2026 Melbourne Tenpin Cup Preview
By Matt Stevens
One of Australia’s most historic and prestigious ranked events returns this weekend, with the 2026 Melbourne Tenpin Cup set to take centre stage at Oz Tenpin Epping in Victoria.
The Open Division nationally ranked season reaches its third stop for 2026, following the Kegel Queensland Open and the Australian Open, with the Melbourne Tenpin Cup once again bringing together a field chasing one of the most recognisable titles on the national calendar.
Now in its 52nd running, the Melbourne Tenpin Cup continues to hold a special place in Australian tenpin bowling. First contested in 1973, the event has built a remarkable honour roll featuring some of the biggest names in the sport.
Last year, 17-year-old Julian Dinham brought an end to Jarrod Langford’s five-title reign with a stunning come-from-behind victory in the match play finals. Now the question is simple: can anyone stop Dinham from making it back-to-back after his blistering start to the season?
Event Snapshot
- Event: 2026 Melbourne Tenpin Cup
- Dates: 19-21 June 2026
- Venue: Oz Tenpin Epping, 53 Miller Street, Epping, VIC
- Division: Open Division (all genders eligible; ladies receive 8 bonus pins per game)
- Status: TBA Nationally Ranked Event (A26/0146)
- Edition: 52nd
- Tournament Director: Jason Coates
- Tournament Liaison: Lisa Martin
- Total Prize Pool: $22,000 (based on 80 participants)
Why this event matters
Since TBA Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Mackie rolled the inaugural title in 1973, the Melbourne Tenpin Cup has been on of the most coveted trophies in Australian bowling. With more than half a century of history, the event has produced champions from every era – from the sport’s early pioneers through to the golden age of Jason Belmonte (seven titles) and the more recent dominance of Jarrod Langford.
Langford’s five consecutive wins from 2018-2024 (excluding the COVID-cancelled editions of 2020 and 2021) seemed destined to continue forever – until Julian Dinham had other ideas. Last year’s finish was one of the more dramatic in Cup history: Dinham trailed by 133 pins with two games left in the match play finals, then reeled off back-to-back wins of 220 and 256 to eclipse Langford by just 32 pins and claim the title.
The 2026 edition promises more of the same. With a three-stage match play format and $22,000 on the line, this event demands consistency across three days and the nerve to perform when it matters most.
As a TBA accredited national ranked event, ladies receive 8 bonus pins per game, reflecting the inclusive nature of the Open Division.
Key Storylines to Watch
Dinham Chasing Back-to-Back
Julian Dinham enters the 52nd Melbourne Tenpin Cup as both the defending champion and the dominant force in the 2026 Open Division rankings. His 200 ranking points – the maximum available across two events, reflect a season that has so far been faultless.
Dinham’s 2025 win here was built on composure under pressure. He trailed heading into the final two games and responded with scores of 220 and 256 to claim the title. He arrives in 2026 having proved he can back it up, and with the kind of form that makes him the clear favourite to walk out of Oz Tenpin Epping with the trophy again.
The Melbourne Tenpin Cup has already played a major role in his rise. Defending a title at an event with this much history is never easy, but Dinham has shown he is more than comfortable under pressure.
The Challengers
Liam Cochrane (SA) enters the event in third place in the rankings (93 pts) and Bernie Grueso Jnr is not far behind with 90 points. Grueso Jnr, the 2024 Open Rankings Champion, is one of the most experienced bowlers in the field and knows better than anyone how quickly a season can turn.
And then there is Jarrod Langford. The five-time Melbourne Tenpin Cup champion sits sixth in the rankings with 65 points after his 3rd position performance at the Kegel QLD Open and missing the Australian Open. It’s a ranking that doesn’t reflect what he is capable of at this event. Nobody in the current field has more Cup experience than Langford, and the former king will be hungry to remind the field exactly why he has his name on this trophy more times than anyone currently bowling in Australia.
