The Players Championship Finals started with a tough decision. Darts world champion and world number one Michael Smith lost 3:6 to outsider Richard Veenstra in the final tournament of the season and thus botched the dress rehearsal for his title defense at the world championship starting on December 15th.
The Dutchman, who is ranked 82 places lower in the Order of Merit, will meet his compatriot Jermaine Wattimena in the second round of the £600,000 tournament on Saturday in Minehead, England (live on DAZN), who also won for one with his win against Dirk van Duijvenbode Surprise caused.
The German balance at the event, which lasted until Sunday, was mixed at the start. While Gabriel Clemens and Ricardo Pietreczko won their matches on the side stage, Martin Schindler and Daniel Klose, also on board two, were eliminated.
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German national team
Schindler lost a 5:3 lead against the Belgian Kim Huybrechts and missed four match darts on double 16 in a row. “The Hurricane” punished the Strausberger and then even won in 15 and twelve darts. Klose, on the other hand, had no chance on his debut and was already 1:5 behind against Ryan Joyce before he won two more legs and made a cosmetic result at 3:6.
Congratulations on the win: Martin Schindler (right) congratulates Kim Huybrechts
Quelle: PDC/Kieran Cleeves
Gabriel Clemens was satisfied after his 6:3 win over Connor Scutt. Above all, the double quota of more than 50 percent should give the Saarwellinger hope for the further tasks. In the second round he will face Northern Irishman Josh Rock on Saturday. Pietreczko faces “Heavy Metal” Ryan Searle.
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At the start of the tournament, the Nuremberg native was an eyewitness to a drama. His opponent Christian Kist apparently had problems with his gout again. The Dutchman scored an average of just 68 points in a 1:6 defeat, which was the weakest performance in the history of the tournament.
Results Players Championship Finals
1 round
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Radek Szaganski (POL) – Ian White (ENG) 6:2
Ross Smith (ENG) – Scott Williams (ENG) 6:2
Luke Woodhouse (ENG) –Simon Whitlock (AUS) 6:4
Ryan Searle (ENG) – Boris Krcmar (CRO) 6:4
Damon Heta (AUS) – Jules van Dongen (USA) 6:1
Ryan Joyce (ENG) – Daniel Klose (D) 6:3
Gian van Veen (NED) – Chris Landman (NED) 6:1
Mike De Decker (BEL) – Mario Vandenbogaerde (BEL) 1:6
Ricardo Pietreczko (D) – Christian Kist (NED) 6:1
Rob Cross (ENG) – Cameron Menzies (SCO) 6:3
Stephen Bunting (ENG) – Mickey Mansell (NIR) 6:4
Josh Rock (NIR) – Rowby-John Rodriguez (AUT) 6:4
Gabriel Clemens (D) – Connor Scutt (ENG) 6:3
James Wade (ENG) – William O‘Connor (IRL) 6:2
Dimitri van den Bergh (BEL) – Jim Williams (WAL) 6:4
Jonny Clayton (WAL) – Stephen Burton (ENG) 6:4
Jose de Sousa (POR) – Kevin Doets (NED) 5:6
Dylan Slevin (IRL) – Matt Campbell (CAN) 5:6
Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) – Maik Kuivenhoven (NED) 4:6
Chris Dobey (ENG) – Raymond van Barneveld (NED) 6:3
Brendan Dolan (NIR) – Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) 6:4
Michael Smith (ENG) – Richard Veenstra (NED) 3:6
Andrew Gilding (ENG) – Steve Lennon (IRL) 3:6
Gary Anderson (SCO) – Steve Beaton (ENG) 6:5
Daryl Gurney (NIR) – Niels Zonneveld (NED) 3:6
Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Ricky Evans (ENG) 6:0
Martin Schindler (D) – Kim Huybrechts (BEL) 5:6
Callan Rydz (ENG) – Michael van Gerwen (NED) 3:6
Luke Humphries (ENG) – Martin Lukeman (ENG) 6:4
Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED) – Jermaine Wattimena (NED) 3:6
Dave Chisnall (ENG) – Lee Evans (ENG) 6:2
Joe Cullen (ENG) – Jamie Hughes (ENG) 6:1
2nd round
Gary Anderson (SCO) – Dimitri van den Bergh (BEL)
Stephen Bunting (ENG) – Gian van Veen (NED)
Damon Heta (AUS) – Kevin Doets (NED)
Ryan Searle (ENG) – Ricardo Pietreczko (D)
Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Kim Huybrechts (BEL)
Matt Campbell (CAN) – Mario Vandenbogaerde (BEL)
Brendan Dolan (NIR) – Maik Kuivenhoven (NED)
Michael van Gerwen (NED) – Ross Smith (ENG)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) – Chris Dobey (ENG)
Rob Cross (ENG) – Luke Woodhouse (ENG)
Gabriel Clemens (D) – Josh Rock (NIR)
Luke Humphries (ENG) – Radek Szaganski (POL)
Jermaine Wattimena (NED) – Richard Veenstra (NED)
Joe Cullen (ENG) – Ryan Joyce (ENG)
Jonny Clayton (WAL) – Niels Zonneveld (NED)
James Wade (ENG) – Steve Lennon (IRL)
