Gerwyn Price, known as ‘The Iceman’, clinched his first title of the year at Players Championship 6 in Leicester, showcasing a dominant return to form. This unpredictable tournament also witnessed a historic moment as Beau Greaves became the first woman ever to throw a nine-dart finish on the PDC Pro Tour. Price’s exceptional performance culminated in a commanding victory in the final, solidifying his status among the darts elite.
The Unpredictable Start: Big Names Tumble Early
The Players Championship series is renowned for its thrilling unpredictability, and the sixth event of the year in Leicester certainly delivered. With five different winners in the first five tournaments, the stage was set for another fresh champion. However, the path to the final was anything but smooth, even for the sport’s biggest stars.
The early rounds saw several prominent players making unexpected exits:
- Damon Heta
- Joe Cullen
- Ryan Searle
- Raymond van Barneveld (defeated by Arno Merk)
- Gary Anderson (lost in the second round to a red-hot Martijn Dragt)
Dutchman Martijn Dragt was particularly impressive, knocking out Anderson with a 104.84 average and starting his day with a 107.24 average against Joe Hunt. He eventually fell to Andrew Gilding in the Last 32.
History Made: Beau Greaves’ Perfect Nine-Darter
Amidst the upsets and high averages, one moment truly stood out, etching itself into darts history. Beau Greaves, dubbed ‘Beau ‘n’ Arrow’, achieved a perfect nine-dart finish against Mensur Suljovic. This monumental feat marked her as the first woman ever to hit a nine-darter on the PDC Pro Tour. For context, a nine-darter is the quickest possible way to win a leg in darts, requiring perfect accuracy over nine throws. It’s a rare and celebrated achievement, highlighting incredible skill under pressure.
Max Hopp also followed suit with a nine-darter of his own later in the day, though his perfect leg didn’t prevent a loss to Thibault Tricole in the Last 32. The tournament continued to deliver surprises, with seeded players like Chris Dobey, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Jermaine Wattimena, and Martin Schindler all exiting in the third round, leaving only six seeded players in the Last 16.
Dutch Hopes and Welsh Power
Five Dutch players made it to the Last 16, but only two advanced further:
- Danny Noppert lost to Kevin Doets (6-4)
- Jimmy van Schie lost to Jonny Clayton (6-0)
- Jurjen van der Velde lost to Christian Kist (6-2)
Kevin Doets and Christian Kist both reached the quarterfinals, where they faced formidable Welsh opposition. Jonny Clayton continued his strong run by eliminating Doets, having already beaten two other Dutchmen (Richard Veenstra and Jimmy van Schie). Kist, meanwhile, was overcome by the eventual champion, Gerwyn Price.
Gerwyn Price’s Dominant March to the Title
From the outset, Gerwyn Price was a man on a mission. ‘The Iceman’ displayed exceptional form throughout the day, recording averages above 100 in five of his six matches leading up to the final, including impressive highs of 108.59 and 109.48. His path to the final was marked by clinical finishes and relentless scoring, leaving a trail of defeated opponents.
His opponent in the final was the somewhat surprising Andrew Gilding. Despite not hitting the same high averages as Price, ‘Goldfinger’ demonstrated remarkable consistency and grit, navigating his way through six tough matches to reach the final. Thibault Tricole, who also enjoyed a strong run to the semi-finals, was Gilding’s final victim before the championship match.
The Final Showdown: Price’s Unstoppable Form
The final between Gerwyn Price and Andrew Gilding seemed to have only one plausible outcome given Price’s overwhelming performance throughout the day. And so it proved. Price quickly asserted his dominance, racing to a 3-0 lead with legs in 18, 15, and 15 darts. Gilding managed to secure his first leg with an 84-finish, but that would ultimately be his only success in the match.
Price continued to showcase his class, sealing the victory with a magnificent 153-checkout for a 12-darter, a true masterclass in high-level darts. The final score reflected Price’s superiority, earning him his first title of the year in emphatic fashion.
Tournament Results at a Glance:
Quarter-finals
- Gerwyn Price 6-4 Kevin Doets
- Jonny Clayton 6-3 Christian Kist
- Andrew Gilding 6-5 Ross Smith
- Thibault Tricole 6-3 David Sharp
Semi-finals
- Gerwyn Price 7-4 Jonny Clayton
- Andrew Gilding 7-6 Thibault Tricole
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
