The third brace of Pro Tour floor events for the 2023 season witnessed a similar pattern to that which emerged during the initial two weekends. Two of the striving stars of today’s game, in the persons of Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Ross Smith claimed the wins, whilst members of what we have described as the old guard, again put in some sterling efforts.
Smith entered the top 16 for the time, DVD is beginning to assert himself across the range of formats and Ryan Searle is staking a claim to being the best floor player whilst still not fully shining on stage or TV.
But to underline the complexity of the current situation you have to look no further than Gary Anderson. The Scotsman was saying merely weeks ago that his 107+ averages were behind him etc. It certainly didn’t look like that this weekend as he reached Saturday’s final and clocked multiple 100+ averages along the way. Darts fans may have got Chris Dobey and Ryan Searle to thank for the former World Champion’s returning appetitive and form. Raymond van Barneveld also chipped in for the older guard reached a Qtr final pace.
Much credit should also go to the newer Tour Card holders who are settling in well. Richard Veenstra has been consistent since the opening weekend with L16 and Quarterfinal spots a regular position for the Dutchman. Graham Usher, Chris Landman, and Jaques Labre all registered well this weekend in addition to the now-familiar efforts of the impressive 20-year-old, Gian Van Veen.
Smudger’s Triple Crown:
Ross Smith won his 3rd PDC Ranking Title on Saturday, after defeating Gary Anderson 8-6 in the final of Players Championship Five. The third PDC Pro Tour weekend of the year commenced at the Barnsley Metrodome.
The reigning European Champion, Smith, reached the final by recording a succession of victories against Martijn Kleermaker, Jim Williams, Luke Humphries, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Nathan Aspinall and Martin Schindler, to set up a clash with Anderson.
The final began with the pair holding each other’s throw in the opening two legs, before Smith rattled off a run of three consecutive legs, which was ended by Anderson in Leg 6, as he pinned an 18-dart hold to cut the gap to just two legs at 4-2. Anderson then charged in front, by winning four of his following five legs, to move 6-5 up in a race of eight. Smith then rattled off three straight legs again, which saw seal the victory in Leg 14 with a 16 darter to take an 8-6 victory and pick up a 3rd ranking title of his career.
Anderson’s run to a first final of the year saw him record victories against Arron Monk, Gian Van Veen, Boris Krcmar, Keegan Brown, Chris Landman and Gerwyn Price, before denied by Smith and a three-year wait for a PDC ranking title continuing.
Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for Dutch duo Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Raymond Van Barneveld, with the likes of Michael Van Gerwen, Michael Smith and newly crowned UK Open Champion, Andrew Gilding among the names to suffer first round 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
Ross Smith 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Madars Razma
Martin Schindler 6-2 Danny Van Trijp
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 6-2 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gary Anderson 6-4 Keegan Brown
Chris Landman 6-5 Radak Szaganski
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Nathan Rafferty
Raymond Van Barneveld 6-1 Kevin Doets
Quarter Finals
Ross Smith 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Martin Schindler 6-4 Dirk Van Duijvenbode
Gary Anderson 6-4 Chris Landman
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Raymond Van Barneveld
Semi Finals
Ross Smith 7-6 Martin Schindler
Gary Anderson 7-5 Gerwyn Price
Final
Ross Smith 8-6 Gary Anderson
Dirk Doubles Up:
Dirk Van Duijvenbode picked up a 2nd title in three weeks on Sunday, after an 8-4 victory over Ryan Searle in the final of Players Championship Six, as the third weekend of the 2023 Pro Tour season came to a close at the Barnsley Metrodome.
Dutch star, Van Duijvenbode, who was victorious at last month’s Fourth Players Championship Event of the year, went all the way once again, as he reached the final by recording a succession of victories against Kevin Burness, Ronny Huybrechts, Cameron Crabtree, Ian White, Michael Van Gerwen and Luke Humphries, to set up a clash with Ryan Searle.
The final began with the opening four legs all being won in 15 darts, as Van Duivenbode raced into a 3-1 lead. Searle then charged in front, by winning three straight legs in 17,14 and 13 darts respectively to move 4-3 ahead. Van Duijvenbode then went on an incredible run, by winning five straight legs, which ended with a 12 dart hold of throw and saw him seal an 8-4 victory and pick up a 5th ranking title of his career and deny Searle in a final for the 2nd time in as many weeks.
Searle, who was victorious at the opening Players Championship Event of the year, recorded a succession of victories on route to the final against Jimmy Hendriks, Gary Anderson, Ricardo Pietreczko, Matt Campbell, Dave Chisnall and Mike De Decker, before being denied by the Dutchman.
Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for Saturday’s PC5 winner Ross Smith and Dutch star Gian Van Veen, who reached the Last 8 for the second time in his debut season on the PDC Pro Tour. Also, Premier League stars in Gerwyn Price, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Chris Dobey were among the names to suffer first-round exits.
The PDC Pro Tour returns next weekend on 19-20th March in Hildesheim with Players Championship Seven & Eight taking place, with the 128 players competing for £100,000 in prize money each day, with play beginning at 13:00 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 6
Last 16
Luke Humphries 6-2 Chris Landman
Ross Smith 6-2 Graham Usher
Michael Van Gerwen 6-2 Richard Veenstra
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 6-0 Ian White
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Vincent Van der Voort
Ryan Searle 6-3 Matt Campbell
Mike De Decker 6-3 Jacques Labre
Gian Van Veen 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Quarter Finals
Luke Humphries 6-4 Ross Smith
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 6-2 Michael Van Gerwen
Ryan Searle 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Mike De Decker 6-4 Gian Van Veen
Semi Finals
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 7-6 Luke Humphries
Ryan Searle 7-2 Mike De Decker
Final
Dirk Van Duivenbode 8-4 Ryan Searle
—–Ends—–
Reports Joe Williams
Comment : DW Editorial
Images: PDC (Unless stated)
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