Terry Jenkins celebrated his 52nd birthday in fine style, as he beat Peter Wright 6-4 to win Players Championship 15 at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday.
Jenkins was in scintillating form in Saturday’s final, averaging 108 as he completely overpowered Snakebite to claim just his third PDC title since January 2009.
However, it was far from a serene route to the final for Jenks, particularly in the opening stages. He survived four match darts from Jim Walker in the opening round, before edging past former World No 1 Colin Lloyd 6-5 in the last 64.
Jenkins beat his best friend, Andy Smith, 6-3 in the last 32, although the Pie Man enjoyed a profitable day’s work. He thrashed Mensur Suljovic 6-2 in the opening round, before knocking out Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 in the last 64. However, the ‘Raging Bull’ just proved a step too far for Smith.
Jenkins grew in confidence as the day progressed; he beat Daryl Gurney 6-3 in the last 16, before claiming another Irish scalp, as he beat Brendan Dolan 6-1 to reach the semi-finals. Nevertheless, Gurney’s run to the last 16 puts him in pole position to qualify for the World Grand Prix.
In the semi-finals, Jenkins overcame Kim Huybrechts 6-4, despite averaging ten points less than his Belgian opponent. Huybrechts scored heavily, but Jenks was clinical and produced big shots in key moments. However, he saved his best display for the final, to claim his first title of 2015.
Elsewhere, Dave Chisnall secured just his second victory over Michael van Gerwen in his last 14 attempts. Chisnall averaged 111 in beating MvG 6-3, but he came agonisingly close to hitting a perfect 9-darter in the fourth leg, narrowly missing D12.
Chizzy led 4-0 with a 115 average and whilst van Gerwen showed impressive resistance, posting a 105 average himself, the St Helen’s ace was in inspired form and deserved his victory. Unfortunately he couldn’t replicate this performance in the semis against Peter Wright, where he averaged 90 and crashed out 6-3.
Wright continued his fine Pro Tour form; as he reached another Players Championship final. His progress was reasonably comfortable early on. He beat Steve Hine 6-4 in round one, before overcoming Steve Brown 6-3 in the last 64.
In the following two rounds, he dropped just two legs against Mark Webster and Aden Kirk, before he faced his toughest assessment against Jelle Klaasen in the quarters. The 2006 Lakeside Champion pushed Wright to a last-leg decider, but the Scot held his nerve to progress.
Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and Vincent van der Voort were all shock opening round casualties in Barnsley. Lewis and Anderson lost to Ricky Evans and Cristo Reyes respectively, whilst van der Voort was beaten by nine-dart hero Devon Petersen.
This was a big result for Raymond van Barneveld, who now leads van der Voort by £2,500 in the PDC Order of Merit, as he sweats on maintaining his world ranking of 16, which will see him qualify for next week’s World Grand Prix.
Players Championship 15
Saturday September 26, Barnsley Metrodome
First Round
Michael van Gerwen (1) 6-0 Adam Hunt
Steve Douglas 4-6 Mike de Decker
David Pallett (32) 3-6 Darren Webster
Andy Hamilton 4-6 Max Hopp
Benito van de Pas (16) 6-2 Johnny Haines
John Part 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Simon Whitlock (17) 6-5 Kevin Painter
Trevor Burkhill 6-2 Joe Cullen
Dave Chisnall (8) 6-2 Mark Dudbridge
Andy Boulton 4-6 Jason Lovett
Joe Murnan (25) 3-6 Christian Kist
Stuart Kellett 6-2 Joey ten Berge
Gary Anderson (9) 3-6 Cristo Reyes
Kevin Thomas 6-4 Alan Tabern
Andrew Gilding (24) 6-4 Eddie Dootson
Tony Richardson 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Peter Wright (5) 6-4 Steve Hine
Jamie Robinson 5-6 Steve Brown
Mark Webster (28) 6-3 Dimitri van den Bergh
Martyn Turner 0-6 James Wilson
Justin Pipe (12) 6-2 Luke Woodhouse
Aden Kirk 6-3 WIlliam O’Connor
Gerwyn Price (21) 3-6 Mark Barilli
Mark Frost 1-6 Ronny Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis (4) 4-6 Ricky Evans
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Lee Palfreyman
