Becomes the first handicap bowler ever to win a title in the 20-year history of Mini-Eliminator tournaments
Dave McIntyre (second from right), a handicap bowler of Yucca Valley, Calif., won the 2012 Summer Firecracker Classic at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas, Nev. McIntyre won the $15,000 top prize by defeating two former Mini-Eliminator champions, senior bowler Cliff Connors (second from left) and Alex Aguiar (right), the 45 & under champion, 210-204-195. Connors received $7,500 for second place and Aguiar earned $5,000 for third place.
Pete Thomas (center) of Oklahoma, won the 2012 Summer Senior Mini-Eliminator at Texas Station in Las Vegas. Thomas defeated Bob Godden of Las Vegas, 209-204, to earn the $10,000 top prize. Godden earned $5,000 for second place. Finishing third was Darwin Wimer of Mesquite, Nev., who shot 200 worth $2,500. Tony Pascua from the 50-59 division won the Sunday sweeper and Henry Murphy, a handicap bowler from Henderson, Nev., won the Monday sweeper.
Darrin Remiticado, Willie Wells finish second and third at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center
PBA exempt player Dan MacLelland (center), a native Canadian who lives in Saginaw, Mich., won The International Mini Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., and received the $30,000 first-place check. In the one-game championship match, the Canadian Bowler of the Year 2011 defeated Bronze Division champion Darrin Remiticado of Stockton, Calif.,, and Silver Division champion Willie Wells of Herriman, Utah, 203-187-182.Â
Mike Machuga hits jackpot at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center
Former PBA exempt player D.J. Archer (l.) of Pt Arthur, Texas averaged over 240 in the qualifying of the USBC Masters, WTBA International Open and The International Mini en route to win $10,000 first prize in All Events with 4813 20-game total. Two-time PBA champion Mike Machuga (r.) of Erie, Pa., matched Archer's earnings when hit the jackpot at one of the Keno machines in Strike Zone Bowling Center.
Finals start at 8 a.m. at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas
A total of 56 players advanced to the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini starting at 8 a.m. Pacific on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5. Alex Aguiar of N. Dartmouth, Mass. set the tone in Saturday's qualifying in the Gold Division with 993 four game total. Julio Blancas of Mexico City, Mexico rolled the highest series of the day in the Silver Division (1000) and Courtney Harris of New York City totaled 871 including handicap to lead the Bronze Division. .
Total 42 players have qualified for the finals Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific
A total of 14 players - seven in the Gold Division including five PBA champion (Chris Barnes, lef,t, and Sean Rash, right), four in the Silver Division and three in the Bronze Division - advanced to the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini Friday at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. With the final qualifying day to go, 42 players have qualified for the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific.
Total 28 players have qualified for the finals Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific
Another nine players qualified for the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini through Thursday's qualifying at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, which brought the total number of finalists to 28. Among the players, who advanced from te to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific were Candian Bowler of the Year Dan MacLelland (l.), and four-time PBA champion Ryan Shafer (r.) of Horseheads, N.Y.
Total 19 players have qualified for the finals Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) rolled the second 300 game of The International Mini Wednesday at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas en route to advance to the finals of the Gold Division on Super Bowl Sunday. Also advancing from to the Gold Division finals were 13-time PBA champion Tommy Jones (r.) of Simpsonville, S.C. and PBA Regional champion PJ Haggerty of Roseville, Calif.
Argentina's Lucas Legnani wins $1,000 in Tuesday's six-game Sweeper
Willie Wells of Herriman, Utah, rolled the first 300 game of The International Mini in Tuesday's qualifying en route to advance to the finals of the Silver Division on Feb. 5 at 8 a.m. Pacific. Also advancing to the finals was Sara Rash of Montgomery, Ill., in the Bronze Division and national team members Lucas Legnani (l.) of Argentina and Martin Larsen (r.) of Sweden in the Gold Division. Legnani went on to win the second six-game sweeper worth $1,000.
Shannon Pluhowsky wins $1,000 in Monday's six-game Sweeper
PBA champions Rhino Page (l.) and Jason Couch (r.) led the Gold Division of The International Mini in Monday's qualifying at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Page posted the high four-game series of all players with 1015, a 253.75 average, to advance to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific. Shannon Pluhowsky rolled a 1370 series to win the first six-game sweeper worth $1,000.
Two players in each division earn berths into the finals on Super Bowl Sunday
PBA champions Mike Scroggins (pictured left) and Scott Norton (right) were among the six players who advanced to the finals of The International Mini on the first two days of the qualifying currently underway at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Scroggins toppled 1058 pins, an average of 264.50 over four games, to lead the tournament's Gold Division on Saturday. Norton qualified in the same division on Sunday with 963.
Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (Jan. 28 - Feb. 5, 2012)
Pinacle Events, organizer of "The International Mini" has announced that Kegel will be putting down the WTBA "Athens" pattern for the upcoming event. The tournament, immediately following the USBC Masters and running concurrently with the WTBA International Open, is a scratch and handicap competition from January 28 through February 5. All three events will hosted by Sunset Station Strike Zone bowling center in suburban Las Vegas.
