PDC Players Championship 18 Round-up | Luke Woodhouse breaks new ground! Wins first PDC ranking title after defeating Andrew Gilding

Luke Woodhouse has finally broken his PDC title duct. He wins his first ranking title in Players Championship 18 after defeating Andrew Gilding 8-4 in the final to take a huge new step in his darting career.

Labelled as the highest ranked player not to have won a title, Woodhouse was getting fed up of the tag and wanted to shake it off as soon as possible. He saved the best till last, averaging 102.04 as he won the final five legs of the match to get over the line for one of the biggest wins in his career.

Since reaching the final of Players Championship 13, ‘Woody’ has not been able to make it to the last-16 stage. That changed today and then some as he gave himself another shot at claiming a maiden PDC ranking title. It was a fourth ProTour final, a third on the floor and second in 2026.

He began the day by averaging 98 in a 6-2 win over Greg Ritchie. This was soon backed up with a 6-4 triumph against the reigning WDF world champion Jimmy van Schie. As seeds fell around him, Woodhouse kept his cool and averaged a to enroute to knocking out William O’Connor 6-3. He was pushed to a last-leg decider against Charlie Manby but came out on top 6-5. His most notable opponent of the day was Jonny Clayton, and was possibly his easiest win. A 6-2 victory over the Premier League talent was followed by a 7-3 win over the lesser-known Harry Ward. Returning to the ProTour, Ward put in a magical run but it was ended by the former European Championship semi-finalist.

Gilding only won his first PC title back in event 16 just under a week ago. Now he was set to contest for another title. For a while he only had the UK Open under his belt, but a late flurry of spell-binding darts has seen ‘Goldfinger’ go back to his best form. Qualification for the World Matchplay is all-but done and dusted as he looks on to bigger and better things.

He kicked off proceedings with a 6-4 win over Leon Weber. It was the same scoreline against an under-performing Brendan Dolan which put him in board finals. That is where he met Jack Tweddell. Gilding put in his best performance of the day, averaging 101.46 to win 6-4 again. It was closer against Darius Labanauskas, coming out on top 6-5 before having time to breathe against Niko Springer in the quarter-finals, winning 6-2. He was in a titanic battle against James Wade in the last-four, winning 7-6. ‘The Machine’ missed a match dart on tops right before Gilding took out 106 in a clutch manner to leave Wade deflated but Gilding delighted with another crack at a PC title.

Woodhouse had a dart at the bull for a 122 but dragged it. Two more missed doubles on double eight let Gilding off the hook as he found double five to hold. Those darts to break would be costly as Gilding broke in the next leg, pinning double six.

Gilding pinned is favourite tops before Woodhouse found that following target in the next leg to get on the board, followed by a negative shake of the head. A dart to the floor early in the leg handed Woodhouse the authority on the Gilding throw, and he capitalises before a 91 checkout capped off an 11-darter to level the score at 3-3.

The former UK Open champion responded immaculately. A 180 followed by 177 which left him on double 12. Out of nowhere, Gilding re-took the lead as he pins the double the first time of asking. Woodhouse pins double 18 the fifth time of asking to get the score level once more.

Woodhouse took the lead for the first time in the match on double 16, breaking the Gilding throw. He then doubles his lead, moving within two of the match. He almost moved within one with the biggest checkout in the sport. Just missing the bull for a 170, he came back and nailed double eight effortlessly. It was a second break of throw, and the 37-year-old streaked clear in what would be the final leg. He pinned tops, and was the picture of delight after finally sealing a first PDC title.

The big news before the action today was PC17 champion Luke Humphires skipping the event. He was scintillating on the oche yesterday but opted to have a day off after that triumphant run. World Number one Luke Littler also kept up the trend of not competing on the floor in 2026. Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Gary Anderson were among the other top darters not to make the trip to Leicester.

As for who showed up, among them were a plethora of Premier League talent. Unfortunately, in the case of Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen, their campaigns would not last that long, losing in the third round. That fate was also inflicted on five-time PC champion in 2026 Wessel Nijman. This was the first time that scenario occurred since PC 22 of last year. Josh Rock could only manage a third round, while Jonny Clayton was defeated in the quarter-final as his search for a first ranking title in 2026 prolongs.