In a gripping conclusion to the second day of the PDC Pro Tour opener in Hildesheim, Dutch star Wessel Nijman clinched his fourth Players Championship title, triumphing over a formidable Gerwyn Price. Price had been on an unstoppable charge, including a dominant 6-0 win over Michael van Gerwen with a monstrous 117 average, but ultimately fell short in a thrilling final. Meanwhile, Germany’s own Gabriel Clemens thrilled the crowd with a rare nine-dart finish, marking a memorable day for darts fans.
Nijman’s Triumph: The Final Showdown
The Players Championship 4 final was a contest of unwavering quality, with the first five legs all checked out in the fifth round. Gerwyn Price then delivered a stunning 144 finish to level at 3-3, and later broke with a 121 bull finish to lead 6-5. However, Wessel Nijman immediately retaliated with a 12-dart leg. After two more holds, the match went to a deciding leg, where Nijman remained composed, sealing his victory with another 12-darter, including a 94 checkout. This victory marks the 25-year-old Dutchman’s fourth Players Championship title, while Price’s wait for his 22nd continues. Nijman’s path to the final was equally impressive, overcoming opponents like Viktor Tingström, Samuel Price, and Ryan Searle with relative ease.
Price’s Dominant Run to the Final
Gerwyn Price was truly on a mission throughout the tournament, showcasing incredible form with averages of 102, 98, 101, 111, 117, and 104 on his way to the final. The Welshman wasted no time in his early matches, securing comfortable wins against Kim Huybrechts (6-0), Stephen Burton (6-2), and Cristo Reyes (6-2). His most emphatic victory came in the quarter-finals, where he delivered a stunning 6-0 whitewash against Michael van Gerwen, posting an incredible 117 average that left the Dutch superstar with only one dart at a double. Price also comfortably defeated Krzysztof Ratajski 7-4 in the semi-finals, cementing his status as the tournament’s standout performer until the final leg.
Clemens’ Perfect Performance and German Hopes
Germany’s Gabriel Clemens, affectionately known as the “German Giant,” showed a remarkable return to form. After a solid 6-4 win against Ricardo Pietreczko and a 6-3 victory over Darryl Pilgrim, Clemens produced the moment of the tournament in his third-round match against Madars Razma. Not only did he unleash a blistering 108 average, but he also achieved the pinnacle of darts: a nine-dart finish in the ninth leg to secure a 6-3 win. A nine-darter is the perfect leg in darts, achieved by hitting nine darts to go from 501 to zero. Although his run ended in the Last 16 with a 6-2 loss to Danny Noppert, Clemens’ performance was a highlight.
Other German Player Highlights:
- Dominik Grüllich was the second-best German, reaching the third round after beating Niko Springer and Ian White.
- Martin Schindler rebounded from a previous day’s setback, winning his first match before narrowly losing in the second round.
- Max Hopp had a strong start to the Pro Tour, securing two wins and pushing Kevin Doets to a high-quality encounter.
- New German Tour Card holders, including Arno Merk, Matthias Ehlers, Marvin Kraft, Pascal Rupprecht, and Yorick Hofkens, faced tough draws and did not secure prize money on this occasion.
Other Tournament Highlights
The tournament also featured a much-anticipated rematch between Mensur Suljovic and Joe Cullen in the first round. Unlike their previous tense encounter at the World Championship, this time Suljovic’s 6-2 victory (with a 101 average) was followed by a friendly embrace, showcasing great sportsmanship. Elsewhere, another nine-darter was thrown by James Hurrell in his first-round match against Maik Kuivenhoven. Many top seeds, including Nathan Aspinall, Peter Wright, Chris Dobey, and Damon Heta, experienced early exits, highlighting the competitive nature of the PDC Pro Tour.
Understanding the Players Championship & Pro Tour
The Players Championship events are part of the PDC Pro Tour, a series of tournaments offering professional darts players the opportunity to compete for ranking points and prize money outside of the televised major events. These tournaments feature a straight knockout format. Matches are typically Best of 11 legs up to the quarter-finals, Best of 13 legs for the semi-finals, and the final is played as Best of 15 legs.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £15,000
- Runner-Up: £10,000
- Semi-Finals: £6,500
- Quarter-Finals: £4,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £2,000
- Last 64: £1,250
The Pro Tour events are not televised. However, fans can follow the action via official livestreams from the PDC, which typically cover four boards (including one with German commentary), and through live scoring on the Dartconnect platform.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
