Reigning UK Open Champion, Van den Bergh, reached the final firstly by recording victories against Martin Schindler, Maik Kuivenhoven, Mike De Decker, Dom Taylor, Boris Krcmar and Madars Razma, to set up a clash with Canada’s Campbell.  

The final began with Campbell racing into a 2-0 lead, with winning legs coming in 15 and 17 darts respectively, before Van den Bergh halved the deficit in Leg Three with a 14-dart break of throw.

Campbell immediately broke back in Leg Four, before Van den Bergh incredibly rattled off seven legs in succession, which saw the Belgian seal the victory in Leg 11 with a 12-dart break of throw, to pick up a first Players Championship title since 2021 as well as the £15,000 top prize. 

Campbell’s run to a second ranking final of his career saw the newly crowned North American Champion record victories against Darryl Pilgrim, Ross Smith, Wesley Plaisier, Gian Van Veen, Richard Veenstra and Danny Noppert, before being denied by Van den Bergh.  

Only three of the eight quarterfinalists were ranked in the world ‘s top 16 as Campbell was joined by Keane Barry, Boris Krcmar, Madars Razma and Richard Veenstra all demonstrating the depth of talent within the Pro Tour players.

Elsewhere, there was a Quarter Final runs for 3x World Champion Michael Van Gerwen, whilst the likes of Raymond Van Barneveld, James Wade and Tuesday’s PC11 runner up Daryl Gurney were amongst the high profile first round casualties.  

The PDC Pro Tour returns on 2-3^rd July in Milton Keynes with Players Championship 13 & 14 taking place, with 128 players competing for £125,000 in prize money each day, with play beginning at 13:00 BST.

Play will be broadcasted across four streaming boards on PDC.TV and various bookmaker websites worldwide, with all live scores and results on tv.dartconnect.com. 

Players Championship 12 

Last 16 

Boris Krcmar 6-2 Haupai Puha 

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Dom Taylor 

Madars Razma 6-4 Andy Baetens 

Michael Van Gerwen 6-1 Kai Gotthardt 

Richard Veenstra 6-4 Ricky Evans 

Matt Campbell 6-5 Gian Van Veen 

Danny Noppert 6-3 Peter Wright 

Keane Barry 6-5 Ryan Meikle 

Quarter Finals 

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Boris Krcmar 

Madars Razma 6-3 Michael Van Gerwen 

Matt Campbell 6-5 Richard Veenstra 

Danny Noppert 6-4 Keane Barry 

Semi Finals 

Dimitri Van den Bergh 7-3 Madars Razma 

Matt Campbell 7-4 Danny Noppert 

Final 

Dimitri Van den Bergh 8-3 Matt Campbell 

–ENDS–

Image: PDC

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Just over three months on from winning the UK Open, Van den Bergh clinched his third Players Championship title and a first since 2021.

The £15,000 top prize sees the Belgian rise three places to seventh on the PDC Order of Merit.

“I’m delighted to be standing here as the winner, but I don’t know how I’ve done it,” admitted Van den Bergh, the 12th different winner in as many 2024 Players Championship events.

“I’ve been hitting huge averages and losing, so to play nowhere near my best and win a title is something I just can’t explain.

“The whole day I’ve been battling, I never give up.

“It’s been a while since I won a Players Championship title so it’s a nice feeling to get that off my back.”

Van den Bergh began the day with wins over Martin Schindler and Maik Kuivenhoven, before averaging just shy of 100 in a 6-1 rout of fellow-Belgian Mike De Decker.

A 6-3 success over Dom Taylor saw him reach the quarter-finals, where he overcame Boris Krcmar by the same scoreline.

The former World Matchplay champion saw off Madars Razma 7-3 in the semi-finals, before battling back from 3-1 down to beat Campbell in a scrappy final.

Campbell, who won the North American Darts Championship at the start of June and will compete for Canada in the World Cup of Darts at the end of the month, took the scalps of Danny Noppert and Ross Smith on his way to a second ranking event final.

Elsewehere, Krcmar landed the third nine-dart leg across the two days of Players Championship action at Halle 39, hitting perfection in a 6-3 win over Robert Grundy in round three.

