The USBC Open Championships experience is a whole lot more than nine games of team, doubles and singles competition. It's a multi-event extravaganza that provides participants with a number of optional "side events" to fulfill competitive urges and expand opportunities to win additional prize money.
The idea of brackets is 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. First prize in the $10 brackets is $50 and second place pays $20. 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. During the team event only, $5 brackets also will be available. First prize will be $25 and second place pays $10. A bowler may enter a maximum of 20 $5 brackets.
The idea of brackets is 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.
First prize in the $10 brackets is $50 and second place pays $20. 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.
During the team event only, $5 brackets also will be available. First prize will be $25 and second place pays $10. A bowler may enter a maximum of 20 $5 brackets.
This offering allows bowlers to choose to enter a Second Chance Bracket 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 their entry fee back. 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.
This offering allows bowlers to choose to enter a Second Chance Bracket 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 their entry fee back. 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.
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 and doubles partners. Entries into the individual Super Brackets will be $25 with a top prize of $5,000 in each. Bowlers may enter up to 10 individual Super Brackets. The individual Super Brackets include 512 bowlers, and include all nine games. Also, players 50 and older can enter individual 50+ Super Brackets for $10 each. Super Doubles Brackets will not be available in 2009.
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 and doubles partners.
Entries into the individual Super Brackets will be $25 with a top prize of $5,000 in each. Bowlers may enter up to 10 individual Super Brackets. The individual Super Brackets include 512 bowlers, and include all nine games. Also, players 50 and older can enter individual 50+ Super Brackets for $10 each. Super Doubles Brackets will not be available in 2009.
A new spin on an old favorite, Reverse Brackets work just like traditional brackets. 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). Eight randomly-selected bowlers on your squad during team, doubles and/or singles are entered into each bracket. 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. First prize in the Reverse Brackets is $50 and second place pays $20. The maximum number of Reverse Brackets you may enter in each event is 80.
A new spin on an old favorite, Reverse Brackets work just like traditional brackets. 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).
Eight randomly-selected bowlers on your squad during team, doubles and/or singles are entered into each bracket. 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.
First prize in the Reverse Brackets is $50 and second place pays $20. The maximum number of Reverse Brackets you may enter in each event is 80.
With an entry fee of just $10, Century Doubles pairs two bowlers with a combined age of 100 or higher in the current calendar year. 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.
With an entry fee of just $10, Century Doubles pairs two bowlers with a combined age of 100 or higher in the current calendar year. 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.
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 Albuquerque, N.M., 22 winners earned $2,322 for hitting the 1-5-9 Jackpot, and 17 winners took home $3,269 in the 3-6-10 Jackpot. Additionally, bowlers who hit eight out 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.
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 Albuquerque, N.M., 22 winners earned $2,322 for hitting the 1-5-9 Jackpot, and 17 winners took home $3,269 in the 3-6-10 Jackpot.
Additionally, bowlers who hit eight out 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.
Revised in 2008, 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 year-long 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 year-long 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 year-long jackpot. The year-long 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 year-long jackpots. There will be a separate year-long prize fund for each event.
Revised in 2008, 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 year-long 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 year-long 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 year-long jackpot. The year-long 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 year-long jackpots. There will be a separate year-long prize fund for each event.
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 to record 30 consecutive frames with a strike or spare -- in team, doubles and singles. If a bowler is successful in any of the three events - or all three, for that matter - he/she will share in the end-of-tournament payoff. Last year in Albuquerque, the 30 Clean Jackpot was hit 242 times for $222. 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.
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 to record 30 consecutive frames with a strike or spare -- in team, doubles and singles. If a bowler is successful in any of the three events - or all three, for that matter - he/she will share in the end-of-tournament payoff. Last year in Albuquerque, the 30 Clean Jackpot was hit 242 times for $222.
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.
An event exclusively for Classified Division bowlers, Tic-Tac-Toe is a tournament-long event. Fourteen bowlers are grouped together and their nine tournament games are used to determine the winners. The new entry fee for Classified Tic-Tac-Toe is $20, and there are nine ways to cash. Each way pays $20 for first and $10 for second. You may enter up to 20 different brackets. At the completion of the tournament, all entries will be randomly sorted to determine winners. Your scores for each event are entered into the bracket horizontally with team on top, doubles in the middle and singles on the bottom in the following fashion: The nine winning combinations are as follows. The top two scores in each direction will get paid. 1. T1T2 T3 (across) (high total of these three added together wins, next highest is second) 2. D1 D2 D3 (across) 3. S1 S2 S3 (across) 4. T1 D1 S1 (down) 5. T2 D2 S2 (down) 6. T3 D3 S3 (down) 7.T1 D2 S3 (diag down) 8. S1 D2 T3 (diag up) 9. T1 T3 S1 S3 (four corners)
An event exclusively for Classified Division bowlers, Tic-Tac-Toe is a tournament-long event.
Fourteen bowlers are grouped together and their nine tournament games are used to determine the winners. The new entry fee for Classified Tic-Tac-Toe is $20, and there are nine ways to cash. Each way pays $20 for first and $10 for second. You may enter up to 20 different brackets. At the completion of the tournament, all entries will be randomly sorted to determine winners.
Your scores for each event are entered into the bracket horizontally with team on top, doubles in the middle and singles on the bottom in the following fashion: The nine winning combinations are as follows. The top two scores in each direction will get paid.
1. T1T2 T3 (across) (high total of these three added together wins, next highest is second) 2. D1 D2 D3 (across) 3. S1 S2 S3 (across) 4. T1 D1 S1 (down) 5. T2 D2 S2 (down) 6. T3 D3 S3 (down) 7.T1 D2 S3 (diag down) 8. S1 D2 T3 (diag up) 9. T1 T3 S1 S3 (four corners)
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 bowler in each group of 10 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. The Open Championships is also part of the American Zone Ranking program. The top 16 men and top 16 women in each region with the highest point total will be eligible for the final ranking tournament that will be held at a date and site to be determined. The eight men and eight women who will represent the American Zone at the World Ranking Masters will be selected from this event. The World Ranking Masters includes the top eight ranking men and women from the three zones. Those players will bowl for a separate prize fund. Bowlers interested in a chance to qualify for the Team USA Trials can register when they sign up for brackets before team event.
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 bowler in each group of 10 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.
The Open Championships is also part of the American Zone Ranking program. The top 16 men and top 16 women in each region with the highest point total will be eligible for the final ranking tournament that will be held at a date and site to be determined.
The eight men and eight women who will represent the American Zone at the World Ranking Masters will be selected from this event. The World Ranking Masters includes the top eight ranking men and women from the three zones. Those players will bowl for a separate prize fund.
Bowlers interested in a chance to qualify for the Team USA Trials can register when they sign up for brackets before team event.
