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Dave Chisnall Claims Second Players Championship Title of the Year
Dave Chisnall has emerged victorious in the recent Players Championship 23, securing his second title of the year after defeating Chris Dobey 8-4 in the final held in Leicester on Wednesday.
Despite the close score, Dobey struggled to recapture the high level of play he demonstrated in the semi-finals, where he achieved a stunning nine-darter. In that match, Dobey showcased remarkable skill by beating Martin Schindler 7-2, becoming the fifth player in the tournament to register a ton-plus average.
The day had earlier witnessed a second perfect leg, courtesy of Adam Warner, who threw a nine-darter during his second-round match, despite eventually falling to Jurjen van der Velde.
Notably, prominent players such as Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, and Michael Smith opted not to participate in this tournament. Additionally, world No. 1 Luke Humphries faced an unexpected exit in the last 16, losing to Mervyn King.
Reflecting on the final, Chisnall remarked, “The final was a tough battle; it wasn’t a good game, but I’m just happy to get over the line.” His victory earns him a prize of £15,000 and allows him to reclaim his position as world No. 5. He expressed confidence in his current form, stating, “I think my game is up there with the best in the world at the moment; I’m playing really well and my confidence is high.”
Chisnall is now setting his sights on upcoming major events, particularly the World Grand Prix, where he believes his strong double-hitting will serve him well.
Players Championship 23 Results
Last 16
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Madars Razma
Mervyn King 6-3 Luke Humphries
Damon Heta 6-3 Ian White
Stephen Burton 6-5 Rob Cross
Martin Lukeman 6-5 Wessel Nijman
Martin Schindler 6-4 Lee Evans
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Gary Anderson
Chris Dobey 6-1 Mike De Decker
Quarter-Finals
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Mervyn King
Stephen Burton 6-5 Damon Heta
Martin Schindler 6-3 Martin Lukeman
Chris Dobey 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Semi-Finals
Dave Chisnall 7-4 Stephen Burton
Chris Dobey 7-2 Martin Schindler
Final
Dave Chisnall 8-4 Chris Dobey
Upcoming Darts Events on Sky Sports
The next highlight on the Sky Sports darting calendar is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, set to take place from October 7-13 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. This prestigious £600,000 event will feature 32 elite players, including Luke Humphries, who will return to defend his title after capturing his first TV ranking championship against Gerwyn Price last year.
Also making an appearance will be six-time champion Michael van Gerwen, along with rising star Luke Littler, who is poised to make his double-start debut. Notably, the format this year has been adjusted, with Saturday’s semi-finals scheduled as a best of nine sets, while the final will be played over the best of 11 sets on the closing day.
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Source
www.skysports.com