The 2024 PDC ProTour season continues with the NEO.bet European Darts Open in Leverkusen across June 21-23, with live coverage through DAZN (for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and Viaplay.

Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ worldwide.

The event draw and results are listed in the Match Centre.

Click here for match stats through DartConnect.

2024 Players Championship 12

Wednesday June 12

Last 16

Boris Krcmar 6-2 Haupai Puha

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Dom Taylor

Madars Razma 6-4 Andy Baetens

Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Kai Gotthardt

Richard Veenstra 6-4 Ricky Evans

Matt Campbell 6-5 Gian van Veen

Danny Noppert 6-3 Peter Wright

Keane Barry 6-5 Ryan Meikle

Quarter-Finals

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Boris Krcmar

Madars Razma 6-3 Michael van Gerwen

Matt Campbell 6-5 Richard Veenstra

Danny Noppert 6-4 Keane Barry

Semi-Finals

Dimitri Van den Bergh 7-3 Madars Razma

Matt Campbell 7-4 Danny Noppert

Final

Dimitri Van den Bergh 8-3 Matt Campbell

–ENDS–

Image: PDC

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The Australian number one saved his best performance of the day for Tuesday’s decider, averaging 103 and landing six maximums to triumph at the Morningside Arena. Heta’s eighth PDC title marks the perfect preparation ahead of the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay, which takes place at Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens from July 15-23.

The 35-year-old will take on World Youth Champion Josh Rock in an intriguing first round clash in Blackpool, and Heta is relishing his latest clash against the emerging Northern Irishman.

“I’ve been to the World Matchplay a couple of times before and it hasn’t worked out for me so far, but with this new approach, I’m feeling confident,” declared Heta.

“It’s going to be tough against Josh [Rock] who is a great player, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and whatever happens, I will still come out smiling.

“I’m absolutely stoked with where my game is at right now, but I’m not putting that pressure on myself where everything is a must.

“I’m just going to play my game, have a bit of fun and hopefully it goes my way. “I consider myself a potential champion in every game that I play. I’ve got the game, I’ve beaten everyone, so there’s no reason why I can’t lift the title.”

Heta was consistency personified in Leicester, overcoming Owen Roelofs in his opener, before winning through deciding-leg ties against Owen Bates and Ricardo Pietreczko. He then eased past Kevin Doets in the last 16, while convincing wins over James Wade and Joe Cullen saw him progress to his second ProTour final in the space of three events. Joyce drew first blood in Tuesday’s final with a superb 12-dart hold, but Heta soon found his range, converting 104 and 102 finishes to level proceedings at three apiece.

The former World Cup winner then fired in a 12-dart break to hit the front in leg seven, sparking a run of three consecutive legs as he opened up a commanding 6-3 cushion. Joyce stopped the rot with a 78 combination on tops to preserve his hopes, only for Heta to seal the deal in style, conjuring up back-to-back 11-darters to secure his fifth Players Championship crown. Joyce, meanwhile, defeated four seeded stars to scoop the £8,000 runner-up prize, defeating former Lakeside champions Richie Burnett and Steve Beaton to kick off his campaign.

The 37-year-old averaged 102 to topple Beaton, and also claimed the scalps of Martin Schindler, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jose de Sousa to reach his first PDC ranking final since July 2020. Elsewhere, Cullen continued his fine form with a run to the semi-finals, defeating his World Matchplay opponent Mike De Decker and averaging 107 to demolish Daryl Gurney in the last 16.

De Sousa also impressed in Leicester, coming through three last-leg shoot-outs and averaging 110 to stun Jonny Clayton in a remarkable quarter-final showdown. Clayton was featuring in his second quarter-final in as many days, while Van Duijvenbode registered four consecutive ton-plus averages in his run to the last eight. Elsewhere, UK Open champion Andrew Gilding defied a nine-dart finish from a superb Christian Kist to make the quarter-finals, where he was also joined by ten-time TV title winner James Wade.

Monday’s winner Luke Humphries suffered an opening round exit to Czech star Karel Sedlacek, while Rock, Chris Dobey and Gary Anderson were among the other first-round casualties.

