Simon Whitlock fired in a 9-darter en route to winning his second successive Players Championship crown after beating young star Chris Dobey 6-4 in the final at the Barnsley Metrodome on Friday afternoon. ‘The Wizard’ landed the 9-darter in his first-round demolition of Par Riihonen, before going on to scoop the £10,000 winner’s cheque.
Whitlock kicked off Friday’s final with a clinical 109 checkout, before doubling his lead after following up his first maximum by pinning D4. Dobey opened his account with a 90 checkout, although the former European Champion regained his two-leg lead after converting a crucial 64 finish.
Dobey profited from Whitlock’s profligacy in the fifth leg as he reduced the arrears to 3-2, but the next three legs went with throw as the Australian moved to the brink of victory. Dobey preserved his hopes by taking out D4 in the ninth leg, but he was unable to deny ‘The Wizard’, who held throw in leg ten to clinch his 13th PDC Pro Tour triumph.
Whitlock kicked off the day in sublime fashion, whitewashing Par Riihonen and firing in the 9th perfect leg of his PDC career. The Australian followed this up with an emphatic 6-2 win against former World Youth finalist Nathan Aspinall, before producing a stunning display to whitewash former major finalist Mervyn King.
Whitlock faced eight-time major finalist James Wade in round-three, with ‘The Machine’ having dropped just four legs in his three matches. However, the Aussie ace prevailed, winning 6-3 to set up a quarter-final clash with Jamie Lewis.
The Welshman had seen off Benito van de Pas, Joe Murnan, Robert Thornton and Joe Cullen to reach the last eight, but Whitlock edged past him in a thrilling last-leg decider to set up a semi-final clash with Friday’s surprise package Mark Frost.
The St Helens’ man had won just £3,500 in prize money in the previous eighteen Players Championship events, but he won £3,000 for his heroic run to the last-four, where he overcame the likes of Justin Pipe, Kevin Painter, Jelle Klaasen, Josh Payne and Kim Huybrechts.
Nevertheless, Frost was unable to add Whitlock to his impressive list of scalps, as the Australian recorded a convincing 6-3 victory to reach his second successive Players Championship final.
On the other side of the draw, Chris Dobey performed magnificently to secure an appearance in his maiden senior PDC ranking title. The 29th seed kicked off proceedings with a 6-3 win over talented Dutchman Mike Zuydwijk, before romping past Mickey Mansell, dropping just a solitary leg in the process.
In the third-round, Dobey edged out Dave Chisnall in a dramatic last-leg shootout before breezing into the quarter-finals after thrashing Ron Meulenkamp 6-1. The 26-year-old faced Chisnall’s St Helens’ counterpart Stephen Bunting in the last eight and Dobey again produced the goods, recording a fine 6-3 triumph.
Dobey faced two-time world champion Adrian Lewis in the semi-finals. Lewis had seen off Yordi Meeuwisse, Raymond van Barneveld, Daryl Gurney, top seed Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez to reach the last four, but Jackpot spurned four match darts as Dobey clinched a dramatic deciding-leg win to reach his maiden PDC final.
The man nicknamed ‘Hollywood’ was unable to go one step further and win his first Pro Tour event, although it was still a wonderful day’s work for the Newcastle star, who gained £6,000 for his efforts, which leaves him sitting handsomely in 11th position on the Players Championship Order of Merit.
Elsewhere, Michael Smith’s Pro Tour struggles continued as he suffered a heavy 6-1 first-round defeat to Mark Walsh. Elsewhere, third seed Benito van de Pas was beaten at the same stage by Jamie Lewis, whilst Justin Pipe and Jamie Caven were defeated by Mark Frost and Vincent Kamphuis respectively.
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld faces a battle to qualify for the Players Championship Finals after suffering a 6-4 defeat to Adrian Lewis in round two. Barney eased past Matt Clark 6-1 in the opening round, before losing a high-quality affair to Jackpot. RvB must win at least one game tomorrow to seal his spot in Minehead.
