JELLE Klaasen won his first PDC title in almost eight years as he beat Ian White to win Players Championship 14 in Wigan on Sunday.
Klaasen was in fine form throughout the afternoon as he made it through a tough draw to take the title at the Robin Park Tennis centre on a day which also saw Magnus Caris land a nine-darter against Jason Marriott in the first round.
The Dutchman was made to work hard in his opening matches as he won his board with three consecutive 6-4 wins against Lakeside winner Christian Kist, World Championship runner-up Mark Dudbridge and Gerwyn Price.
The 30-year-old then sealed another 6-4 success in the Last 16 as he impressively saw off Adrian Lewis before then beating Daryl Gurney and Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 to reach a third ProTour final of the year.
White’s afternoon began in more comfortable fashion as he kicked off with a 6-3 victory against Wes Newton before thumping Paul Milford (6-1) and Mark Walsh (6-0) to win his board.
However, things would get much tougher for the 44-year-old in the later rounds as he first defeated Jason Lovett 6-5, before then taking the scalps of Peter Wright and Michael Smith in his next two games by the same scoreline to set up the final with Klaasen.
It would be Klaasen who would keep his form going in the final though as he made it a case of third time lucky, running out a 6-2 victor and securing the £10,000 top prize.
Kyle Anderson would be another man celebrating on the day as he backed up his quarter-final appearance in yesterday’s event to reach the third round on Sunday – a feat which saw him book his place in the BetVictor World Matchplay for the first time.
Players Championship 14
Sunday July 5, Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan
First Round
Michael Smith 6-3 Jim Walker
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Prakash Jiwa
John Bowles 6-3 Dean Winstanley
Tony Newell 6-4 Andy Jenkins
Benito van de Pas 6-4 Ross Twell
Gary Stone 6-0 Andy Smith
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Mike Zuydwijk 6-3 Chris Dobey
Mervyn King 6-5 Dennis Smith
Johnny Haines 6-0 Jay Foreman
John Henderson 6-3 Mark Barilli
Thomas Seyler 6-4 Nigel Heydon
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Justin Pipe
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Steve Brown
Eddie Dootson 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Lee Evans 6-4 Barrie Bates
Ian White 6-3 Wes Newton
Paul Milford 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Mark Walsh 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Mickey Mansell 6-2 Matthew Edgar
Max Hopp 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Jason Lovett 6-5 Trevor Burkhill
Steve Beaton 6-3 Martyn Turner
Mark Frost 6-1 Darron Brown
Peter Wright 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Nick Fullwell 6-5 Jan Dekker
Kyle Anderson 6-4 Ronnie Baxter
Steve Hine 6-5 Steve West
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Robert Owen
William O'Connor 6-1 Kevin Bambrick
Phil Taylor 6-1 Curtis Hammond
Jamie Robinson 6-2 Kevin Thomas
James Wade 6-1 Tony Bradley
Shaun Griffiths 6-5 Mick Todd
Matt Padgett 6-5 Darren Webster
Darren Johnson 6-1 Stephen McNally
Robert Thornton 6-3 David Pallett
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 Ricky Evans
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Kevin Painter
Alan Norris 6-4 Jamie Bain
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Brian Woods
Wayne Jones 6-3 Ben Ward
Jason Wilson 6-3 Jamie Lewis
James Wilson 6-1 Pete Dyos
Kim Hubrechts 6-2 Joey Ten Berge
Robbie Green 6-5 Kevin McDine
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Keegan Brown
Stuart Kellett 6-5 Roxy-James Rodriguez
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Michael Barnard
Tony Richardson 6-1 Lee Palfreyman
Josh Payne 6-4 Joe Murnan
Magnus Caris 6-3 Jason Marriott (Magnus Caris Nine-Darter)
Simon Whitlock 6-0 Andy Parsons
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Ross Smith
Jamie Caven 6-3 David Ladley
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 James Forster
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Matt Clark
Ian Moss 6-1 Terry Temple
Mark Webster 6-0 Jyhan Artut
Ronny Huybrechts 6-1 Stephen Willard
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Christian Kist
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 Steve Douglas
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Nathan Derry
Alan Tabern 6-3 Connie Finnan
Second Round
