"I cannot believe it, to be honest, it's unbelievable" - Wesley Plaisier becomes just 4th non-PDC Tour Card holder to win ranking event

Wesley Plaisier has won the 28th Players Championship of the year. The 34-year-old Dutchman defeated Josh Rock 8-7 in the final. For Plaisier, who currently does not have a PDC Tour Card, it was a first ever ranking title in the PDC.

Plaisier also played the final at Players Championships 13 and 14 earlier this year, but lost to Ross Smith and Jonny Clayton, respectively. So on his third attempt, Plaisier finally completed the task. "I cannot believe it, to be honest, it's unbelievable," said Plaisier, having become just the 4th non-PDC Tour Card holder to take victory on the Pro Tour. "Every game is tough but the final was a really hard game; I was hoping and praying I would get another chance."

"In the quarter-finals I managed to come back from 5-3 down against Jose de Sousa and I started thinking 'maybe this is my day'," continues the recently crowned World Masters champion. "I've been playing well all year and this is a crown on top of it."

As mentioned, whilst Plaisier, does not yet have a PDC Tour Card, the Dutchman climbs to 73rd in the world rankings as a result of this performance. He is also in the top 2 in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, which automatically entitles him to participate in the World Darts Championship this coming December and also earns him a Tour Card for the next two years. "My first focus is to stay in that top 2 on the Challenge Tour, but if I already look a little further, I do dream of the top 64 at the end of the year, it would also mean taking that prize money with me into next year's rankings."