The WTBA International Open, which started on Jan. 28 in Las Vegas, concluded Wednesday afternoon with a stepladder final of the top three players at Plaza Bowl in St. Maximin near Paris, France.

Chris Barnes, seeded second, defeated No. 3 Walter Ray Williams Jr. and top-seeded Liz Johnson to capture the title and the $20,000 top prize. Johnson received $10,000 for second and Williams pocketed $8,000.

L-R Johnson (2nd), WTBA President Kevin Dornberger, champion Barnes, President of Brunswick Bowling Products, Williams (3rd) and Laurent Valcke of Brunswick distributor Valcke Bowling. Photos by Beat Grauwiler/Bowlingdigital. Click on the images to enlarge

All three players earned expenses-paid trips to suburban Paris by Brunswick, sponsor of the Brunswick Euro Challenge, which is currently underway at Plaza St. Maximin.

Barnes (pictured right with the trophy), who lives in Double Oak, Texas, struck on eleven of his twelve shots in the opening match against Williams. A 10-pin in the ninth frame spoiled Barnes bid for his second 300 game of the tournament. He finished the preliminaries at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center with a perfecto to leap from ninth to second place.

Williams, who delighted the crowed when he spared the Greek Church, had to settle for third place.

In the title match, Johnson had a better look at the left lane (15) while Barnes was very comfortable on the right lane (16). Starting with a strike each, both players opened in the second frame, but then Barnes figured out the left lane while Johnson only struck once on the right lane, which sealed her fate.

Photo Gallery Part 1

 

The inaugural WTBA International Open, which featured a guaranteed prize fund of $100,000, drew 132 players - 123 men and nine women. 36 out of 50 exempt players of the 2011-12 PBA Tour participated in the event including five PBA Hall of Famers, eight PBA Player of the Year and ten PBA Rookie of the Year.

The WTBA International Open, the first World Tenpin Bowling Association owned and operated event, was the third stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour.

After the Bahamas Classic has been postponed the 2012 WBT consists of 13 tournaments in America, Asia, Europe and Australia - five in the United States and one each in Australia, Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Thailand.

Players earn ranking points based on how they finish in each event. The current points system is based on a continuous two-year cycle, so points earned in 2012 will be added to points earned in 2011 to determine the points list.

The top three men and top three women will be invited to compete in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the Professional Bowlers Association at the end of 2012 featuring total prize fund of $70,000.

World Bowling Tour Rankings
WBT Women's Ranking
WBT Men's Ranking

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of 115 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit WorldTenpinBowling.com.

 

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World Tenpin Bowling Association International Open

Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Henderson, Nev., United States (Jan. 28 - Feb. 5, 2012)

Championship Round:
1. Chris Barnes, United States, 512 (2 games), $20,000
2. Liz Johnson, United States, 188* (1 game), $10,000
3. Walter Ray Williams Jr., United States, 231 (1 game), $8,000

Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: No. 2 Barnes def. No. 3, Williams, 267-231
Championship Match: Barnes def. No. 1 Johnson, 245-188
* Johnson's score including 6 pins handicap.

 

WTBA Open - Final Standings (Places 4-48)

Players with position, country and earnings

4. Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, $6.000
5. Pete Weber, United States, $4.500
6. Eugene McCune, United States, $3.000
7. Alex Aguiar, United States, $2.500
8. Stuart Williams, England, $2.000
9. Mike Fagan, United States, $1.500
10. Scott Newell, United States, $1.500
11. Lee Vanderhoef, United States, $1.500
12. D.J. Archer, United States, $1.500
13. Jonathan Van Hees, United States, $1.500
14. Parker Bohn III, United States, $1.500
15. Dave Wodka, United States, $1.500
16. Mike Danielson, United States, $1.500
17. Wes Mallot, United States, $1.000
18. Brad Angelo, United States, $1.000
19. Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, $1.000
20. Adam Barta, United States, $1.000
21. Lonnie Waliczek, United States, $1.000
22. Siu Hong Wu, Hong Kong, $1.000
23. Rhino Page, United States, $1.000
24. Martin Larsen, Sweden, $1.000
25. Jason Sterner, United States, $1.000
26. Tom Hess, United States, $1.000
27. Dan MacLelland, Canada, $1.000
28. Dominic Barrett, England, $1.000
29. Ryan Shafer, United States, $1.000
30. Matt McNiel, United States, $1.000
31. Kurt Pilon, United States, $1.000
32. Bill O'Neill, United States, $1.000
33. Ryan Ciminelli, United States, $1.000
34. Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, $1.000
35. Tommy Jones, United States, $1.000
36. Mike Wolfe, United States, $1.000
37. Ronnie Russell, United States, $1.000
38. Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, $1.000
39. Rob Gotchall, United States, $1.000
40. Michael Haugen, United States, $1.000
(tie) Mike DeVaney, United States, $1.000
(tie) Dino Castillo, United States, $1.000
43. Nathan Bohr, United States, $1.000
44. Mike Scroggins, United States, $1.000
45. Sean Rash, United States, $1.000
46. J.C. Zuniga, United States, $1.000
47. Bob Belmont, United States, $1.000
48. Lucas Legnani, Argentina, $1.000