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Bill O’Neill grinds to win in 2024 PBA Players Championship as Tom Smallwood suffers stunning collapse

JEFF RICHGELS | Posted: Monday, January 15, 2024 9:00 pm
Bill O’Neill grinds to win in 2024 PBA Players Championship as Tom Smallwood suffers stunning collapse
Bill O'Neill, center, with PBA Commissioner Tom Clark, left, and Players Committee President Chris Barnes, right, after O'Neill won the 2024 PBA Players Championship. Photo by PBA.
Seven frames into the title match of the 2024 PBA Players Championship presented by Snickers, Tom Smallwood appeared to be marching to his third major title and second at Bowlero Northrock in Wichita, Kansas. Three frames later, Bill O’Neill had won his third major title 209-178 in a turnaround that was as stunning as it was sudden.   Smallwood, the top seed, started with a ringing 10-pin for a spare, carried a blower strike, then left a pocket 7-10 for an open, just after Bill...