Gary Anderson has been showing some blistering form and today was perhaps one of his best days in a long time. A 105, 113 average, a nine-dart finish and technically back-to-back
Players Championship titles.
Anderson won the final tournament in the last lot of ProTours and dealt Josh Rock another blow in trying to claim his first title of the season with a third of the year going the way of 'The Flying Scotsman'. A time of the year where he usually produces some of his best and some of today's showings were signs that the vintage form is definitely still there.
Rock missed 70 for 2-2 and Anderson hit a 42 checkout for a 3-1 lead. He was motoring half way towards the finishing line hitting a 4-1 lead.
Anderson put the pressure on Rock and he stuttered missing double 16 for 4-2. But returned for it with Anderson unable to hit 108.
Anderson had the throw though and went three away at 5-2 with his scoring again like a magnet to the treble 20. He couldn’t sting Rock with a 161 and Rock closed it to within two again at 5-3.
Anderson couldn’t get a shot at 126 and Rock took out 72 for 5-4 down and was throwing for parity. A 127 checkout shut the door from Anderson to go 6-4 up and he was suddenly throwing for 7-4. Anderson couldn’t get the second treble for 144, but Rock missed two at double 18 and the former went within one. Rock couldn’t get a shot at 148 and Anderson took the win despite an error going into single 14 instead of nine for 25.
Players Championship 25 Results
Last 16
Martijn Kleermaker (90.50) 6 | 4 (90.14) Callan Rydz
Brendan Dolan (86.94) 6 | 4 (88.87) Danny Jansen
Josh Rock (107.45) 6 | 2 (95.13) Daniel Klose
Rob Cross (100.85) 6 | 5 (96.63) Joe Cullen
Gary Anderson (108.03) 6 | 2 (97.87) Gerwyn Price
Danny Noppert (97.21) 6 | 1 (87.44) Martin Lukeman
Cam Crabtree (86.19) 6 | 4 (87.30) Stephen Burton
Jim Williams (95.00) 6 | 3 (91.38) Mervyn King
Quarter-Finals
Martijn Kleermaker (87.75) 3 | 6 (99.47) Brendan Dolan
Josh Rock (98.73) 6 | 3 (93.71) Rob Cross
Gary Anderson (107.02) 6 | 4 (94.34) Danny Noppert
Cam Crabtree (78.04) 3 | 6 (86.69) Jim Williams
Semi-Finals
Brendan Dolan (94.88) 5 | 7 (96.40) Josh Rock
Gary Anderson (96.28) 7 | 5 (96.03) Jim Williams
Final
Josh Rock (91.16) 4 | 8 (97.39) Gary Anderson