LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2017) – With only 492.5 points separating the top five riders, the 2017 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals are sure to be an intense and pressure-packed competition, with a number of riders eyeing the gold buckle and $1 million bonus at the at the T-Mobile Arena in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Nov. 1-5.
The qualifiers for this year’s iteration of the highest stakes bull riding competition in the world and competing for $2.3 million in prize money are:
Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington)
Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil)
Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas)
Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana)
Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil)
Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas)
Stormy Wing (Dalhart, Texas)
Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatina, Brazil)
Dener Barbosa (Paulo Dr Faria, Brazil)
Fabiano Vieira (Perola, Brazil)
Cody Teel (Kountze, Texas)
Rubens Barbosa (Iaciara, Goias Brazil)
Claudio Montanha Jr. (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil)
J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina)
Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee)
Matt Triplett (Columbia Falls, Montana)
Stetson Lawrence (Williston, North Dakota)
Mason Lowe (Exeter, Missouri)
Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil)
Guilherme Marchi (Tres Lagoas, Brazil)
Shane Proctor (Grand Coulee, Washington)
Silvano Alves (Pilar Do Sul, Brazil)
Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma)
Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Canada)
Emilio Resende (Santa Helena Do Goias, Brazil)
Brennon Eldred (Sulphur, Oklahoma)
Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil)
Ramon de Lima (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Gage Gay (Staley, North Carolina)
Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas)
Cody Campbell (Summerville, Oregon)
Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, Austraila)
Koal Livingston (Burleson, Texas)
Troy Wilkinson (Upper Horton, Australia)
J.W. Harris (Mullin, Texas)
Joining these 35 men at World Finals are five qualifiers from the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour (RVT) Finals. 2017 PBR Brazil Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) earned his spot as the top qualifier from the PBR’s tours in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. Alex Marcilio (Macaubal, Brazil) and Skeeter Kingsolver (Mclouth, Kansas) each secured a place as the RVT’s top overall performing riders who were not ranked within the Top 35 in the PBR world standings. Sage Kimzey (Weatherford, Oklahoma) clenched a berth after winning the RVT Finals Event and Taylor Toves (Stephenville, Texas) also qualified after finishing second.
The distinction of defending the PBR bull riders during each 8-second ride at the Finals has been imparted upon Shorty Gorham, Frank Newsom, Jesse Byrne and Cody Webster.
A total of $2.3 million is at stake during the 2017 PBR World Finals including a $1 million bonus awarded to the World Champion, who also receives the coveted World Champion belt buckle.
Each rider will ride one bull per night during Rounds 1-5 from Wednesday through Sunday. Scores from the five rides will then be combined, and the Top 15 riders will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round following the completion of Round 5 on Sunday, Nov. 5. The rider with the highest total score for the six rounds will earn the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals event title and $250,000 for first place.
CBS Sports Network will broadcast every round of the 2017 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals live at 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday-Friday, 11 p.m. Saturday and then at 4 p.m. on Sunday. B&W Hitches Inside the PBR World Finals presented by Yeti will air live from the Toshiba Plaza at T-Mobile Arena 30 minutes before the competition each night.
For more information on the World Finals, please visit www.pbrworldfinals.com.
About The PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
The world’s premier bull riding organization began as a dream of 20 bull riders 24 years ago and is now a global sports phenomenon. On its elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), the PBR features the Top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business. The televised PBR BFTS as well as the PBR Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour (RVT), the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD) and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico have paid more than $170 million in earnings to its athletes. Thirty bull riders have earned more than $1 million, including two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney who has become the top-earning athlete in Western sports history with more than $7 million in career earnings. In May 2015, PBR was acquired by Endeavor, a global leader in sports, entertainment, and fashion. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