Jamie Caven (29) 3-6 Wayne Jones
Jan Dekker 5-6 Matt Padgett
Jelle Klaasen (13) 6-1 Ian Moss
Dennis Smith 4-6 Nathan Derry
Stephen Bunting (20) 6-3 Jay Foreman
Ben Ward 0-6 Ken Macneil
Michael Smith (2) 6-2 Kevin McDine
Mick Todd 6-5 Matthew Edgar
Rowby-John Rodriguez (31) 2-6 Terry Temple
Mike Zuydwijk 3-6 Michael Barnard
Vincent van der Voort (15) 4-6 Devon Petersen
Jason Marriott 6-2 Roxy-James Rodriguez
Mervyn King (18) 6-3 Prakash Jiwa
Ross Twell 6-4 Stephen Willard
Ian White (7) 6-3 Dean Winstanley
Steve West 6-4 Stephen McNally
Keegan Brown (26) 1-6 Nigel Heydon
Jamie Bain 6-1 Brian Woods
Kim Huybrechts (10) 6-2 Nick Fullwell
Matt Clark 6-3 Chris Dobey
Steve Beaton (23) 3-6 Wes Newton
Andy Parsons 3-6 Tony Newell
Robert Thornton (6) 6-3 Robbie Green
Curtis Hammond 3-6 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jamie Lewis (27) 6-3 Darren Johnson
Shaun Griffiths 6-1 Ronnie Baxter
Brendan Dolan (11) 6-0 Kevin Bambrick
Mickey Mansell 3-6 Gary Stone
John Henderson (22) 6-2 Colin Osborne
Barrie Bates 0-6 Jonny Clayton
James Wade (3) 6-5 Arron Monk
Jason Wilson 6-2 Alan Norris
Daryl Gurney (30) 6-2 Mark Walsh
Jyhan Artut 6-4 David Ladley
Terry Jenkins (14) 6-5 Jim Walker
Colin Lloyd 6-4 Andy Jenkins
Mensur Suljovic (19) 2-6 Andy Smith
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 John Bowles
Second Round
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Mike de Decker
Darren Webster 6-5 Max Hopp
Benito van de Pas 6-3 John Part
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Trevor Burkhill
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Jason Lovett
Christian Kist 6-1 Stuart Kellett
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Kevin Thomas
Andrew Gilding 6-2 Tony Richardson
Peter Wright 6-3 Steve Brown
Mark Webster 6-3 James Wilson
Justin Pipe 5-6 Aden Kirk
Mark Barilli 4-6 Ronny Huybrechts
Ricky Evans 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Wayne Jones 6-3 Matt Padgett
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Nathan Derry
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Ken Macneil
Michael Smith 5-6 Mick Todd
Terry Temple 5-6 Michael Barnard
Devon Petersen 6-5 Jason Marriott
Mervyn King 1-6 Ross Twell
Ian White 6-3 Steve West
Nigel Heydon 1-6 Jamie Bain
Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Matt Clark
Wes Newton 6-4 Tony Newell
Robert Thornton 6-2 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jamie Lewis 6-3 Shaun Griffiths
Brendan Dolan 6-2 Gary Stone
John Henderson 4-6 Jonny Clayton
James Wade 6-0 Jason Wilson
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Jyhan Artut
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Colin Lloyd
Andy Smith 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Third Round
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Darren Webster
Benito van de Pas 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Christian Kist
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Peter Wright 6-1 Mark Webster
Aden Kirk 6-5 Ronny Huybrechts
Ricky Evans 5-6 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Mick Todd 5-6 Michael Barnard
Devon Petersen 6-4 Ross Twell
Ian White 4-6 Jamie Bain
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Wes Newton
Robert Thornton 6-4 Jamie Lewis
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Jonny Clayton
James Wade 3-6 Daryl Gurney
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Andy Smith
Last 16
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Benito van de Pas
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Peter Wright 6-1 Aden Kirk
Wayne Jones 5-6 Jelle Klaasen
Michael Barnard 5-6 Devon Petersen
Jamie Bain 5-6 Kim Huybrechts
Robert Thornton 3-6 Brendan Dolan
Daryl Gurney 3-6 Terry Jenkins
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 3-6 Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright 6-5 Jelle Klaasen
Devon Peterseon 4-6 Kim Huybrechts
Brendan Dolan 1-6 Terry Jenkins
Semi-Finals
Dave Chisnall 3-6 Peter Wright
Kim Huybrechts 4-6 Terry Jenkins
Final
Peter Wright 4-6 Terry Jenkins
Winner: £10,000
Runner-Up: £5,000
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