Michael Smith 6-1 Colin Lloyd
John Bowles 6-4 Tony Newell
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Gary Stone
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Mike Zuydwijk
Johnny Haines 6-5 Mervyn King
John Henderson 6-5 Thomas Seyler
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Eddie Dootson 6-1 Lee Evans
Ian White 6-1 Paul Milford
Mark Walsh 6-2 Mickey Mansell
Jason Lovett 6-5 Max Hopp
Steve Beaton 6-4 Mark Frost
Peter Wright 6-1 Nick Fullwell
Kyle Anderson 6-0 Steve Hine
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 William O'Connor
Phil Taylor 6-4 Jamie Robinson
James Wade 6-2 Shaun Griffiths
Darren Johnson 6-1 Matt Padgett
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 Robert Thornton
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Alan Norris
Wayne Jones 6-5 Brendan Dolan
James Wilson 6-4 Jason Wilson
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Robbie Green
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Stuart Kellett
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Tony Richardson
Josh Payne 6-4 Magnus Caris
Daryl Gurney 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Jamie Caven
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Ian Moss
Mark Webster 6-1 Ronny Huybrechts
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Mark Dudbridge
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Alan Tabern
Losers: £250
Third Round
Michael Smith 6-2 John Bowles
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Cristo Reyes
Johnny Haines 6-4 John Henderson
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Eddie Dootson
Ian White 6-0 Mark Walsh
Jason Lovett 6-4 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 6-2 Kyle Anderson
Phil Taylor 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
James Wade 6-3 Darren Johnson
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Dimitri van den Bergh
Wayne Jones 6-2 James Wilson
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Josh Payne 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Mark Webster
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Losers: £750
Last 16
Michael Smith 6-4 Benito van de Pas
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Johnny Haines
Ian White 6-5 Jason Lovett
Peter Wright 6-4 Phil Taylor
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 James Wade
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Wayne Jones
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Josh Payne
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Adrian Lewis
Losers: £1,500
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Ian White 6-5 Peter Wright
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Daryl Gurney
Losers: £2,000
Semi-Finals
Ian White 6-5 Michael Smith
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Losers: £2,500
Final
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Ian White
Winner: £10,000
Runner-Up: £5,000
Klaasen was in fine form throughout the afternoon as he made it through a tough draw to take the title at the Robin Park Tennis centre on a day which also saw Magnus Caris land a nine-darter against Jason Marriott in the first round.
The Dutchman was made to work hard in his opening matches as he won his board with three consecutive 6-4 wins against Lakeside winner Christian Kist, World Championship runner-up Mark Dudbridge and Gerwyn Price.
The 30-year-old then sealed another 6-4 success in the Last 16 as he impressively saw off Adrian Lewis before then beating Daryl Gurney and Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 to reach a third ProTour final of the year.
White’s afternoon began in more comfortable fashion as he kicked off with a 6-3 victory against Wes Newton before thumping Paul Milford (6-1) and Mark Walsh (6-0) to win his board.
However, things would get much tougher for the 44-year-old in the later rounds as he first defeated Jason Lovett 6-5, before then taking the scalps of Peter Wright and Michael Smith in his next two games by the same scoreline to set up the final with Klaasen.
It would be Klaasen who would keep his form going in the final though as he made it a case of third time lucky, running out a 6-2 victor and securing the £10,000 top prize.
Kyle Anderson would be another man celebrating on the day as he backed up his quarter-final appearance in yesterday’s event to reach the third round on Sunday – a feat which saw him book his place in the BetVictor World Matchplay for the first time.