Michael van Gerwen was not in action in Barnsley, as he has already guaranteed top spot on the Players Championship Order of Merit. Phil Taylor won’t be appearing in Minehead after opting not to compete this weekend, whilst world champion Gary Anderson will feature in Saturday’s Players Championship action.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Players Championship 19
Friday October 21, Barnsley Metrodome
First Round
Mensur Suljovic(1) 6-5 Nigel Daniels
Peter Hudson 6-4 Mick McGowan
Ronny Huybrechts(32) 6-5 Scott Dale
Nigel Heydon 6-3 Wayne Jones
Daryl Gurney(16) 6-3 Haruki Muramatsu
Steve Hine 6-2 Richie Corner
Adrian Lewis(17) 6-5 Yordi Meeuwisse
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Matt Clark
Alan Norris(8) 6-2 John Part
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-3 Matthew Edgar
Robbie Green(25) 6-5 Steve McNally
Paul Milford 6-5 Kevin Dowling
Gerwyn Price(9) 6-0 Colin Littlecott
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Mark Webster(24) 6-5 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Berry van Peer 6-1 Trevor Burkhill
Ian White(5) 6-5 Ken MacNeil
Mark Barilli 6-4 Darren Johnson
Vincent van der Voort(28) 6-3 Dimitri van den Bergh
Andy Parsons 6-3 Ricky Evans
Stephen Bunting(12) 6-2 Terry Temple
Brett Claydon 6-5 Harry Robinson
Cristo Reyes(21) 6-1 William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Ryan Meikle
Dave Chisnall(4) 6-0 Steve Brown
Jason Marriott 6-3 Brian Woods
Chris Dobey(29) 6-3 Mike Zuydwijk
Mickey Mansell 6-3 Ronnie Baxter
Mark Walsh 6-1 Michael Smith(13)
Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Jamie Robinson
James Wilson(20) 6-3 Devon Petersen
Stuart Kellett 6-1 Wes Newton
Peter Wright(2) 6-3 Jason Lovett
Andy Boulton 6-5 Jan Dekker
Josh Payne(31) 6-2 Jason Wilson
Jim Walker 6-4 Matthew Dennant
Terry Jenkins(15) 6-5 John Bowles
John Henderson 6-1 Alan Tabern
Steve Beaton(18) 6-0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Shaun Griffiths 6-1 Ryan Palmer
Kim Huybrechts(7) 6-2 Nathan Derry
Paul Nicholson 6-3 Ray Campbell
Vincent Kamphuis 6-5 Jamie Caven(26)
Dave Ladley 6-1 Johnny Haines
Jelle Klaasen(10) 6-4 Mike De Decker
Prakash Jiwa 6-2 Tony Newell
Mark Frost 6-3 Justin Pipe(23)
Kevin Painter 6-1 James Richardson
James Wade(6) 6-1 Brendan Dolan
Mick Todd 6-4 Dick van Dijk
Jermaine Wattimena(27) 6-5 Andy Jenkins
Darren Webster 6-5 Christian Kist
Simon Whitlock(11) 6-0 Par Riihonen – Simon Whitlock hits nine-dart finish
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Dean Winstanley
Mervyn King(22) 6-1 Simon Preston
Simon Stevenson 6-4 Jeffrey de Graaf
Jamie Lewis 6-4 Benito van de Pas(3)
Joe Murnan 6-1 Ted Evetts
Robert Thornton(30) 6-2 Darron Brown
Jonathan Worsley 6-3 Andy Smith
Joe Cullen(14) 6-4 Robert Owen
Michael Barnard 6-5 Ricky Williams
Steve West(19) 6-3 Keegan Brown
Kirk Shepherd 6-2 David Pallett
Second Round
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Peter Hundson
Ronny Huybrechts 6-5 Nigel Heydon
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Steve Hine
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 Alan Norris
Robbie Green 6-2 Paul Milford
Andy Hamilton 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Mark Webster 6-5 Berry van Peer
Mark Barilli 6-1 Ian White
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Andy Parsons
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Brett Claydon
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Jonny Clayton
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Jason Marriott
Chris Dobey 6-1 Mickey Mansell
Ron Meulenkamp 6-5 Mark Walsh
Stuart Kellett 6-4 James Wilson
Peter Wright 6-2 Andy Boulton
Josh Payne 6-5 Jim Walker
Terry Jenkins 6-4 John Henderson
Steve Beaton 6-0 Shaun Griffiths
Kim Huybrechts 6-4 Paul Nicholson
Vincent Kamphuis 6-2 Dave Ladley
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Prakash Jiwa
Mark Frost 6-5 Kevin Painter
James Wade 6-1 Mick Todd
Darren Webster 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Mervyn King 6-4 Simon Stevenson
Jamie Lewis 6-4 Joe Murnan
Robert Thornton 6-4 Jonathan Worsley
Joe Cullen 6-2 Michael Barnard
Steve West 6-5 Kirk Shepherd
Third Round
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Ronny Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Daryl Gurney
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Robbie Green
Mark Webster 6-3 Andy Hamilton
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Mark Barilli
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Cristo Reyes
Chris Dobey 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Ron Meulenkamp 6-2 Stuart Kellett
Josh Payne 6-3 Peter Wright
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Steve Beaton
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Vincent Kamphuis
Mark Frost 6-3 Jelle Klaasen
James Wade 6-2 Darren Webster
Simon Whitlock 6-0 Mervyn King
Jamie Lewis 6-5 Robert Thornton
Joe Cullen 6-5 Steve West
Fourth Round
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Mark Webster
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Chris Dobey 6-1 Ron Meulenkamp
Josh Payne 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Mark Frost 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
Simon Whitlock 6-3 James Wade
Jamie Lewis 6-5 Joe Cullen
Quarter-Finals
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Chris Dobey 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Mark Frost 6-3 Josh Payne
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Jamie Lewis
Semi-Finals
Chris Dobey 6-5 Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Mark Frost
Final
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Chris Dobey
Well done Simon Whitlock all that practising has paid off 👍