles.

Second Chance Brackets

For $10 during the team event only, the Second Chance Brackets are similar to regular brackets but four of the eight bowlers will have a chance to at least win back their entry fee. Bowlers may enter 40 Second Chance Brackets.

Bowlers who lose the first game will advance to a losers’ bracket. Bowlers who lose again will be eliminated. Bowlers whose first loss comes in the second game will advance to a second sub-bracket. The bowler who loses again will be eliminated.

The person who makes it through the initial bracket undefeated will win $30. Two wins and a loss in the final will earn the bowler $20. A win in the first game, followed by a loss in the second and a win in the third will earn the bowler $15. The winner of the initial losers’ bracket will earn $10.

Reverse Brackets

An exciting spin on an old favorite, Reverse Brackets work like traditional brackets but the only difference is that instead of using your scores in order (Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3), they are used in reverse order (Game 3, Game 2, Game 1).

The cost for Reverse Brackets is $5, and the maximum number of Reverse Brackets you may enter is 80 per event. First place pays $25, while second place pays $10.

New in 2012, there will be Senior Reverse Brackets for bowlers 50 and older the day they compete (available in team, doubles and singles) and Classified Reverse Brackets during doubles and singles for bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below. Senior and Classified Reverse Brackets will be limited to 40.

Super Brackets

USBC offers a “Super Bracket” program that allows bowlers to compete in side events which last more than just the traditional three games. Bowlers are randomly matched up the day after the USBC Open Championships concludes. Super Brackets are offered for individual bowlers only. 

Entries into the individual Super Brackets will be $25 with a top prize of $5,000 in each. Bowlers may enter up to 20 individual Super Brackets. The individual Super Brackets include 512 bowlers, and include all nine games. Also, players 50 and older can enter individual 50 and Older Super Brackets for $10 each. Seniors may enter up to (20) 50 and Older Super Brackets, which feature a $2,000 top prize.

Century Doubles

With an entry fee of $20, Century Doubles pairs two bowlers who are a combined 100 years or older on their day of competition. Bowlers may only enter with other competitors on their squad (up to five partners) in this tournament-long event.

For example, a bowler who is 35 years old must find a bowler on his/her squad who is 65 or older in order to enter his event and vice versa. Bowlers will use their combined doubles scores to determine the winner at the end of the tournament’s run in July.

Prize money goes to the bowler who signs the pair up, but the two bowlers can enter with each other and share the place in the standings. For example, Joe Bowler can sign up with Jim Bowler, and Jim Bowler can then pay his own $20 to sign up with Joe Bowler. 

Senior Side Event

We are glad to announce the return of this exciting product just for our senior bowlers (age 50 and older on day of competition). For a $25 entry fee paid at the brackets window, bowlers will be entered into two special senior-only prize funds (singles and all-events). Both divisions will feature a 1:4.5 cash ratio. Singles and all-events totals from the main tournament will be used for this product.

Ultimate Mulligan

The Ultimate Mulligan requires entrants to compile their three highest games of the 2012 tournament to arrive at their Ultimate Mulligan series score. Then, they will see how their three-game set holds up for the duration of the tournament. The Ultimate Mulligan features a prize-fund-style payout with a cash ratio of 1:4.5. The entry fee is $20.

There is one version of the Ultimate Mulligan for our super seniors (bowlers age 60 and older the day they compete) and one just for Classified bowlers, who enter the tournament with an average of 180 or below.

1-5-9 and 3-6-10 Strike Jackpots

Once again, the 1-5-9 and 3-6-10 Strike Jackpots will feature a $10 entry fee, which puts bowlers in the jackpot for all three events (team, doubles and singles). 

Bowlers who record strikes in the first, fifth and ninth frames (or the third, sixth and first shot in the 10th frame for the 3-6-10 Jackpot) of all three games in an event will split the accumulated total at the end of the tournament. Last year in Reno, 24 winners earned $1,500 for hitting the 1-5-9 Jackpot, and 26 winners took home $1,460 in the 3-6-10 Jackpot.

Additionally, bowlers who hit eight of nine strikes in will share 10 percent of the jackpots. So even if you miss in the first shot of the first game, you still have a chance to cash.

Super Side Pots

The Super Side Pots are a modern version of the traditional side pots that reward you for being the best on your squad. There’s also a built-in bonus feature that allows you to cash in for a share of the yearlong jackpot.

For a $25 entry fee for each event (team, doubles and singles), players are entered into traditional side pots during each squad ($18 from each entry), along with a yearlong high game jackpot ($4.50 from each entry).

Beat the bowlers on your squad and take home your prize money that day. Then see how your scores hold up in the yearlong jackpot. The yearlong jackpot will feature a prize fund-style payout, and the cash ratio will be 1:10. For example, the Super Side Pot entrant with the highest overall score (and all bowlers who match that score), will finish in first place and receive equal shares of the jackpot. If there are 1,000 people entered, the top 100 each will receive prize money.

If you enter the Super Side Pots, you have nine chances at the squad prizes and nine opportunities to earn a share of the yearlong jackpots. There will be a separate yearlong prize fund for each event. 

30 Clean Jackpot

The 30 Clean Jackpot offers participants three chances to earn a share of a tournament-long jackpot for a $10 entry fee.

Each bowler will have three chances – team, double, singles – to record 30 consecutive frames with a strike or spare. If a bowler is successful in any of the three or all three, for that matter, he/she will share in the end-of-tournament payoff. Last year in Reno, the 30 Clean Jackpot was hit 241 times for $192.

Each 30 Clean qualifier also will receive a special award to commemorate the achievement.

Out of each 30 Clean Jackpot entry fee, $1.50 will be donated to the Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Team USA Qualifying

Open Championships bowlers are encouraged to use their nine-game all-events totals as qualifying scores to earn paid entries into the USBC Team USA Trials, an event that gives bowlers a chance to be on Team USA.

For a $30 entry fee, one out of every 10 entrants earns a paid Team USA Trials entry.

In addition to a chance to represent the United States in international bowling competition through the optional qualifying program, USBC donates $1 from each all-events entry fee to support the Team USA program.

Bowlers interested in a chance to qualify for the Team USA Trials can register when they sign up for brackets before team event.

Classified Cash-O-Matic Bracket 

Introduced in 2010, Classified Cash-O-Matic gives Classified bowlers their own product with a same-day payout. Bowlers may enter a maximum of 20 at $10 each. All Cash-O-Matic entrants must be verified as Classified bowlers prior to the start of their team event. 

The Cash-O-Matic Bracket, available only during team, plays out just like a traditional bracket, but in this case, every bowler cashes. The four bowlers who lose the first game each will receive $3. Those who win the first game but lose the second each will receive $8. The bowler who wins all three games will receive $24, while the person who wins two games and loses the final will take home $18.

Note: This year, all same-day payouts will be made at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel. Also, in order to participate in any side event that requires scores from all nine games, specifically Super Brackets and Team USA qualifying, bowlers must bowl team event before doubles and singles and must sign up prior to throwing their first ball.

Regular Division champions

Team | Doubles | Singles | All-Events | Team All-Events

In its history, the tournament has traveled all over the United States, from north to south, from coast to coast. Its historic, annual run interrupted only once - a three year period during World War II. The following is a list of the cities that have hosted the tournament.