Just like the end of the last double header, Dirk van Duijvenbode has defeated Ryan Searle and sealed a second ProTour and fifth overall PDC title to claim Players Championship 6 and become the first repeat winner of the 2023 season.
Searle had a dart at 5-3 at double five but from there, Van Duijvenbode surged ahead with six 180's, a 103 average and 47.1% on the doubles in a superb 8-4 win.
A 159 from Searle set up 24 but after three missed darts, Van Duijvenbode smashed in a 142 checkout to break. He followed that up with a 148 to hold. He missed 121 for a hat-trick of huge checkouts and Searle held with a 72 checkout.
It was three maximums in three legs for ‘Heavy Metal’ but Van Duijvenbode set up 40 needing Searle to hit 145 and he missed double 20 which meant ‘The Titan’ returned for a 3-1 lead.
Van Duijvenbode couldn’t get a dart at 112 and Searle hit 56 to make it 3-2 down. He continued to turn it around and hit double four for three successive legs and a 4-3 lead.
Searle missed 87 on double five for a break to go 5-3 up and Van Duijvenbode used two double one’s off five to make it 4-4. A 14-darter saw Van Duijvenbode break and wrestle back control at 5-4. He pinned double eight for 6-4.
He went one away with a 102 checkout on double 16 to make it 7-4. He left 83 after nine and sealed the win from there using bull, double eight.
Players Championship 6 Results
Last 16
Luke Humphries (95.71) 6 | 2 (84.05) Chris Landman
Ross Smith (92.98) 6 | 2 (94.75) Graham Usher
Michael van Gerwen (92.06) 6 | 2 (82.96) Richard Veenstra
Dirk van Duijvenbode (98.02) 6 | 0 (91.99) Ian White
Dave Chisnall (104.29) 6 | 2 (91.99) Vincent van der Voort
Ryan Searle (93.26) 6 | 3 (90.41) Matt Campbell
Mike De Decker (100.15) 6 | 3 (91.96) Jacques Labre
Gian van Veen (100.29) 6 | 4 (93.51) Jermaine Wattimena
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries (98.4) 6 | 4 (106.63) Ross Smith
Michael van Gerwen (101.91) 2 | 6 (102.38) Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall (101.69) 5 | 6 (93.57) Ryan Searle
Mike De Decker (88.80) 6 | 4 (92.24) Gian van Veen
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries (99.94) 6 | 7 (105.36) Dirk van Duijvenbode
Ryan Searle (107.14) 7 | 2 (94.93) Mike de Decker
Final
Dirk van Duijvenbode (103.92) 8 | 4 (96.97) Ryan Searle