Adrian Lewis rolled back the years at Players Championship 20 after beating Boris Koltsov 8-4 with an average of 103.02 in Barnsley.
The win secures Jackpot his spot at the World Matchplay in what has been a good few days for the former back-to-back world champion, with a Semi Final appearance in PC18.
The 37-year-old hasn’t won a title on the Pro Tour since 2019 so will be relieved to get over the line, including 6-4 victories over Martijn Kleermaker and former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton in the Quarter Finals.
Lewis can now look forward to Blackpool after securing his spot with the field set to be confirmed after Players Championship 21 tomorrow.
Koltsov who plays without a nation, had his moments in the Final including a 160 checkout in what was the highest of either player in the match. The Viking beat Martin Schindler 7-3 to reach the Final and beat Krzysztof Kcuik in the Quarters, after the Polish international beat tournament number 1 Luke Humphries in the Last 16.
Jonny Clayton who hasn’t got past the first round in the last two events, reached the Quarter Finals on Sunday including a 6-5 victory over US Darts Masters champion Michael Smith after finding double one with his last dart.
The Ferret included consecutive ton plus averages firstly against Josh Rock in the Second Round (101.64) before his best performance of the day, beating Tony Martinez 6-1 with a score 105.19. The man who finished top of the Premier League will have his eyes firmly on the Winter Gardens, as the Red Dragon star looks to add the World Matchplay title to his list of honours that include the Premier League and the Masters.
Former World Champion Steve Beaton followed up his 118 average in Friday’s Euro Tour qualifiers, by reaching the Quarter Finals in PC20 losing out to Martin Schindler 6-2. The Bronzed Adonis will have done no favours to Ross Smith in his bid to reach the World Matchplay after winning 6-3 with an average just shy of a ton in the Second Round.
The Winmau star also beat yesterday’s runner up Andrew Gilding in a last leg decider, as well as World Cup of Darts winner John Henderson with the Highlander including a ton plus average in beating Ryan Searle 6-3 scoring 100.14.
The fight for the World Matchplay all comes down to tomorrow with up to six players fighting for one spot after Adrian Lewis distanced himself with his victory today. Rowby-John Rodriguez lost in the Second Round 6-1 to John O’Shea but keeps hold of the final spot, whilst Simon Whitlock kept his hopes alive after racing out the blocks, recording ton plus averages in his opening victories over Ryan Meikle and Richie Burnett.
Unfortunately for the Wizard his run would come to an end in the next round, with Jermaine Wattimena running out a 6-3 winner in Barnsley to reach the Last 16.
For the likes of Ross Smith, Keane Barry, Ricky Evans, and Vincent van der Voort the race will come to a close tomorrow so the need for wins could not be greater, with a spot at arguably the second biggest tournament of the year on the line.
Players Championship 21 is live on PDC TV tomorrow in the fourth and final at the Barnsley Metro dome with Dirk van Duijvenbode, Danny Noppert and Adrian Lewis the three winners across the action.
Players Championship 20:
Last 16 Results
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-5 Luke Humphries
Boris Koltsov 6-3 Kevin Doets
Martin Schindler 6-4 Damon Heta
Steve Beaton 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Michael Smith
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Pete Burgoyne
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Andy Boulton
Quarter Finals:
Boris Koltsov 6-4 Krzysztof Kciuk
Martin Schindler 6-2 Steve Beaton
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Semi Finals:
Boris Koltsov 7-3 Martin Schindler
Adrian Lewis 7-2 Nathan Aspinall
Final:
Adrian Lewis 8-4 Boris Koltsov
—–ENDS—-
Images: PDC
