20/03/2023

Anderson ends title drought of over three years with superb Players Championship 8 triumph over Ratajski

It is a popular return to the winners' circle for Gary Anderson who has sealed Players Championship 8 in Hildesheim with his first title in over three years and his 51st overall in the PDC.

Anderson reached the final earlier in the season losing to Ross Smith but wasn't going to be denied in an 8-5 win featuring an incredible 170 checkout and hit 33 180's over the course of the day in a superb series.

Prize Money breakdown 2023 Players Championship circuit with £3,000,000 on offer

Anderson started with a 13-dart hold on double 16. Ratajski returned on double 12 to hold himself. Anderson hit his third 180 as he closed in on a record and set up double 20 from 84 with Ratajski way back and made it 2-1.

Ratajski hit 111 to take a leg that he looked like he was going to be broken in at 2-2. Ratajski missed double four for 76 to break and Anderson hit double 12 to lead 3-2.

An 89 checkout on bull saw Anderson to break and go 4-2 up. An incredible 170 checkout saw Anderson make it 5-2.

Ratajski though fought back with a 76 checkout to break back at 5-4 down and throwing for parity. But parity he did not get as Anderson hit double 16 for 6-4.

Ratajski could’ve made it another break but missed three chances and Anderson hit 52 for 7-4. An 85 checkout saw Ratajski hold and send it over to Anderson to attempt to hold.

He hit back-to-back 180's before slipping into the single one on the 141 attempt before hitting 121 to leave double 10. He busted double 10 but missed three more darts.

Only to receive another handful anyway and hit double five first time finally.

Results Players Championship 8

Last 16

Gary Anderson (110.50) 6 | 3 (100.35) Dimitri Van den Bergh

Gian van Veen (104.89) 6 | 4 (103.42) Mike De Decker

Gerwyn Price (93.51) 6 | 4 (93.12) Michael van Gerwen

Luke Woodhouse (85.97) 6 | 3 (86.29) James Wade

Krzysztof Ratajski (107.80) 6 | 5 (98.96) Dave Chisnall

Brendan Dolan (88.88) 6 | 5 (93.25) Andy Boulton

Ross Smith (95.43) 6 | 1 (78.66) Krzysztof Kciuk

Ricardo Pietreczko (101.33) 6 | 0 (86.31) Keegan Brown

Quarter-Finals