Tommy Jones Wins PBA All-In Showdown

Thirteen-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour champion Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, survived three tension-filled matches to win the $45,000 jackpot in the winner-take-all BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown Friday at South Point Bowling Center. 

Jones defeated four-time PBA Tour titlist Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, 446-426, in the two-game final match. After Jones got off to a 245-214 lead after the first game, Rash made a run in the second game defeating Jones 212-201. Needing a double in the 10th frame, Rash left a solid nine pin on the first ball and couldn’t erase the 31-pin deficit. 

As a prelude to the PBA World Series of Bowling, All-In Showdown entrants Jones, Rash, Chris Barnes, Bill O’Neill, Chris Warren, Brian Himmler, Ronnie Russell and Joe Paluszek each put up $5,000 in the elimination-style special event streamed live on pba.com’s Xtra Frame which also paid a $5,000 bonus provided by event sponsor BowlersDeals.com. 

“For the first two matches your mindset is to survive to the next round but that changes when you get to the final match, and then it turns to do what you have to win,” said the 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year. “There was a lot of money on the line here but believe it or not my mindset is to just win whether it’s a format like this or a PBA final." 

The All-In Showdown consisted of three two-game matches with the top four from the first round advancing to the second round and the top two from the second round advancing to the title match. 

In the first round Jones (494), Rash (485), Russell, (483) and Barnes (448) advanced to the second round with Jones bowling a 503 pinfall and Rash 467 to advance to the title match. 

The 17-day World Series of Bowling begins Saturday with the Bayer Viper Championship. PBA.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel will provide more than 100 hours of coverage during the World Series. 

For Xtra Frame subscription information visit www.xtraframe.tv. BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, 

Friday Round 1 Results (Two-game pinfall totals. Top four advanced to second round) 
1, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 494 
2, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 485 
3, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 483 
4, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 448 
5, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 437 
6, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 427 
7, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 415 
8, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 382 

Round 2 Results (Top two advanced to final match) 
1, Jones, 503 2, Rash, 467 3, Russell, 450 4, Barnes, 442 

Final match Jones ($45,000) def. Rash, 446-426