Damon Heta won his 2nd PDC Ranking Title on Saturday, in defeating Gary Anderson 8-6 in the final of Players Championship Five, as the PDC Pro Tour returned at the Barnsley Metrodome.
Australia’s Heta, who’s first ranking title came back in September 2020, reached his 2nd final of the season as he dropped just 16 legs in doing so, after recording victories over Danny Jansen, Jimmy Hendriks, Keane Barry, Steve Beaton, Daryl Gurney and Dimitri Van den Bergh, to set up a clash with Gary Anderson.
The final began with the pair holding throw for the opening two legs, before the first break came in Leg 3 with a 12 darter from Anderson. Heta then won back-to-back legs to move ahead once more, before Anderson did the same feat in winning two on the spin in 12 and 15 darts to move 4-3 up. Heta then took a two-leg lead by winning three on the spin in 15,15 and 10 darts respectively, to move 6-4 up and within two of victory. Anderson then levelled up the tie, in hitting back-to-back 14 darters to make it a best of three contest. Heta then took complete control in winning the following two legs, which saw him seal the victory with a 14 darter in Leg 14 to take the title and pick up the £12,000 first prize.
Anderson’s run to a 1st final of the season saw him record victories over Jason Lowe, Michael Van Gerwen, Simon Whitlock, Chris Dobey, Rob Cross and Joe Cullen, denying ‘The Rockstar’ the chance of winning three Pro Tour titles on the spin and ending his 19-match unbeaten run on the floor.
Elsewhere, the day saw two perfect legs hit by Masters Champion Joe Cullen and Northern Irish youngster Josh Rock, with the likes of Peter Wright, Michael Smith and James Wade all suffering early exits.
The PDC Pro Tour weekend concludes on Sunday with Players Championship Six taking place in Barnsley, with the 128 players returning to compete for a further £100,000 in prize money, with play beginning at 12:00 GMT. Play will be broadcasted across two streaming boards on PDC.TV and various bookmaker websites worldwide, with all live scores and results on tv.dartconnect.com.
Players Championship 5
Last 16
Gary Anderson 6-3 Chris Dobey
Rob Cross 6-4 Luke Humphries
Joe Cullen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 6-0 Shaun Wilkinson
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Matt Campbell
Damon Heta 6-3 Steve Beaton
Mike De Decker 6-1 Mervyn King
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Quarter Finals
Gary Anderson 6-2 Rob Cross
Joe Cullen 6-3 Dirk Van Duijvenbode
Damon Heta 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Mike De Decker
Semi Finals
Gary Anderson 7-3 Joe Cullen
Damon Heta 7-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Final
Damon Heta 8-6 Gary Anderson
—–ENDS—-
Image: PDC
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