The PDC ProTour will resume on August 26-27, with Players Championships 17-18 set to take place at Halle 39 in Hildesheim, with coverage from all four streaming boards broadcast live on PDCTV.

2023 Players Championship 16

Tuesday July 11, Morningside Arena, Leicester

Last 16
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Christian Kist
Joe Cullen 6-1 Daryl Gurney
Damon Heta 6-2 Kevin Doets
James Wade 6-2 Vincent van der Voort
Jose de Sousa 6-5 Ronny Huybrechts
Jonny Clayton 6-0 Danny Noppert
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Connor Scutt
Ryan Joyce 6-3 Martin Schindler

Quarter-Finals
Joe Cullen 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Damon Heta 6-3 James Wade
Jose de Sousa 6-3 Jonny Clayton
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Semi-Finals
Damon Heta 7-2 Joe Cullen
Ryan Joyce 7-4 Jose de Sousa

Final
Damon Heta 8-4 Ryan Joyce

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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The Dutchman had enjoyed his first taste of senior success in 2021, and added another £12,000 title by defying a 104 average from Searle in the decider.

Searle was bidding to complete back-to-back successes after winning last Sunday’s Players Championship, and was on course to complete the double as he led 4-2 in the final.

Van Duijvenbode, though, produced a superb run of legs in 11, 14, 14, 12 and 14 darts as he surged into a 7-4 lead to put himself within touching distance of the title.

Searle kept his hopes alive with legs of 13, 15 and 13 darts to take the game into a deciding leg – in which both players missed a dart for glory before Van Duijvenbode finally closed out victory on double 16.

Van Duijvenbode had begun his challenge on Saturday with a brilliant 109.81 average in a 6-2 defeat of Danny Baggish, and recorded 104 averages against Peter Hudson and Florian Hempel.

He also overcame Premier League stars James Wade and Michael Smith and whitewashed Simon Whitlock in his run to the final.

“It was satisfying,” said Van Duijvenbode. “I think I played very well all day and I didn’t have the feeling that I had all day in the final.

“The 146 was my one chance to get in the final. When I made it to seven [legs] I started shaking and stopped hitting the big scores.”

Van Duijvenbode ignited his career with a run to the World Grand Prix final in 2019 and has broken into the world’s top 16, but believes he must improve to challenge for top honours.

“I think I’m the biggest opponent of myself, because I feel like I can play a 100 average every game I play, but I don’t do it,” he added.

“Most of the times I get in my own head, and then you end up losing to players who you don’t think you should lose to.

“I don’t see myself yet winning a tournament on TV, but every year I’m getting closer in getting more adult in my game.

“I know my top game, and my top game can beat everyone’s top game.”

Searle’s run of form continued with six victories, which included ton-plus averages in 6-5 wins over Luke Humphries and Jose Justicia.

He also defeated recent ProTour winner Damon Heta in the semi-finals, but fell just short against the Dutchman.

Heta joined Smith in the semi-finals, while World Grand Prix champion Jonny Clayton and Australia’s Gordon Mathers joined Whitlock and Justicia in the last eight.

The day also featured a monster 115.62 average from Humphries in a 6-0 win over Tony Martinez as the former World Youth Champion won through to the last 16.

The PDC ProTour weekend concludes on Sunday with Players Championship 13 in Barnsley. Watch coverage from two streams simultaneously at video.pdc.tv.

2022 Players Championship 12

Saturday April 9, Barnsley Metrodome

Last 16

Gordon Mathers 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Michael Smith 6-5 Keegan Brown

Simon Whitlock 6-5 Jose de Sousa

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Florian Hempel

Jonny Clayton 6-2 Scott Waites

Damon Heta 6-1 Joe Cullen

Jose Justicia 6-5 Stephen Bunting

Ryan Searle 6-5 Luke Humphries

Quarter-Finals

Michael Smith 6-3 Gordon Mathers

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-0 Simon Whitlock

Damon Heta 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Ryan Searle 6-5 Jose Justicia

Semi-Finals

Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-2 Michael Smith

Ryan Searle 7-2 Damon Heta

Final

Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-7 Ryan Searle

—–ENDS—–

Images: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

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