Known as the PBA National Championship prior to 2002, the PBA World Championship has been contested in many different formats. Beginning in 2009, the preliminary rounds are held during the World Series of Bowling, and the finals are broadcast live several months later.
PBA World Championship winners
| Year | PBA World Championship Winner |
| 2010-11 | Chris Barnes (Jef's Blog) |
| 2009-10 | Tom Smallwood (Jef's Blog) |
| 2008-09 | Norm Duke |
| 2008 | Norm Duke |
| 2007 | Doug Kent |
| 2006 | Walter Ray Williams, Jr. |
| 2005 | Patrick Allen |
| 2004 | Tom Baker |
| 2003 | Walter Ray Williams, Jr. |
| 2002 | Doug Kent |
| 2001 | Walter Ray Williams, Jr. |
| 2000 | Norm Duke |
| 1999 | Tim Criss |
| 1998 | Pete Weber |
| 1997 | Rick Steelsmith |
| 1996 | Butch Soper |
| 1995 | Scott Alexander |
| 1994 | David Traber |
| 1993 | Ron Palombi, Jr. |
| 1992 | Eric Forkel |
| 1991 | Mike Miller |
| 1990 | Jim Pencak |
| 1989 | Pete Weber |
| 1988 | Brian Voss |
| 1987 | Randy Pedersen |
| 1986 | Tom Crites |
| 1985 | Mike Aulby |
| 1984 | Bob Chamberlain |
| 1983 | Earl Anthony |
| 1982 | Earl Anthony |
| 1981 | Earl Anthony |
| 1980 | Johnny Petraglia |
| 1979 | Mike Aulby |
| 1978 | Warren Nelson |
| 1977 | Tommy Hudson |
| 1976 | Paul Colwell |
| 1975 | Earl Anthony |
| 1974 | Earl Anthony |
| 1973 | Earl Anthony |
| 1972 | John Guenther |
| 1971 | Mike Limongello |
| 1970 | Mike McGrath |
| 1969 | Mike McGrath |
| 1968 | Wayne Zahn |
| 1967 | Dave Davis |
| 1966 | Wayne Zahn |
| 1965 | Dave Davis |
| 1964 | Bob Strampe |
| 1963 | Billy Hardwick |
| 1962 | Carmen Salvino |
| 1961 | Dave Soutar |
| 1960 | Don Carter |
