Bill O’Neill Claims Third Major Title with PBA Players Championship Victory

Overcoming Challenges to Secure Victory

Bill O’Neill kicked off the 2024 PBA season with a triumphant win at the PBA Players Championship presented by Snickers, claiming his third career major title and 14th PBA Tour title. His victory was even more remarkable considering he missed the practice session due to weather-related travel issues.

O’Neill defeated Ryan Barnes, a rising collegiate star and son of Hall of Famers Chris and Lynda Barnes, before taking down top-seeded Tom Smallwood in the finals. With this win, O’Neill not only secured the prestigious title but also took home a $100,000 prize.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” O’Neill said after his win. “It’s just an incredible feeling to win the biggest prize in the game. You can’t duplicate it. I’m so thankful that I could be in this position and do this again.”

Barnes’ Impressive Run Ends in the Semifinals

Ryan Barnes, a senior at Wichita State University, had an outstanding tournament, earning a commissioner’s exemption to compete in the pre-tournament qualifier. He and his fellow teammates from last season’s national championship-winning squad—Spencer Robarge, TJ Rock, and Brandon Bonta—all advanced to the main event, with Barnes and Rock making it to match play.

Barnes dominated early, rolling the first eight strikes in his opening match against Chris Via, the 2021 U.S. Open champion. Barnes secured a 267-233 victory.

In the quarterfinals, Barnes faced Nate Stubler, a left-handed sophomore from St. Ambrose University, a rival of Wichita State. Stubler started strong with five consecutive strikes, but untimely splits allowed Barnes to claw back and win 224-220.

However, Barnes faced a major challenge in the semifinals against O’Neill. He struggled with lane transitions, missing a 10-pin early and struggling to find his rhythm. By the time he adjusted, O’Neill had already built an insurmountable lead. Though the Wichita crowd gave Barnes a standing ovation, his incredible run ended there.

O’Neill Edges Out Smallwood in the Final

O’Neill’s victory in the semifinals set up a rematch with Tom Smallwood, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. Smallwood had previously defeated O’Neill in the position round on Saturday and had also bested him in the 2009 PBA World Championship—Smallwood’s iconic debut.

The final match was a lower-scoring affair, with both players struggling to replicate their earlier high-scoring performances. A pocket 7-10 split in the third frame put Smallwood on the defensive, but O’Neill opened the door with his own split in the seventh frame. However, Smallwood missed a crucial spare in the eighth frame and threw an off-target shot in the ninth, allowing O’Neill to secure the championship.

“I haven’t really won many matches on TV where I didn’t have a good ball reaction,” O’Neill admitted. “I got kind of lucky there that Tom bowled the game he did. I didn’t think in a million years he’d bowl a 170 game with his ball reaction.”

Looking Ahead: The 2024 PBA Season Continues

With this victory, Bill O’Neill cements his legacy as one of the sport’s top competitors. The 2024 PBA season continues on January 27 with the U.S. Open presented by GoBowling in Indianapolis.

Championship Round Scores

• No. 4 Ryan Barnes def. No. 5 Chris Via, 267-233
• 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

Final Standings and Prizes

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

Stay tuned for more action as the PBA season unfolds!