Players Championship 14
Sunday July 5, Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan
First Round
Michael Smith 6-3 Jim Walker
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Prakash Jiwa
John Bowles 6-3 Dean Winstanley
Tony Newell 6-4 Andy Jenkins
Benito van de Pas 6-4 Ross Twell
Gary Stone 6-0 Andy Smith
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Mike Zuydwijk 6-3 Chris Dobey
Mervyn King 6-5 Dennis Smith
Johnny Haines 6-0 Jay Foreman
John Henderson 6-3 Mark Barilli
Thomas Seyler 6-4 Nigel Heydon
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Justin Pipe
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Steve Brown
Eddie Dootson 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Lee Evans 6-4 Barrie Bates
Ian White 6-3 Wes Newton
Paul Milford 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Mark Walsh 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Mickey Mansell 6-2 Matthew Edgar
Max Hopp 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Jason Lovett 6-5 Trevor Burkhill
Steve Beaton 6-3 Martyn Turner
Mark Frost 6-1 Darron Brown
Peter Wright 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Nick Fullwell 6-5 Jan Dekker
Kyle Anderson 6-4 Ronnie Baxter
Steve Hine 6-5 Steve West
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Robert Owen
William O'Connor 6-1 Kevin Bambrick
Phil Taylor 6-1 Curtis Hammond
Jamie Robinson 6-2 Kevin Thomas
James Wade 6-1 Tony Bradley
Shaun Griffiths 6-5 Mick Todd
Matt Padgett 6-5 Darren Webster
Darren Johnson 6-1 Stephen McNally
Robert Thornton 6-3 David Pallett
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 Ricky Evans
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Kevin Painter
Alan Norris 6-4 Jamie Bain
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Brian Woods
Wayne Jones 6-3 Ben Ward
Jason Wilson 6-3 Jamie Lewis
James Wilson 6-1 Pete Dyos
Kim Hubrechts 6-2 Joey Ten Berge
Robbie Green 6-5 Kevin McDine
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Keegan Brown
Stuart Kellett 6-5 Roxy-James Rodriguez
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Michael Barnard
Tony Richardson 6-1 Lee Palfreyman
Josh Payne 6-4 Joe Murnan
Magnus Caris 6-3 Jason Marriott (Magnus Caris Nine-Darter)
Simon Whitlock 6-0 Andy Parsons
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Ross Smith
Jamie Caven 6-3 David Ladley
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 James Forster
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Matt Clark
Ian Moss 6-1 Terry Temple
Mark Webster 6-0 Jyhan Artut
Ronny Huybrechts 6-1 Stephen Willard
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Christian Kist
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 Steve Douglas
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Nathan Derry
Alan Tabern 6-3 Connie Finnan
Second Round
Michael Smith 6-1 Colin Lloyd
John Bowles 6-4 Tony Newell
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Gary Stone
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Mike Zuydwijk
Johnny Haines 6-5 Mervyn King
John Henderson 6-5 Thomas Seyler
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Eddie Dootson 6-1 Lee Evans
Ian White 6-1 Paul Milford
Mark Walsh 6-2 Mickey Mansell
Jason Lovett 6-5 Max Hopp
Steve Beaton 6-4 Mark Frost
Peter Wright 6-1 Nick Fullwell
Kyle Anderson 6-0 Steve Hine
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 William O'Connor
Phil Taylor 6-4 Jamie Robinson
James Wade 6-2 Shaun Griffiths
Darren Johnson 6-1 Matt Padgett
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 Robert Thornton
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Alan Norris
Wayne Jones 6-5 Brendan Dolan
James Wilson 6-4 Jason Wilson
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Robbie Green
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Stuart Kellett
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Tony Richardson
Josh Payne 6-4 Magnus Caris
Daryl Gurney 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Jamie Caven
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Ian Moss
Mark Webster 6-1 Ronny Huybrechts
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Mark Dudbridge
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Alan Tabern
Losers: £250
Third Round
Michael Smith 6-2 John Bowles
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Cristo Reyes
Johnny Haines 6-4 John Henderson
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Eddie Dootson
Ian White 6-0 Mark Walsh
Jason Lovett 6-4 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 6-2 Kyle Anderson
Phil Taylor 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
James Wade 6-3 Darren Johnson
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Dimitri van den Bergh
Wayne Jones 6-2 James Wilson
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Josh Payne 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Mark Webster
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Losers: £750
Last 16
Michael Smith 6-4 Benito van de Pas
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Johnny Haines
Ian White 6-5 Jason Lovett
Peter Wright 6-4 Phil Taylor
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 James Wade
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Wayne Jones
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Josh Payne
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Adrian Lewis
Losers: £1,500
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Ian White 6-5 Peter Wright
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Daryl Gurney
Losers: £2,000
Semi-Finals
Ian White 6-5 Michael Smith
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Losers: £2,500
Final
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Ian White
Winner: £10,000
Runner-Up: £5,000