Sample 2024 Brackets Forms
GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION
At the USBC Open Championships, participants have the opportunity to compete in brackets against bowlers in their divisions. Participants also will have the option to compete in higher division brackets, if they so choose.
Brackets and side events will have no impact on regular tournament competition. There is no obligation to enter, but it is a great opportunity to bring home some extra winnings.
Bracket entries during the 2024 event can be purchased using cash, credit or debit card. All same-day brackets payouts will be in cash and handled by the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa at the sportsbook located on the main casino floor and subject to the property’s standard operating procedures.
Participants under the age of 21 will be paid on-site at the Bowler Services counter inside of the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Unclaimed bracket earnings and tournament-long product payouts will be included on prize checks, with the exception of unclaimed bracket earnings of $10 or less.
Claims for bracket earnings of $10 or less must be made within 72 hours, or such claims are forfeited.
Forfeited funds support USBC philanthropic efforts: Bowl for the Cure, Bowlers to Veterans Link, Special Olympics and International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
HOW DO BRACKETS WORK?
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 three matches, you win your bracket.
- All brackets scores are scratch.
- Payouts may be adjusted if product does not fill.
- Payouts and all related documentation (1099s) are distributed only to the person entering the event.
- All products must be purchased by the time you leave the squad room to head for the lanes.
BRACKETS BY DIVISION
Same-Day Payout Options
Same-day payout brackets will be conducted based on the three-division structure; Regular (Sport/Championships averages of 176 and above), Standard (Sport/Championships averages of 156 -175) and Classified (Sport/Championships averages of 155 and below).
In addition, Senior and Super Senior competitors will continue to enjoy the chance to compete against others in similar age classifications. Maximum entries and entry fees vary by event, division and age – please reference entry form for exact limits and costs.
Individual Brackets
First prize in $10 brackets is $50, and second place pays $20. First prize in the $5 brackets will be $25, and second place will pay $10.
Reverse Brackets
Reverse Brackets work like traditional brackets, with the only difference being 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).
Super Side Pots
The Super Side Pots are a modern version of the traditional side pots that reward you for bowling the best game on your squad. Beat the bowlers in your division, on your squad, and take home your prize money that day. Then, see how your scores hold up in the yearlong jackpot. The $25 entry fee must be paid for each separate event players intend to enter (team, doubles and singles).
Prizes - $15 of every entry is paid daily as a traditional side pot during each squad, with $5 going toward a yearlong prize-fund-style payout, which features a cash ratio of 1:10.
SENIOR BRACKETS BY AGE GROUP
Products for Seniors (age 50 and older): All competitors must be 50 or older on the day of bowling.
Products for Super Seniors (age 60 and older): All competitors must be 60 or older on the day of bowling.
Individual Brackets
There are traditional $5 brackets for both Senior and Super Senior bowlers during team, doubles and singles. First prize is $25, and second place pays $10.
Reverse Brackets
With an entry fee of $5, Reverse Brackets work like traditional brackets, with the only difference being 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). First prize in the Reverse Brackets is $25, and second pays $10.
Senior and Super Senior Play-the-Field Brackets
This exciting product affords bowlers an opportunity to participate in traditional eight-person brackets, randomized at the end of the tournament, from the full field of participants in each category and event. Play-the-Field Brackets are available in the traditional order (Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3) and as a Reverse Bracket (Game 3, Game 2 and Game 1).
The entry for Play-the-Field Brackets is $5 (for both traditional and reverse). First prize is $25, and second place pays $10.
$2K Super Brackets for Seniors and Super Seniors
USBC offers a “Super Bracket” program that allows bowlers to compete in side events that last more than the traditional three games. Bowlers randomly are matched up the day after the USBC Open Championships concludes. The $2K Senior Super Brackets feature 512 bowlers and include all nine games.
Entries into the individual $2K Senior Super Brackets AND $2K Super Senior Brackets will be $10, with an estimated top prize of $2,000.
TOURNAMENT-LONG PRODUCTS
These exciting events affords bowlers an opportunity to participate in a diverse set of products, randomized at the end of the tournament and featuring payout after the tournament ends.
Mega Jackpots
Mega Jackpots combine five jackpots and the 30-Clean Jackpot!
A Mega Jackpot costs $30 and is only available for purchase during the team event. The one-time cost covers all three events (team, doubles and singles).
Get eight or nine strikes in each jackpot or roll 29 or 30 clean frames to win. The jackpot strike frames are 1-5-9, 2-5-7, 3-6-10, 4-6-8 and 8-9-10. Example: Get eight or nine strikes in the first, fifth and ninth frames in all three games of your team event to win. If there are no nine-strike winners, you can earn a prize for eight or seven strikes.
Entries are put in six equal pools and paid out at the end of the tournament. There is a separate prize fund for each event (team, doubles, singles), and each payout varies depending on how many bowlers hit each number.
Mystery Doubles (by division - Regular, Standard and Classified)
At the end of the tournament, the $20 Mystery Doubles randomly selects pairs of entrants to make doubles teams. Teams are based on each entrant’s singles division (Regular, Standard or Classified). Each team’s scratch total will determine ranking and prize. You can enter Mystery Doubles up to 20 times. Mystery Doubles pays 1:6 and has a last-place prize of $20.
Play-the-Field Brackets
This exciting product affords bowlers an opportunity to participate in traditional eight-person brackets, randomized at the end of the tournament, from the full field of participants in each category and event. Play-the-Field Brackets are available in the traditional order (Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3) and as a Reverse Bracket (Game 3, Game 2 and Game 1).
The entry for Play-the-Field Brackets is $5 (for both traditional and reverse). First prize is $25, and second place pays $10.
$2K Super Brackets
USBC offers a “Super Bracket” program that allows bowlers to compete in side events that last more than the traditional three games. Bowlers randomly are matched up the day after the USBC Open Championships concludes. The $2K Super Brackets feature 512 bowlers and include all nine games. The $2K Super Brackets are available in three divisions (open - available to all tournament entrants, Standard, Classified). Entries into the individual $2K Super Brackets will be $10, with an estimated top prize of $2,000.
$5K Solo Super Brackets
This “Super Bracket” allows bowlers to compete in side events that last more than the traditional three games. Bowlers randomly are matched up the day after the USBC Open Championships concludes (Solo Super Brackets are not conducted by division). The individual $5K Solo Super Brackets feature 512 bowlers and include all nine games. Entries into the individual $5K Solo Super Brackets are $25, with an estimated top prize of $5,000 in each.
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 $35 entry fee, one out of every 10 entrants earns a paid Team USA Trials entry. USBC donates $1 from each all-events entry fee to support the Team USA program.