Shocks and surprise results in darts are typically reserved for the grander, more theatrical TV events, where extended formats and the suffocating pressure of performing in front of a vast live audience – with millions watching at home – create a far more daunting and volatile environment than at the regular Player Championship tour events.
Yet on the so-called “floor events”, usually contested over the sprint format of a race to six, such outcomes are far less seismic. Given the extraordinary depth of talent within the Professional Darts Corporation system, these results tend to be only mildly eyebrow-raising rather than earth-shattering.
On any given day, even the lowest-ranked competitor is capable of reaching six legs before one of the sport’s elite can do so. That reality means that, in a Players Championship setting in Leicester, there are rarely true shockwaves – merely scorelines that, on paper, appeared unlikely before a dart was thrown.
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With that in mind, let’s revisit the action at the Mattioli Arena and highlight a few of those proverbial accumulator-busting results, based on ranking disparities, current form, and established reputations.
Seasonal debutant Sietse Lap arrived with just a single victory from his previous seven events. Therefore, his opening-round triumph over former World Champion Rob Cross would ordinarily qualify as a significant upset. However, when considering that Voltage is yet to win a board final this year, the magnitude of that result becomes somewhat diluted – certainly compared to if it had occurred on the grand stage of Ally Pally.
The previous day’s champion, Ryan Searle, had delivered a magnificent performance to secure his eighth Players Championship title. Yet just 24 hours later, he fell at the very first hurdle, losing to Christian Kist. While Kist is himself a former Lakeside champion, the abrupt nature of Searle’s exit still carried a sense of surprise given his momentum.
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Even Alan Soutar, Searle’s final opponent the day prior, was unable to build on his run, exiting without adding to his earnings after a defeat to Niels Zonneveld, a player enjoying a particularly fruitful spell on the Euro Tour. It serves as a reminder that even the strongest form – sometimes as recent as the previous day – does not guarantee continuity in such a fiercely competitive field.
Further emphasising that point, there are occasions where even a ton-plus average in an opening match is insufficient. It happened multiple times, and in Tuesday’s event, Ryan Joyce produced a three-figure average yet still exited, defeated by emerging Dutch talent Jurjen van der Velde, who himself delivered a scintillating 107 average.
St Helens Darts Star Looking to Recapture His Best
It was also encouraging to witness Dave Chisnall rediscovering his formidable scoring prowess. The St Helens thrower recorded the highest average of the day – and indeed across both Players Championship events – with a colossal 111.72 in his emphatic 6-1 victory over Martin Schindler in the board final. Ironically, in the quarter-final against Wessel Nijman, Chisnall also registered the highest event losing average – 103.68, narrowly eclipsed by his opponent.
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Finally, a mention for Charlie Manby, who, for the second successive day, saw his run halted at the last eight stage. The Yorkshire youngster announced himself emphatically at the back end of 2025 with a breathtaking run at Ally Pally.
Since securing his maiden tour card, however, third-round appearances had represented his deepest progress. To arrive in Leicester and reach back-to-back quarter-finals is a testament not only to his ability, but also to his composure and emerging darting intelligence.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC and PDD Europe
