Alex Horton Rockets to Victory at 2026 PBA Tournament of Champions
FAIRLAWN, Ohio – On the legendary lanes of AMF Riviera, history was made on Sunday as Alex Horton captured his first-ever PBA Tour title—and it couldn’t have come in grander fashion. Horton dominated the 2026 PBA Tournament of Champions, walking away with the $100,000 top prize and cementing his name among bowling’s elite.
Horton’s road to glory was nothing short of cinematic. After battling through the pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ), he struck in the eighth, ninth, and 10th frames to punch his ticket to the main field—a milestone he called his “sole goal for the week.” From there, the rookie qualified 16th for match play, posting a scorching 17-7 record that vaulted him to the No. 2 seed for the stepladder finals.
The finals were packed with drama. Four-time TOC champ Jason Belmonte opened strong, defeating rookie Brandon Bonta, but the veteran’s fire fizzled against Andrew Anderson, who surged to the semis with a commanding 236-163 victory. There, Horton showcased a different weapon: a urethane ball from the right side of the lane, trading hook for precision, keeping him steady in the pocket and converting spares when it counted. The strategy worked beautifully, edging Anderson 223-212.
In the title match, Horton faced top seed Zach Wilkins, fresh off his first PBA victory just a week prior. Wilkins couldn’t tame the tricky lanes, and Horton struck hard out of the gate. A brief spare miss in the eighth frame gave Wilkins hope—but Horton sealed it with a strike in the 10th, capped with another for flair, before embracing his father Charles in a moment brimming with emotion.
“It all pays off right there, in that hug,” Horton said. “Everything we’ve worked for, everything my dad sacrificed, it’s all right there in that 10th frame.”
Horton’s win is historic on multiple fronts. He became the fourth rookie champion of the 2026 PBA season, extending the record for first-time winners. He also became the fourth Black player to claim a PBA Tour title, joining legends George Branham III, Gary Faulkner Jr., and DeeRonn Booker—all major champions. In a poetic twist, Horton’s triumph came on the same AMF Riviera lanes where Branham won the 1993 TOC, defeating Horton’s mentor Parker Bohn III.
“I knew Alex was special when I saw him compete at 12 years old,” Bohn said. “He’s fearless, calm, and precise. Today, all of that came together perfectly.”
The PBA season barrels on, with the PBA World Series of Bowling XVII hitting Minneapolis next week. But for Horton, Sunday’s victory will forever be a moment to savor—a rookie no more, a champion in every sense.
Championship Round Highlights
- Match One: Jason Belmonte def. Brandon Bonta, 247-213
- Match Two: Andrew Anderson def. Jason Belmonte, 236-163
- Match Three: Alex Horton def. Andrew Anderson, 223-212
- Championship: Alex Horton def. Zach Wilkins, 224-176
Final Standings & Payouts
- Alex Horton – $100,000
- Zach Wilkins – $50,000
- Andrew Anderson – $30,000
- Jason Belmonte – $25,000
- Brandon Bonta – $20,000