Finally, Sam Cooley enters the Melbourne Tenpin Cup. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) bowler has accomplished a lot in both his country and overseas, yet the Melbourne Tenpin Cup remains one to cross of the bucket list, making him one to watch this weekend.
Format
The Melbourne Tenpin Cup uses a three-stage format, with total pinfall carrying across all stages:
Stage One – Qualifying (10 games) All entrants complete 10 games in a single squad appearance, bowled across 5 x 2-game blocks. The Top 32 advances to Stage Two.
Stage Two – Top 32 (5 games) The top 32 bowl an additional 5 games, in 5 x 1 game blocks. The top 10 from combined pinfall advance to Stage Three.
Stage Three – Round Robin Finals (9 games) The top 10 bowl a 9-game round robin. 20 bonus pins are awarded for a win; 10 pins for a draw. The bowler with the highest total pinfall including all bonus pins across all stages is crowned champion.
Schedule
Friday 19 June
A Squad
- Check-in closes 6:00PM
- Briefing 6:15PM
- Bowl 10 games 6:30PM
Saturday 20 June
B Squad
- Check-in closes 8:00AM
- Briefing 8:15AM
- Bowl 10 games 8:30AM
C Squad
- Check-in closes 2:00PM
- Briefing 2:15PM
- Bowl 10 games 2:30PM
Sunday 21 June
STAGE 2
- Top 32 check-in closes 8:15am
- Bowl 5 games 8:30am
- Lanes washed and re-oiled 10:45AM
STAGE 3
- Top 10 Round Robin – 11:30AM
- Prize Presentation – approximately 3:30pm
How to follow the event
The 2026 Melbourne Tenpin Cup runs Friday 19 June through Sunday 21 June at Oz Tenpin Epping, 53 Miller Street, Epping, VIC, 3076. Scoring will be available on TenpinResults throughout the event. Admission is free for spectators.
Past Champions
| Year | Winner |
| 1973 | Steve Mackie |
| 1974 | Terry Wenban |
| 1975 | Steve Mackie |
| 1976 | Vic Bubniw |
| 1977 | Paul Madden |
| 1978 | Joe Velo |
| 1979 | John Sullivan |
| 1980 | Len Hogg |
| 1981 | Ron Powell |
| 1982 | Brian Bridges |
| 1983 | Dave Davis (USA) |
| 1984 | Gary Kee |
| 1985 | Tom Kury |
| 1986 | Steve Lovell |
| 1987 | Ian Bradford |
| 1988 | Donna Adamek (USA) |
| 1989 | Fred Alsopp |
| 1990 | Peter Selakovic |
| 1991 | Billy Gardiner |
| 1992 | Ian Bradford |
| 1993 | Chris Batson |
| 1994 | Andrew Frawley |
| 1995 | Mike Muir |
| 1996 | Brenton Manning |
| 1997 | Alex Liew (MAL) |
| 1998 | Craig Bourke |
| 1999 | Frank Ryan |
| 2000 | Bill Gardiner |
| 2001 | Mike Muir |
| 2002 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2003 | Carl Bottomley |
| 2004 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2005 | Andrew McArthur |
| 2006 | Brandon Qualischefski |
| 2007 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2008 | Matt Riley |
| 2009 | George Frilingos |
| 2010 | Carl Bottomley |
| 2011 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2012 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2013 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2014 | Robbie Alston |
| 2015 | George Frilingos |
| 2016 | Jason Belmonte |
| 2017 | George Frilingos |
| 2018 | Jarrod Langford |
| 2019 | Jarrod Langford |
| 2020 | Cancelled (COVID-19) |
| 2021 | Cancelled (COVID-19) |
| 2022 | Jarrod Langford |
| 2023 | Jarrod Langford |
| 2024 | Jarrod Langford |
| 2025 | Julian Dinham |
2026 TBA Open Division Rankings Schedule
- Kegel Queensland Open – COMPLETED
- Australian Open – COMPLETED
- Melbourne Tenpin Cup – 19-21 June
- NSW Open – TBC
- TBA Australian Masters – TBC
