Chris Dobey, known as “Hollywood,” found his winning form again at the latest Players Championship event in Den Bosch, securing his 11th ‘floor’ title. Using new darts, Dobey impressively defeated the tournament’s surprise package, Tommy Morris, 8-4 in a captivating final. The event also saw Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko reach the quarter-finals, Archie Self securing a spot at the prestigious Ally Pally World Championship without throwing a dart today, and a remarkable three nine-darters thrown throughout the day, highlighting the high level of competition.
After a challenging period on television stages, Chris Dobey proved once again why the ‘floor’ events are his comfort zone. “Hollywood” was in scintillating form, showcasing remarkable consistency and high scoring throughout the day. His journey to the title was paved with victories over a strong field of opponents, culminating in his third Players Championship triumph of the year.
Dobey’s Dominance: A Path to Victory
Dobey’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He recorded impressive averages in every match, demonstrating a renewed confidence with his new equipment:
- Defeated Marvin Kraft 6-2 (88 average)
- Swept Owen Bates 6-0 (109 average)
- Beat Mickey Mansell 6-2 (98 average)
- Overcame Bradley Brooks 6-2 (106 average)
- Dominated Krzysztof Ratajski 6-1 (111 average)
- Triumphed over William O’Connor 7-4 (110 average)
In the final against Tommy Morris, Dobey quickly established a lead with legs of 16, 11, and 14 darts. Although Morris found his rhythm, he couldn’t close the gap. The decisive moment came in the tenth leg, where Dobey secured a crucial break with a 14-darter to make it 7-3. Morris managed to pull one back, but Dobey sealed his 11th career ‘floor’ title and third Players Championship of the year with an 81 checkout in 12 darts, finishing the match 8-4.
Morris’s Magnificent Run: A Star is Born
The story of the tournament undoubtedly belonged to Tommy Morris, who embarked on a sensational journey to the final. Morris consistently defeated players with established ‘floor’ titles to their name, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with. His exceptional performance, particularly a 107-average in the semi-final, turned heads across the darts world.
Morris’s impressive scalps included:
- Mervyn King (6-2)
- Kim Huybrechts (6-4)
- Michael van Gerwen (6-4)
- Charlie Manby (6-2)
- Michael Smith (6-2)
- Scott Williams (7-3)
While the Grand Slam of Darts qualification eluded him, Morris’s incredible run secured him a spot in both the Players Championship Finals and a coveted place at the PDC World Championship via the Pro Tour Order of Merit. This marks a significant breakthrough for the rising star.
Nine-Darters Galore: Perfection on the Oche
The day was also highlighted by a rare occurrence: three perfect nine-dart finishes! This incredible feat underscores the exceptional talent and precision on display at the event:
- Tom Sykes achieved the first nine-darter against Cor Dekker.
- Bradley Brooks followed suit with a perfect leg against Adam Gawlas.
- Wesley Plaisier completed the trio, hitting a nine-darter against Damon Heta.
Qualification Drama and Player Updates
The Players Championship events are crucial for qualification to major tournaments, and this event brought significant shifts:
- Thanks to Tommy Morris’s deep run, Archie Self is now guaranteed a spot at the PDC World Championship via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, a fantastic outcome for him.
- Players like Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock, and Gary Anderson appear to have fallen out of contention for the Players Championship Finals after this block of events.
- Martin Schindler secured his place in the Players Championship Finals after a strong run to the board final, including a dramatic comeback and a missed match dart by his opponent.
- Raymond van Barneveld is currently clinging to the last World Championship spot.
- Peter Wright registered a morale-boosting win over Beau Greaves in the second round, a positive headline amidst his recent struggles.
German Talent Shines: Pietreczko and Wenig’s Efforts
Germany’s darts scene was well-represented:
- Ricardo Pietreczko (“Pikachu”) continued his strong form, reaching the quarter-finals and keeping his hopes alive for the Players Championship Finals. He showcased excellent averages, including a 103 against Dave Chisnall and a decisive 11-darter in the decider against top seed Wessel Nijman. His run was eventually halted by Scott Williams in a 6-0 whitewash.
- Lukas Wenig made an important step towards World Championship qualification and retaining his Tour Card by reaching the third round. He secured a crucial break against Keane Barry but eventually fell to Kevin Doets.
Other Notable Performances
Several other players had mixed fortunes:
- Daniel Klose once again performed admirably, earning prize money and pushing Michael Smith hard in a 4-5 loss, recording a 97 average.
- Austria’s Mensur Suljovic narrowly won his first-round match with a 117 checkout in the decider but lost in the second round.
- Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont also secured prize money, beating Henry Coates before a close loss to Martin Schindler.
What’s Next for the Pro Tour?
The darting action continues with the final two Players Championship events of the year scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday in Leicester. These tournaments will be pivotal for players looking to secure their spots in upcoming major championships.
Fans can follow the action live on PDC.TV, which broadcasts four boards, including one with German commentary. All matches across all boards can also be tracked via the live scorer on Dartconnect.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
