Brown claims first PDC ranking title in seven years with thrilling final win over Aspinall at Players Championship 23

Keegan Brown has returned to the winners' circle with his first PDC ranking title since 2015 after denying Nathan Aspinall back-to-back titles in a thrilling 8-7 final win at Players Championship 23.

Seven years ago, he defeated Adrian Lewis in Coventry to seal his one and only title but seals a win which could have big significance in the career of 'The Needle' who will likely seal World Championship and Players Championship Finals qualification as well as his Tour Card as he looked to potentially be heading to Q-School.

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A 180 and a 121 checkout saw Brown break in the opening leg which proved the difference in the opening exchanges as he went into a 3-1 and 4-2 lead but only after Aspinall had also missed a hatful to make it 2-2.

A 5-3 lead was set with Brown hitting a 47 checkout to further extend his lead. He missed two darts to break from 100 though and Aspinall picked out two double eights for an 86 to stave off a 6-3 deficit.

But the Isle of Wight thrower stuck to the task pinning double 10 for a 6-4 lead. A bounceout was not pounced upon by Brown who handed Aspinall a hold of throw to make it 6-5. 

Brown busted 78 as he looked tetchy as he looked to go one away and Aspinall pinned 170 on the bull to pounce and make it 6-6.

Brown looked crestfallen and Aspinall was getting better and better and led for the first time at 7-6. The former had to battle back to force a decider pinning a 180 and double eight to make it 7-7.

He focused and was finding two treble visits to look to break Aspinall’s resolve and he was first to a finish of 107. Aspinall could find little pressure leaving 123.

Brown though missed double 20 for 107 and Aspinall took aim but found single three and Brown had three at double 10 for the title sealing it second time around.

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Players Championship 23 Results

Quarter-Finals

Alan Soutar (88.34) 2 | 6 (88.74) Ted Evetts

Nathan Aspinall (92.26) 6 | 1 (83.34) Shaun Wilkinson

Michael Smith (88.55) 3 | 6 (101.57) Peter Wright

Keegan Brown (91.17) 6 | 4 (88.56) Chris Dobey

Semi-Finals

Ted Evetts (89.17) 6 | 7 (88.35) Nathan Aspinall

Peter Wright (95.96) 4 | 7 (101.86) Keegan Brown

Final

Nathan Aspinall (89.05) 7 | 8 (93.87) Keegan Brown