Photo: PDC
Adrian Lewis had the perfect
preparation for the World
Grand Prix thanks to a victory
in Players Championship 9
in Dublin on Saturday 5th
October. The double World
Champion produced some
fine displays throughout the
day to claim the £10,000 first
prize.
Lewis’ campaign started with a 6-1
victory over Jelle Klaasen, before
wins over Darren Webster and Kim
Huybrechts in a deciding leg and
Richie Burnett saw him reach the
quarter-finals.
The Stoke-based thrower went on
to defeat Joe Cullen in a deciding
leg in the quarters, before
another fine display saw him end
the challenge of an in form Justin
Pipe to set up a final with Brendan
Dolan.
Photo: PDC
Players Championships 10
Photo: PDC
Players Championships 9
Photo: PDC
Dolan had himself come through
some tough encounters, defeating
amongst others Raymond van
Barneveld and James Wade on
his way to securing the £5,000
runners-up prize.
The final itself was a hotly
contested affair, with Dolan
initially moving into a 3-0 lead,
thanks in part to a twelve-dart
opening leg, before Lewis found
top gear. The current European
Champion claimed six of the
last seven legs, including a 160
checkout, to end the match a 6-4
victor with an average of 100.63
Quarter-Finals
Justin Pipe 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Joe Cullen
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Dave Chisnall
Brendan Dolan 6-4 James Wade
Semi-Finals
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Justin Pipe
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Mark Dudbridge
Final
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Raymond
van
Barneveld
claimed victory in Players
Championship 10 when the
action from Dublin resumed
on Sunday 6th October. Barney
secured the £10,000 first
prize thanks to a consistent
display of darts throughout
the day and the Dutchman
found himself in form at the
perfect time ahead of the
World Grand Prix.
Barney’s run to the final started
with victories over Steve Maish
and Paul Barham, before he saw
off the challenge of Jamie Caven
in a deciding leg in the third
round.
The Dutchman then went on to
defeat Wayne Jones 6-1, before
similar comfortable victories
in the quarter finals over Kevin
Painter and in the semi-finals over
Andrew Gilding set up decisive
final showdown with an in form
Peter Wright.
In the final Barney raced into a 3-0
lead, and despite Wright closing
the gap to 5-3 it was Barney who
took out a decisive ninth leg to
seal a 6-3 victory, leaving Wright
to console himself with the £5,000
runners-up prize.
“It’s a great boost for me ahead
of the World Grand Prix, and my
form’s great going into the event,”
said van Barneveld.
Quarter-Finals
M van Gerwen 6-3 Mervyn King
Peter Wright 6-5 Robert Thornton
Andrew Gilding 6-1 Adrian Gray
R van Barneveld 6-1 Kevin Painter
Semi-Finals
Peter Wright 6-4 M van Gerwen
R van Barneveld 6-2 A Gilding
Final
R van Barneveld 6-3 Peter Wright