Vandaag wist Wesley Plaisier als niet-tourkaarthouder een vloertoernooi te winnen. Spelers die dit ook lukten in het verleden: Joe Murnan, Krzysztof Ratajski (2x zelfs) en Scott Williams
Non Tour Card holder Wesley Plaisier joins illustrious list after sensational Players Championship title
PDCThursday, 17 October 2024 at 17:00
Wesley Plaisier caused a huge sensation Wednesday night by winning the 28th Players Championship tournament of the season in Wigan. Three times proved to be the charm, as he had already reached two Players Championship finals earlier this year and lost both.
Plaisier does not currently hold a PDC Tour Card, but has competed in almost all Players Championship tournaments in 2024 due to his good performance on the Challenge Tour. That the difference between the top players on the Challenge Tour and Tour Card holders on the Pro Tour is small proved Plaisier by making two Players Championship finals earlier this year.
The 34-year-old Dutchman reached the finals of Players Championship 13 and 14 in July, throwing averages above 100 in both finals, but ran up against an unleashed Ross Smith and Jonny Clayton, respectively.
This time he succeeded, beating Josh Rock 8-7 in the final. Before that, he had already dealt with Matt Campbell (6-2), Ritchie Edhouse (6-2), Florian Hempel (6-1), Krzysztof Ratajski (6-5), Jose de Sousa (6-5) and Danny Noppert (7-5).
It is not often that a player without a PDC Tour Card manages to win a Players Championship tournament. Only three players went his way since the Tour Card system was introduced in 2011.
Joe Murnan was the first to succeed in this in 2015. In 2018, Krzysztof Ratajski even managed to win two Players Championship tournaments without holding a PDC Tour Card. The third player to win a Players Championship tournament without a Tour Card was Scott Williams in 2022.
By winning the Players Championship 28 title, Plaisier climbs to 73rd in the world rankings and may dream of entering the top-64 of the PDC Order of Merit after the World Darts Championship. That would mean he automatically gets a Tour Card for 2025 and also gets to keep his 2024 prize money he won. If Plaisier grabs a Tour Card via the Challenge Tour or Q-School, he will start from zero in the world rankings again in 2025.
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- It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024
- So the winner of this 4 day event just gets $30k less than the winner of the Grand Slam which is played over 9 days?medinabello20-11-2024
- If John McDonald is doing Kirk Bevins job, then just give him the mic & save 1 pay packet.Cameron.W19-11-2024
- I completely agree with Vincent's comments on "whistlegate". It's great to have someone with Vincent's exprience address this issue, so hopefully clearer and stricter guidlelines can be given to referees, security and members of the crowd. No whistling during throws, and something like: whistlers evicted and fined a hefty sum.
UndartedWaters19-11-2024