With some of the world's finest bowling centers, a huge bowling population and a renowned history in professional bowling, Las Vegas can certainly lay claim to being a bowling showcase.

The city that never sleeps will add to this bowling legacy Jan. 20-25 when it hosts one of the sport's most prestigious events - the PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions - at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

The 2009 Tournament of Champions, the second major and 12th stop on the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, will be a focal point of PBA's 50th anniversary celebration.

The elite tournament field will feature 60 marquee PBA champions including defending champion Michael Haugen Jr. (pictured left with the trophy) and newly-elected PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke (pictured right after winning the 2008-09 PBA World Championship) who will be trying to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive PBA "major" title. The event will be contested on a special new "Tournament of Champions" lane condition developed especially for this tournament.

"I have thought of nothing else for the last month," Duke said of his quest to continue his "major" title winning streak. "Even when I'm bowling a regular event right now, I'm in practice mode for the Tournament of Champions. I'm trying to find possible deficiencies in my game right now so I won't have to worry about them later. I'm not trying to sacrifice what I'm doing in the other events, but no one has ever had this chance before."

"I have had this opportunity," he added. "I had it when I was going for No. 3. I knew in advance that no one had ever won three in a row. I knew what was at stake. I don't want it to end. But to do so, I have to be very good and very lucky. The stars have to align. You have to believe all things are possible if you put your mind to it."

PBA Tour stops in Las Vegas have been a tradition since the Tour's second season in 1960 when Tom Hennessey won the inaugural Showboat Invitational. The Tournament of Champions came into being five years later as the Firestone Tournament of Champions conducted at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio, near the PBA's original headquarters in Akron. Since its inception, when it offered the first $100,000 prize fund in PBA history, it has been an exclusive event open to PBA tournament champions only.

What will make this Tournament of Champions unique will be PBA's 50th Anniversary Gala, presented by the Bowling Foundation, which will take place Jan. 24 from 7-11 p.m. at the Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa.

During the Gala, the PBA will honor the 50 greatest players in PBA history and welcome three players into the PBA Hall of Fame. During the 29th PBA Hall of Fame ceremony Norm Duke, Del Ballard Jr. (left) and John Handegard will be inducted.

Additionally, fans will have opportunities during the second half of the 2008-09 season to own special memorabilia honoring the 50 Greatest players including ontheballbowling.com's limited-edition bowling balls with 50 Greatest player images, and a 50 Greatest PBA Players trading card set.

The live ESPN telecast of the H&R Block Tournament of Champions will take place at Red Rock Lanes on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Time; 9:30 a.m. Pacific). First prize is $50,000.