On this day in... 2017: Steve Beaton wins his fifth PDC title after fine winning streak - The last great success of 'The Bronzed Adonis'?

In "On This Day in...," Dartsnews looks back at an event or performance by a player on a particular date. This time, we look back at June 17, 2017.

Exactly seven years ago, Steve Beaton managed to win his fifth PDC title at the age of 53. For the Bronzed Adonis, it was his first top prize since 2013, when he won a Euro Tour tournament to his name. On June 17, 2017, the thirteenth Players Championship of that season was played. At the time, the field of participants had names like Kevin Painter, Ronnie Baxter, Richie Burnett, Wes Newton, Jamie Caven and Mark Webster, these players all no longer hold a PDC Tour Card.

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Beaton started the tournament smoothly with a 6-0 victory over Matthew Dennant, after which Keegan Brown (6-4) and Robert Owen (6-2) also faced the much loved Englishman. Then, the 1996 world champion faced his compatriot Dave Chisnall. The duel was settled 6-4 in favour of the Bronzed Adonis. Then Kirk Shepherd (6-0) posed no problem on his way to the semifinals.

In the last four, Rob Cross - then still in his first year as a Tour Card holder - was his opponent. With a 6-3 win, the charge of "Voltage" was halted. A duel with two-time world champion Gary Anderson awaited in the final match. Beaton appeared to have saved the best for last, as he beat the Scot 6-3 with an average of 107. In the final, the Englishman got off to a fantastic start with a 125 finish and a 12-darter. Three legs later, the former Lakeside champion took a 4-1 lead over Anderson. The Scot was able to come back to 5-3, but then saw Beaton take the title.

Since then, "The Bronzed Adonis" has not managed to add a PDC tournament to his record, although the legendary figure in darts was close to another title on a number of occasions.

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In September 2017, Beaton managed to reach a Euro Tour final. With wins over Nico Blum (6-4), Mensur Suljovic (6-3), Martin Schindler (6-4), John Henderson (6-2) and Peter Wright (6-4), he made it to the final at the Dutch Darts Masters in Maastricht. In the final of that event, however, Michael van Gerwen proved too strong, 6-1.

Beaton then qualified for the final of the 30th Players Championship tournament of the season in 2022. After victories over John Brown (6-2), Nathan Rafferty (6-5), James Wilson (6-3), Mike de Decker (6-4), Stephen Bunting (6-4) and Dave Chisnall (7-4), Beaton secured a spot in the final match. However, the title went 8-6 to James Wade.

The 60-year-old Englishman still has several months left to try to win a sixth PDC title. Beaton has announced after this season, he will stop on the PDC Tour. If he still holds a PDC Tour Card after this season, he will turn it in. That does not mean, however, that Beaton will disappear from the darts stage entirely. 'The Bronzed Adonis' has indicated that he will compete in World Seniors Darts Tour tournaments. They also host some televised tournaments, including the annual World Seniors Darts Championship for darters age 50 and older.

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