Seattle
Espresso Cup
Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2025
Rules
1. The Seattle Espresso Cup is a mixed competition open to bowlers of all genders by invitation only. It is required that all bowlers must be members of IGBO in order to participate in the Seattle Espresso Cup. This requirement may be waived on an individual basis by a majority vote of the Tournament Committee.
A. USBC and CTF members in good standing may participate in a moral support tournament with award recognition automatically extended to their national organizations; however, you must be a member of USBC to be eligible to receive USBC honor score awards. Eligible non-members may qualify for USBC award recognition by paying USBC associate membership dues before participation. You can join USBC as an associate member at tournament registration by filling out the appropriate form and paying the membership fee. All participants are subject to USBC rules and jurisdiction for the tournament.
B. Only one (1) professional bowler per team will be allowed. A professional bowler is defined as any person who has been a “card-carrying” member of a professional bowling organization within the past 12 months preceding the 2025 Seattle Espresso Cup. This requirement may be waived on an individual basis by a majority vote of the Tournament Committee.
2. The Espresso Cup will be an IGBO / USBC sanctioned tournament and the following shall apply concerning averages:
A. Bowlers shall use a composite average consisting of all games bowled in leagues during the 2023-2024 season. This will be verified on bowl.com (the USBC website) or via league standing sheets if your league is not USBC certified.
B. If a bowler has no average for 2A, then bowlers shall use a composite average of all games bowled during the Summer 2024 Season. This will be verified on bowl.com or via league standing sheets.
C. If 2A and 2B do not exist, the bowler shall use their highest current 2024-2025 league average that consists of a minimum of 21 games as of 12/31/2024.
D. If a bowler’s IGBO tournament average (minimum 21 games, as of 12/31/24) is 1 pin or more higher than their average listed in 2A, 2B, and/or 2C, then the tournament average must be used.
E. If a bowler’s 2024-2025 average as of 12/31/2024 is more than ten (10) pins higher than their 2023-2024 composite average (2A or 2B), then the current 2024-2025 average must be used.
F. All others will enter at an average equal to the highest entering average of the tournament. However, the tournament director may use, at their discretion, a qualifying average of less than 21 games and/or include qualifying games bowled between 12/31/2024 and the tournament on a case-by-case evaluation.
G. Handicap for the tournament will be based on 90% of the difference between the bowler’s average and highest entering tournament average. Negative handicaps will not apply.
H. Professional Bowlers will enter the tournament with no handicap.
3. It is the bowler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of their average, whether originally submitted by the bowler, their team captain, or others. Failure to use the correct average, if the submitted average is lower than the correct average, will result in disqualification unless corrected by the completion of the first game of the first event bowled. Prize winnings will be based on the submitted average if it is higher than the correct average.
4. A bowler who has qualified for a prize of $600 or more in any event in a tournament within the previous 12-month period must report their actual scores from the event for possible re-rating. Such re-rating must be done before the entrant bowls.
5. The average of any bowler may be adjusted by the Tournament Director(s) upon recommendation of the local Bowling Association of the bowler in question or at Director’s discretion. Any adjustment must be made before the entrant bowls.
6. There will be NO REFUNDS after an entry has been accepted by the tournament committee.
7. Entries must be accompanied by the full amount of fees in the form of internet payment, personal checks, certified checks or money orders made payable to the Seattle Espresso Cup. Personal checks will not be accepted after  January 1, 2025. Entries must be completed by January 15, 2025.
8. Bowlers may bowl only once in each event. Each event consists of three (3) games, for a total of nine (9).
9. All claims of error must be submitted, in writing, to the Tournament Director(s) within one (1) hour after the bowler or team has bowled. In matters of dispute, the Tournament Director(s) decision will be final.
10. Substitutes will be allowed to bowl at the Director’s discretion.
11. Late bowlers shall start bowling in the frame in which they are prepared to bowl; prior frames will be scored zero. The score for an absent bowler will be zero (0).
12. Cash Prizes: A bowler may win only one (1) special awards category prize. Each event has its own prize list, based on at least a 1 in 8 payout ratio for each event.
13. Bowlers shall not be permitted to practice on their assigned lanes on their scheduled day of bowling. Bowlers will be allowed ten (10) minutes of warm-up before the start of all 3 events.
14. All scores will be verified against bowling center computers.