Bill O’Neill beat Tom Smallwood to Wins the third career major title with 2024 PBA Players Championship title
Despite a chaotic start to the season for Bill O’Neill, in which he missed the practice session due to weather-related travel issues, he earned his third career major title with a PBA Players Championship presented by Snickers victory.
O’Neill defeated collegiate star Ryan Barnes, the son of Hall of Famers Chris and Lynda, then top-seeded Tom Smallwood to win his third career major championship, 14th career PBA Tour title and $100,000.
After finishing third in the 2023 PBA Players Championship near his hometown in eastern Pennsylvania, the second-seeded O’Neill found himself in a true road game against Ryan Barnes in the semifinals.
In the semifinals, transition hit Barnes like the frigid weather that froze the central United States. He missed a 10-pin to start the match, then split and couldn’t figure out how to carry the 10-pin.
By the time Barnes solved the puzzle, O’Neill had built an insurmountable lead. The devout crowd sent Barnes off with a standing ovation.
O’Neill’s semifinal win set up a rematch with Smallwood, who got the best of O'Neill in the position round on Saturday. Additionally, when Smallwood made his iconic debut in the 2009 PBA World Championship, he defeated O’Neill in his opening match.
Neither player was able to replicate the torrid scoring pace of qualifying and match play. A pocket 7-10 in the third frame left Smallwood little room for error, though O’Neill opened the door for him with a split in the seventh frame.
Smallwood, seeking a third career major title himself, failed to seize the opportunity. He missed a spare in the eighth and threw an errant shot in the ninth, handing the title to O’Neill.
2024 PBA Players Championship Final Round Scores, Results
No. 4 Ryan Barnes def. No. 5 Chris Via, 267-223
No. 4 Ryan Barnes def. No. 3 Nate Stubler, 224-220
No. 2 Bill O’Neill def. No. 4 Ryan Barnes, 215-205
No. 2 Bill O’Neill def. No. 1 Tom Smallwood, 209-178
2024 PBA Players Championship Final Standings
1. Bill O’Neill, $100,000
2. Tom Smallwood, $55,000
3. Ryan Barnes, $35,000
4. Nate Stubler, $30,000
5. Chris Via, $25,000
List of PBA Players Championship Winners: Past Champions by year 1983-2024.
Listing of all champions dating back to the inaugural 1983 Touring Players Championship.
2024: Bill O’Neill, USA
2023: Kevin McCune, USA
2022: Jason Belmonte, Australia
2021: Kyle Troup, USA
2020: Bill O'Neill, USA
2019: Anthony Simonsen, USA
2018: Tom Smallwood, USA
2017: Jason Belmonte, Australia
2016: Graham Fach, Canada
2015: Parker Bohn III, USA
2014: Not held
2013: Scott Norton, USA
2012: Not held
2011: Jason Belmonte, Australia
Not held 2001–2010
2000: Dennis Horan Jr., USA
1999: Steve Hoskins, USA
1998: Dennis Horan Jr., USA
1997: Steve Hoskins, USA
1996: Mike Aulby, USA
1995: Ernie Schlegel, USA
1994: Walter Ray Williams Jr., USA
1993: Jason Couch, USA
1992: Pete Weber, USA
1991: Dave Ferraro, USA
1990: Duane Fisher, USA
1989: Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela
1988: Dave Ferraro, USA
1987: Tom Crites, USA
1986: Mark Williams, USA
1985: Dave Husted, USA
1984: Mark Roth, USA
1983: Steve Cook, USA
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