LAS VEGAS - Silvano Alves became the first rider in Professional Bull Riders history to win back-to-back Built Ford Tough Series World Championships on Sunday in front of 15,361 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center. Alves earned $1 million for winning the World Championship to bring his season earnings to $1,464,475.

In 2011, Alves became the first rider to win the World Championship the year after winning the Rookie of the Year title. Alves has career earnings of $3,248,019, and reached another milestone when he surpassed $3 million faster than any bull rider in history, achieving it in 76 events and 28 months. He also reached $2 million (23 months and 58 events), and $1 million (18 months and 47 events) faster than any rider ever.

"The first title was great, but the second one is even better," said Alves. "Every bull rider dreams of winning the World Championship, and to do it twice is very special."

For the second year in a row, the World Finals drew almost 70,000 fans through five days. The PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals are the richest bull riding event on the planet with a total purse of $2.2 million, including the $1 million bonus to the World Champion.

Robson Palermo also entered the record books, becoming the first rider to win the World Finals event title three times, and also the first to win it in back-to-back seasons. Palermo finished with 439.25 points and earned $304,333, including $250,000 for the World Finals Event title. He also won the Event Finals title in 2008 and 2011, and has earned $2,339,783 in his career.

Emilio Resende was named the PBR Rookie of the Year with $271,470, including $181,833 after a second-place finish at the World Finals. Resende earned $25,000 when he won the championship round with 89.75 points on David's Dream (Circle T/3B Bucking Bulls).

Asteroid (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) won the World Champion Bull title with 93.25 points, beating defending champion Bushwacker (Julio Moreno/Richard Oliveira) by 1/4 of a point. Asteroid was 46.50 points in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round on Sunday while Bushwacker was 46.25 points. Smackdown (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen) finished third with 92.25 points followed by Buckey (Wentz Bucking Bulls) with 91.50 points, Rock & Roll (K-C Bucking Bulls/Spark-lin Acres/BadCompany/Ohl) with 90 points, and David's Dream (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) with 89.50 points.

2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi finished second in the BFTS season standings after a fourth-place finish in the World Finals. It is the fourth time that Marchi has finished second, and the eighth straight year that he has finished in the Top 7. L.J. Jenkins finished third for the season while Valdiron de Oliveira was fourth, and Austin Meier was fifth.

Meier and two-time World Champion Chris Shivers, who made his final out on Sunday, shared the Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award, which is presented to the bull rider with the highest-marked ride at the World Finals. Shivers won Round 3 with 90.75 points on Shepherd Hills Sod Buster (D&H Cattle/Luthy/Shepherd Hills Cutlery), and Meier won Round 5 with 90.75 points on Shepherd Hills Trapper (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo).

Chad Besplug won $161.718 to capture the Glen Keeley Award, presented to the Canadian bull rider who earns the most money during the season.

2012 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Season Standings

1. Silvano Alves, $1,464,475.61, 12,201.25
2. Guilherme Marchi, $331,421.66, 11,542
3. L.J. Jenkins, $239,935.66, 10,621.25
4. Valdiron de Oliveira, $208,724.52, 10,608.25
5. Austin Meier, $311,728.81, 10,249.75
6. Renato Nunes, $254,709.57, 9,859.75
7. Robson Palermo, $466,599.60, 9,681.25
8. J.B. Mauney, $313,340.27, 9,273.25
9. Marco Eguchi, $226,255.50, 7,699.25
10. Fabiano Vieira, $191,399.08, 7,677.25
11. Luke Snyder, $208,540.07, 7,585
12. Emilio Resende, $271,470.62, 6,910.75
13. Mike Lee, $147,952.34, 6,088
14. Ryan Dirteater, $112,208.12, 5,749.50
15. Harve Stewart, $150,975.16, 5,523
16. Cody Nance, $131,580.54, 5,068.25
17. Stormy Wing, $93,296.23, 5,062.50
18. Ben Jones, $115,844.10, 4,840.75
19. Kody Lostroh, $158,470.75, 4,700
20. Ty Pozzobon, $106,451.16, 4,683.25
21. Chase Outlaw, $170,203.48, 4,186.50
22. Chris Shivers, $131,270, 4,060.50
23. Douglas Duncan, $90,687, 3,842.50
24. Justin Koon, $72,854.25, 3,737.50
25. Caleb Sanderson, $75,156.05, 3,627

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