Aspinall Targets Further Success

News

NATHAN ASPINALL admits that Wednesday's Players Championship victory has given him the taste for further titles.

New Format & Prize Fund For Coral UK Open

Ladbrokes UK Open

THE Coral UK Open will enjoy a huge change in format for 2019 and a prize fund boost to £450,000.

Aspinall Claims Maiden Title

ProTour

NATHAN ASPINALL claimed his first PDC ranking title with a win over Ryan Searle in the final of Players Championship 18.

Clinical Wright Lands PC17 Title

ProTour

PETER WRIGHT claimed his third PDC title of the year at Players Championship 17.

Seven Secure ET11 & ET12 Qualifying Double

European Tour

SEVEN players secured places in both the Dutch Darts Championship & the International Darts Open.

Rodriguez Brothers Seal Maastricht Spots

European Tour

BROTHERS Rowby-John & Rusty-Jake Rodriguez were amongst the eight European Qualifiers for the Dutch Darts Championship.

ET11 & ET12 Entries Confirmed

European Tour

ENTRIES have been confirmed for September's Dutch Darts Championship and International Darts Open.

2018 Players Championship 17-18 Entries

ProTour

ENTRIES have been confirmed for the Players Championship double-header at the Barnsley Metrodome on September 4-5.

ET Qualifying Double For Ratajski

European Tour

KYZYSZTOF RATAJSKI was joined by Karel Sedlacek and Patrik Kovacs in securing places in the year's remaining European Tour events.

2018 European Darts Matchplay Schedule

European Tour

THE draw and schedule of play for the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg are now available.

Players Championship events are held throughout the year, with prize money won counting towards the ProTour Order of Merit

All Players Championship events will be streamed live for PDCTV-HD Subscribers worldwide with coverage from two boards throughout each event.

KRZYSZTOF RATAJSKI landed the fourth PDC title of his career at Players Championship 17 in Wigan on Saturday, defeating Nathan Aspinall 8-3 in the final.

The opening day of the ProTour double-header weekend saw Ratajski pick up his first title of 2019, continuing his 100% success rate in PDC ranking finals.

The Polish number one showed great consistency across the day, averaging over 100 in five of his seven victories, one of which came against two-time ProTour winner Glen Durrant.

Ratajski began the day by edging out Spain's Toni Alcinas 6-5, before defeating Barrie Bates, Durrant and Marko Kantele to reach his second ProTour quarter-final of the year.

There, the 42-year-old whitewashed Jamie Hughes 6-0, followed by a 7-3 semi-final success over James Wilson and a convincing display in the final which saw him land the £10,000 top prize.

"I feel really good about this win, I am very satisfied with how I played," said Ratajski, who won three PDC titles in 2018 despite not being a Tour Card Holder.

"Every match I played I averaged around 100 or more, but even with that sometimes it was very difficult and I won some close games.

"I think I have been a little unlucky this year even though I played really well. Even when I play super my opponents sometimes play better.

"Of course, I believe I am able to win the World Matchplay if I play on a high level like I did today."

The final saw Ratajski get off to a perfect start, hitting double top in the second leg to strike the first break of throw.

After the Pole missed a dart to go 4-0 in front, Aspinall found double ten to get his first leg on the board and reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Undeterred, Ratajski produced a stunning 122 checkout for another break of throw and a commanding 5-1 lead, before Aspinall showed some resilience to bring it back to 7-3.

Ratajski landed a perfectly-timed 180 in what turned out to be the final leg of the contest, securing the victory with a 95 checkout.

World number 13 Aspinall continued his progression by reaching his second PDC final since being crowned UK Open Champion in March ahead of his World Matchplay debut in July.

A number of players were vying for the 16 ProTour Order of Merit places in the Blackpool event ahead of the cut-off on June 30, with Wilson's run to his first semi-final since October 2018 cementing his place among the qualifiers.

Ron Meulenkamp reached his second ProTour semi-final in as many months to keep his hopes alive, while Kyle Anderson made it to the Last 32 to stay in the final provisional qualifying place.

Ryan Searle, Keegan Brown and Ross Smith lead the chasing pack, but they all suffered exits from the tournament by the Last 64 stage.

Aspinall was the only top 20 player to make it through to the quarter-finals on an open day in Wigan, while Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting made it to the Last 16.

Drawboard