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Shawn Maldonado leads E.J. Tackett by 71 pins after Day 1 of 2026 PBA Players Championship

JEFF RICHGELS | Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 11:00 pm
Shawn Maldonado leads E.J. Tackett by 71 pins after Day 1 of 2026 PBA Players Championship
Shawn Maldonado and E.J. Tackett are first and second, respectively, after Day 1 of the 2026 PBA Players Championship. Photo graphic by PBA.
If there is any extra pressure on E.J. Tackett as he tries to become the first player to be PBA Player of the Year four straight times, he didn’t show it on the first day of the 2026 PBA Tour. Tackett finished the first two of four rounds of qualifying at the 2026 PBA Players Players Championship with 2,815 for 12 games, behind only the 2,886 of Shawn Maldonado. The tournament at Bowlero Euless in Euless, Texas, is being contested on the 2026 PBA Viper 37 and 2026 PBA Badger 50 lane...