Three event promoters create no-cost-to-enter all-events $30,000 prize fund
The International Mini is a new major bowling event which will be hosted by Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 28 - Feb. 5. What is being promoted as "the greatest two weeks of bowling" The International Mini will follow the USBC Masters (Jan. 22-29) and run concurrently with the WTBA 2012 International Open. Over $500,000 in prize money will be paid out.
South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., USA (June 29 - July 4, 2010)
Scott Pohl (second from right), a 41-year-old right-hander from Burnsville, Minn., won the 2010 Summer Mini-Eliminator and its $20,000 top prize. Scott rolled a fantastic 276 game in the championship shootout to defeat the senior division champion Sam Carter of Ben Lomond, Calif. (224) and 210 & under handicap champion Bob Godden of Las Vegas, Nev. (189). Carter earned $10,000 for his runner-up position while Godden won $7,500 for third place.
South Point Casino, Las Vegas, Nev., United States (Feb. 4-7, 2010)
Anthony Marine, Long Island, New York won the first ever Classified 210 & under Mini-Eliminator sponsored by Columbia 300. Marine won $5,000 thanks to a 233 scratch game (251 with handicap) in the final shootout match. Finishing second was another Long Islander, Damon Gizzi of St. James, with 226 incl. handicap worth $2,500. Third place went to Landon Young of Las Vegas, who received $1,250 for 197 with handicap.
South Point Casino, Las Vegas, Nev., United States (Feb. 3-7, 2010)
Rick Miller of Lincoln, Nebraska won the 2010 Winter Mini-Eliminator sponsored by Columbia 300. Rick received the $20,000 winner's check after bowling a 236 in the final shootout match, 20 pins greater than second-place finisher Sam Carter, a senior bowler from Ben Lomond, Calif., who earned $10,000. Finishing third was the 205 & under champion Darnell Pearson of Baltimore, Md., who shot a 193 to earn $7,500.
South Point Casino, Las Vegas, Nev., USA (June 30 - July 4, 2009)
In one of the most exciting finishes in the 16 year history of The Mini-Eliminator Mark Estes of Grapevine, TX came from 41 pins down in the 7th frame to defeat Gerardo Loredo of Mexico, 213-209. Mark, the senior division champion, finished with six strikes to earn the $20,000 top prize and the champion’s trophy. Gerardo, who was the 205 and under champion, earned $10,000 for his second place finish. Total prize money distribution for the week exceeded $150,000 and was paid out to 140 different bowlers from around the world.
The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., July 9, 2006
Local bowler Les Shirwindt, the champion of the 50 and over Division, finished the Shootout Final of the five division champions with four solid strikes for a 216-game en route to win the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the $20,000 top prize. The Mini-Eliminator paid more than $200,000.00 in cash prizes on the ninth and final day of the tournament week.
The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., July 3-9, 2006
After seven days and 22 squads qualifying for the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator finals has ended at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 1 in 8 bowlers per division advanced to the finals each squad and earned at least $750. Each squad leader received one bye worth $1,000. The Division Daily Leaders earned two byes or $1,500. The Highest Division Series was awarded three byes or $2,000.
The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., July 3-9, 2006
Daniel Inocencio, College Station, Texas, shot a 766 three-game series in the 21st and penultimate qualifying squad to overtake the lead in the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inocencio beat the previous high score set by USBC spokesperson Diandra Asbaty (746) in the 4th qualifying squad on Tuesday by 20 pins.
Dave McIntyre (second from right), a handicap bowler of Yucca Valley, Calif., won the 2012 Summer Firecracker Classic at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas, Nev. McIntyre won the $15,000 top prize by defeating two former Mini-Eliminator champions, senior bowler Cliff Connors (second from left) and Alex Aguiar (right), the 45 & under champion, 210-204-195. Connors received $7,500 for second place and Aguiar earned $5,000 for third place.
PBA exempt player Dan MacLelland (center), a native Canadian who lives in Saginaw, Mich., won The International Mini Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., and received the $30,000 first-place check. In the one-game championship match, the Canadian Bowler of the Year 2011 defeated Bronze Division champion Darrin Remiticado of Stockton, Calif.,, and Silver Division champion Willie Wells of Herriman, Utah, 203-187-182. 
Former PBA exempt player D.J. Archer (l.) of Pt Arthur, Texas averaged over 240 in the qualifying of the USBC Masters, WTBA International Open and The International Mini en route to win $10,000 first prize in All Events with 4813 20-game total. Two-time PBA champion Mike Machuga (r.) of Erie, Pa., matched Archer's earnings when hit the jackpot at one of the Keno machines in Strike Zone Bowling Center.
