Associate Member Scott Williams seals maiden PDC ranking title at Players Championship 17 with superb Aspinall win
PDC
Challenge Tour leader, Scott Williams has brought his talents onto the ProTour this season and has gone all the way at Players Championship 17 despite not having a Tour Card to his name yet.
ADVERTISEMENT
Williams likely will seal one come what may whether through the secondary tour or by right on the main tour but has delivered on his brilliant 2022 so far by seeing off Nathan Aspinall in the final 8-5 to become a PDC ranking winner.
In doing so, he becomes the first Associate Member to do so since Krzysztof Ratajski back in 2018 to complete the feat and one which saw ‘The Polish Eagle’ go on to become an elite PDC star but can this propel the 32 year old to new heights?
To begin the tie, Williams missed double 16 for a 101 after going the bull route but returned for double 16 to break and take the early lead. Aspinall hit a 180 but not a lot after that and Williams took aim at 89 only to miss double 16. He allowed Aspinall back but he missed 117 and the Lincolnshire ace made it 2-0.
A 171 left 94 for Williams. Aspinall missed two darts for the leg but Williams missed the second double off 94 and ‘The Asp’ pinned double 16 first time to hold.
A 127 setup left 40 for Aspinall who took it out for a break and parity at 2-2 but only after Williams couldn’t get a second dart to go for 152.
A 133 set up for Williams to leave 70 was there and he went for it after Aspinall missed three clear at double 16. Only for ‘Shaggy’ to miss the same target and Aspinall got a reprieve to make it 3-2.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both hit 180’s with Aspinall making Williams go for 104 which he couldn’t get a dart at and he took aim at 84 only to go into treble one straight away which allowed Williams back for double six for parity and a rot stopper at 3-3.
Williams missed the bull for a 170 to break and make it 4-3 and Aspinall picked his pocket with a 72 checkout on double 12 to go ahead again.
It was another hold as Williams hit double 12 to make it 4-4. It was a second 180 for Williams who followed it up with a 140 to attempt to steal the throw only for Aspinall to be first to a finish with a maximum of his own.
A 90 setup from Williams left 91 and he took aim with Aspinall leaving double 20 from 140 and hit double 10 to break and go 5-4 up.
Williams went double double again but couldn’t pin double 20 again only to return with Aspinall missing two darts at 75. ‘Shaggy’ began to snatch at darts and missed three to go two away only for Aspinall to miss more and Williams made it 6-4.
ADVERTISEMENT
He missed 48 to break and go one away but Aspinall spurned more darts this time to hold and Williams went 7-4 up.
He set up 40 from 136 for the win and got match darts with Aspinall slipping into the single one on 120 but three darts went begging for ‘Shaggy’ and Aspinall prolonged the tie on double 20 at 7-5 down.
Williams hit two 180’s in a leg to attempt to stop the great escape but missed more match darts only for Aspinall to miss 72 and the Associate Member pinned double two.
Last 16
Mike De Decker (102.94) 6 | 4 (89.94) Steve Beaton
Nathan Aspinall (102.83) 6 | 5 (91.52) Jim Williams
ADVERTISEMENT
Peter Wright (91.58) 6 | 3 (93.27) Ross Smith
Kim Huybrechts (104.68) 6 | 4 (92.49) Damon Heta
Chris Dobey (91.01) 6 | 5 (91.01) Simon Whitlock
Dirk van Duijvenbode (89.11) 6 | 3 (95.10) Martin Lukeman
Rob Cross (102.45) 6 | 3 (98.24) Daryl Gurney
Scott Williams (85.90) 6 | 3 (75.50) John Henderson
Quarter-Finals
Mike De Decker (79.52) 2 | 6 (89.86) Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright (86.44) 0 | 6 (107.36) Kim Huybrechts
Chris Dobey (99.70) 6 | 2 (97.11) Dirk van Duijvenbode
ADVERTISEMENT
Rob Cross (101.75) 4 | 6 (98.43) Scott Williams
Semi-Finals
Nathan Aspinall (98.92) 7 | 4 (97.91) Kim Huybrechts
Chris Dobey (89.36) 4 | 7 (86.08) Scott Williams
Final
Nathan Aspinall (86.50) 5 | 8 (91.79) Scott Williams
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He produced some impressive numbers in that qualifying campaign. I'm excited to see him compete at the World Championship once again, even if it will be difficult to replicate last year's success even with an improved performance, with the draw playing a huge role in determining his fortunes.Deduce635811-11-2026
- I often think about this very question. I think they should revive the format. They could even invite representatives from MODUS Super Series, with four series winners from the past year, and the ADC, with finalists from the Global Championship and perhaps other events. Why not throw in eligible representatives from the JDC and even the soft-tip game too?Deduce635811-11-2026
- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026