Cameron Menzies has clinched his third PDC title at Players Championship 23, overcoming a determined Cristo Reyes 8-5 in a thrilling final that marked Reyes’s first-ever appearance in a PDC final. This event also saw Dave Chisnall’s semi-final run shake up the World Matchplay qualification standings, putting Damon Heta and Daryl Gurney’s spots at risk. German talent Yorick Hofkens reached the Last 16 for the first time, while Joe Cullen remarkably hit a nine-dart finish despite an early exit.
Menzies Secures Third PDC Title in Style
In a remarkable display of skill, Scotland’s Cameron Menzies secured his third PDC title, adding Players Championship 23 to his previous victories in 2024 and 2025. Facing Spain’s Cristo Reyes, who was making his maiden appearance in a PDC final, Menzies delivered a powerful performance.
The final match saw Menzies burst out of the gates, securing the first three legs in 14, 16, and 13 darts. Reyes, however, showed resilience, clawing back to 2-3 with legs in 17 and 20 darts. But “Cammy” then unleashed a dominant spell, hitting checkouts of 100 and 124, along with a rapid 12-darter, to pull ahead 6-2. Reyes refused to surrender, battling back with legs in 15, 19, and 16 darts. A strong 10-darter from Menzies brought him to the brink of victory, and after Reyes missed six crucial darts at a double, Menzies sealed the win on his seventh attempt, triumphing 8-5.
Paths to the Final
Menzies’ journey to the final was impressive, including a commanding 6-0 whitewash against Carl Sneyd and Cor Dekker. He also overcame tough opponents like Josh Rock (6-3) and Dave Chisnall (7-5) in the semi-finals.
Cristo Reyes’s route was equally notable, featuring victories over Filip Bereza (6-3) and Callan Rydz (6-4). He then stunned top-seed Wessel Nijman, coming back from a 3-5 deficit with a three-figure average. Reyes continued his dominant run by whitewashing William O’Connor 6-0 with a 105 average, before defeating Daniel Ayres (6-4) and David Sharp (7-3) to reach his first-ever PDC final.
World Matchplay Qualification Heats Up
The Players Championship 23 was one of the final opportunities for players to secure a spot at the prestigious World Matchplay tournament. Dave Chisnall’s strong run to the semi-finals has significantly intensified the battle for qualification, adding pressure to those on the bubble. Consequently, players like Damon Heta and Daryl Gurney now face an anxious wait, as their places in Blackpool are under threat.
Tournament Shocks and Stellar Moments
The tournament was not without its surprises, with several high-profile players experiencing early exits:
- Major Stars Eliminated Early: Gary Anderson (lost 5-6 to James Wade), Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Gian van Veen, Ross Smith, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Andrew Gilding all crashed out in the first round.
- Joe Cullen’s Nine-Darter: In a moment of brilliance, Joe Cullen achieved the rare feat of a nine-dart finish in the second round. A nine-darter is the perfect leg in darts, requiring the minimum of nine darts to finish a 501-point game. Despite this incredible achievement, Cullen remarkably lost his match 3-6 to Jack Tweddell.
Other notable performances included Tom Sykes reaching his second Pro Tour quarter-final, Charlie Manby making his third appearance in the last eight, and Daniel Ayres reaching his first-ever quarter-final as a substitute player. David Sharp also had a breakthrough, reaching his first semi-final.
German and European Performances
The tournament saw mixed results for European players:
- Yorick Hofkens’ Breakthrough: As the best German player, Yorick Hofkens reached the Last 16 for the first time on the Pro Tour. His journey included surviving four match darts against Ian White, winning an all-German clash against Kai Gotthardt, and a close match against Andy Boulton where he hit eight perfect darts but missed the ninth for a nine-darter. He ultimately lost to Daniel Ayres in a high-class encounter.
- Other German Players: Max Hopp secured a win before falling to Rob Cross. Arno Merk made a comeback victory but lost in the second round. Dominik Grüllich led 3-0 and fought to a decider but missed three match darts. Gabriel Clemens won his first match but struggled in his second. Kai Gotthardt continued his upward trend, beating Daryl Gurney before losing to Hofkens.
- German World Cup Duo: Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko both suffered 4-6 first-round defeats.
- Swiss and Austrian Players: Switzerland’s only Tour Card holder, Stefan Bellmont, won a match before losing to Kim Huybrechts. Austria’s Rusty-Jake Rodriguez lost 1-6 in the first round, and Mensur Suljovic was unable to attend due to flight delays.
Tournament Information
Here’s a breakdown of the Players Championship 23 event:
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £15,000
- Runner-Up: £10,000
- Semi-final: £6,500
- Quarter-final: £4,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £2,000
- Last 64: £1,250
- Total per event: £150,000
Match Format:
- Matches up to the Quarter-finals: Best of 11 Legs
- Semi-finals: Best of 13 Legs
- Final: Best of 15 Legs
How to Watch:
Pro Tour tournaments are not broadcast on traditional television. However, fans can follow the action live through the official PDC livestream service, which covers four boards (including one with German commentary). Additionally, all match scores across all boards can be tracked on various live scoring platforms.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