A total of 56 players advanced to the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini starting at 8 a.m. Pacific on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5. Alex Aguiar of N. Dartmouth, Mass. set the tone in Saturday's qualifying in the Gold Division with 993 four game total. Julio Blancas of Mexico City, Mexico rolled the highest series of the day in the Silver Division (1000) and Courtney Harris of New York City totaled 871 including handicap to lead the Bronze Division. . 
A total of 14 players - seven in the Gold Division including five PBA champion (Chris Barnes, lef,t, and Sean Rash, right), four in the Silver Division and three in the Bronze Division - advanced to the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini Friday at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. With the final qualifying day to go, 42 players have qualified for the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific. 
Another nine players qualified for the divisional finals of the 2012 International Mini through Thursday's qualifying at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, which brought the total number of finalists to 28. Among the players, who advanced from te to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific were Candian Bowler of the Year Dan MacLelland (l.), and four-time PBA champion Ryan Shafer (r.) of Horseheads, N.Y.
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) rolled the second 300 game of The International Mini Wednesday at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas en route to advance to the finals of the Gold Division on Super Bowl Sunday. Also advancing from to the Gold Division finals were 13-time PBA champion Tommy Jones (r.) of Simpsonville, S.C. and PBA Regional champion PJ Haggerty of Roseville, Calif.
Willie Wells of Herriman, Utah, rolled the first 300 game of The International Mini in Tuesday's qualifying en route to advance to the finals of the Silver Division on Feb. 5 at 8 a.m. Pacific. Also advancing to the finals was Sara Rash of Montgomery, Ill., in the Bronze Division and national team members Lucas Legnani (l.) of Argentina and Martin Larsen (r.) of Sweden in the Gold Division. Legnani went on to win the second six-game sweeper worth $1,000. 
PBA champions Rhino Page (l.) and Jason Couch (r.) led the Gold Division of The International Mini in Monday's qualifying at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Page posted the high four-game series of all players with 1015, a 253.75 average, to advance to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 starting at 8 a.m. Pacific. Shannon Pluhowsky rolled a 1370 series to win the first six-game sweeper worth $1,000. 
PBA champions Mike Scroggins (pictured left) and Scott Norton (right) were among the six players who advanced to the finals of The International Mini on the first two days of the qualifying currently underway at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Scroggins toppled 1058 pins, an average of 264.50 over four games, to lead the tournament's Gold Division on Saturday. Norton qualified in the same division on Sunday with 963.
Scott Pohl (second from right), a 41-year-old right-hander from Burnsville, Minn., won the 2010 Summer Mini-Eliminator and its $20,000 top prize. Scott rolled a fantastic 276 game in the championship shootout to defeat the senior division champion Sam Carter of Ben Lomond, Calif. (224) and 210 & under handicap champion Bob Godden of Las Vegas, Nev. (189). Carter earned $10,000 for his runner-up position while Godden won $7,500 for third place.
Anthony Marine, Long Island, New York won the first ever Classified 210 & under Mini-Eliminator sponsored by Columbia 300. Marine won $5,000 thanks to a 233 scratch game (251 with handicap) in the final shootout match. Finishing second was another Long Islander, Damon Gizzi of St. James, with 226 incl. handicap worth $2,500. Third place went to Landon Young of Las Vegas, who received $1,250 for 197 with handicap.
Rick Miller of Lincoln, Nebraska won the 2010 Winter Mini-Eliminator sponsored by Columbia 300. Rick received the $20,000 winner's check after bowling a 236 in the final shootout match, 20 pins greater than second-place finisher Sam Carter, a senior bowler from Ben Lomond, Calif., who earned $10,000. Finishing third was the 205 & under champion Darnell Pearson of Baltimore, Md., who shot a 193 to earn $7,500.
In one of the most exciting finishes in the 16 year history of The Mini-Eliminator Mark Estes of Grapevine, TX came from 41 pins down in the 7th frame to defeat Gerardo Loredo of Mexico, 213-209. Mark, the senior division champion, finished with six strikes to earn the $20,000 top prize and the champion’s trophy. Gerardo, who was the 205 and under champion, earned $10,000 for his second place finish. Total prize money distribution for the week exceeded $150,000 and was paid out to 140 different bowlers from around the world. 
Local bowler Les Shirwindt, the champion of the 50 and over Division, finished the Shootout Final of the five division champions with four solid strikes for a 216-game en route to win the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the $20,000 top prize. The Mini-Eliminator paid more than $200,000.00 in cash prizes on the ninth and final day of the tournament week. 
After seven days and 22 squads qualifying for the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator finals has ended at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 1 in 8 bowlers per division advanced to the finals each squad and earned at least $750. Each squad leader received one bye worth $1,000. The Division Daily Leaders earned two byes or $1,500. The Highest Division Series was awarded three byes or $2,000. 
Daniel Inocencio, College Station, Texas, shot a 766 three-game series in the 21st and penultimate qualifying squad to overtake the lead in the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inocencio beat the previous high score set by USBC spokesperson Diandra Asbaty (746) in the 4th qualifying squad on Tuesday by 20 pins. 