Jermaine Wattimena, known as ‘The Machine Gun’, has secured his third career Players Championship title in Leicester, overcoming compatriot Kevin Doets in a thrilling final. His remarkable run included a stunning upset victory against darts prodigy Luke Littler in the quarter-finals. This triumph not only earned Wattimena £15,000 but also propelled him into the prestigious top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit.
Wattimena’s Leicester Upset: How ‘The Machine Gun’ Silenced Littler and Claimed Darts Gold
Jermaine Wattimena delivered a sensational performance to secure his third career Players Championship title in Leicester. The Dutch darting star overcame compatriot Kevin Doets in a thrilling final, but it was his earlier victory against teenage sensation Luke Littler that truly set the tournament alight.
The Final Showdown: Wattimena vs. Doets
The final was an all-Dutch affair, where Wattimena ultimately emerged victorious with an 8-6 win over Kevin Doets. After Doets took an early 2-0 lead, Wattimena quickly asserted dominance, building a commanding 6-2 advantage. Doets fought back valiantly, winning four of the next five legs to narrow the gap. However, Wattimena sealed his triumph with a decisive 11-dart leg, claiming the £15,000 prize money. This significant win propelled him into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit, a major career milestone.
Wattimena’s Path to Victory: The Giant Slayer
Wattimena’s journey to the title was marked by several impressive performances, including a notable switch to Winmau darts. His early rounds saw him dispatch Stephen Rosney, Martin Lukeman, Daryl Gurney (who recently started wearing glasses during play), and Carl Sneyd.
The tournament’s biggest talking point came in the quarter-finals:
- Stunning Victory Over Luke Littler: Wattimena caused a major upset by defeating the highly-fancied Luke Littler 6-5 in a thrilling last-leg decider.
- Crucial Moment: In the decisive leg, Wattimena produced a brilliant 115 checkout to secure the win – his first ever against Littler.
For Littler, this was his first Players Championship event of the year. He aims to qualify for the Players Championship Finals and needs to climb into the top 64 of the Players Championship Order of Merit. Despite his quarter-final exit, he still has seven tournaments to bridge the approximately £22,000 gap to the qualification spots.
In the semi-final, Wattimena demonstrated remarkable resilience, coming back from a 4-1 deficit against Luke Woodhouse to win six consecutive legs. During this comeback, ‘The Machine Gun’ fired in five finishes of over 100, showcasing his clinical precision under pressure.
Doets’ Strong Performance and Other Highlights
Kevin Doets, playing in his third ranking final of the season, also had an excellent run. On his way to the final, he defeated formidable opponents such as Rob Cross, Cameron Menzies, and the top-seeded Wessel Nijman.
Other notable moments from Players Championship 27 included:
- Wessel Nijman’s High Averages: Nijman impressed with an almost 110 average against Bradley Brooks in the fourth round and over 102 against Kim Huybrechts in the quarter-finals.
- Nathan Aspinall’s Nine-Darter: The Englishman achieved a perfect nine-dart finish against Thibault Tricole in the first round, a rare and spectacular feat in darts.
Early Exits and Upcoming Action
Not all top players had a successful day. Darts giants Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert both experienced early exits in the first round. However, they, along with the rest of the field, will have immediate opportunities for redemption as Players Championship 28 is scheduled to take place the very next day in Leicester.
Tournament Results at a Glance
Quarter-Finals:
- Wessel Nijman 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
- Kevin Doets 6-2 Cameron Menzies
- Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Mickey Mansell
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Luke Littler
Semi-Finals:
- Kevin Doets 7-5 Wessel Nijman
- Jermaine Wattimena 7-4 Luke Woodhouse
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
