The 26th
Players Championship of the season took place on Wednesday afternoon in Hildesheim. With Michael van Gerwen deciding against playing, Beau Greaves as well as Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld were involved. But it was Sebastian Bialecki who striked it lucky.
Henry Coates won a surprise ProTour on Tuesday defeating Damon Heta in the final and albeit less of a surprise, he was facing a surprise finalist in Mario Vandenbogaerde. It was a second PDC title for Bialecki a year to the day from the last one where he won in the same venue at
Players Championship 22.
Vandenbogaerde in defeat led early on. Vandenbogaerde missed 120 to kick off the final. Bialecki returned only to miss the same target. Vandenbogaerde came back for double five to make it 1-0.
Vandenbogaerde hit double 16 to break throw for 2-0. Vandenbogaerde missed 76 for 3-0. Bialecki honed in on 130 but couldn't get a shot. Vandenbogaerde missed three darts to hold and Bialecki broke for 2-1.
Vandenbogaerde spurns early chances as Bilaecki pounces
Vandenbogaerde missed 140 to make it 3-1 and break again. Bialecki couldn't hit 120 and Vandenbogaerde hit double 10. Bialecki hit back with a 44 checkout to make it 3-2. Bialecki hit 46 to make it 3-3 and now Vandenbogaerde looked to hold throw.
Vandenbogaerde nudged himself back in the lead at 4-3 up. Vandenbogaerde missed multiple darts at double but so did Bialecki and Vandenbogaerde was finally back for 5-3. Bialecki hit back to break back for 5-4 down and was aiming to respond with parity at 5-5. A 101 checkout from Bialecki to hold pinning double 16.
A 100 checkout to make it 6-5 and Double two for Bialecki to go one away at 7-5. Vandenbogaerde cut the arrears to 7-6 but Bialecki had the throw for the win. Bialecki missed 161 but left 105 with Vandenbogaerde not on a finish. Bialecki hit double 16 to make it 8-6 and sealed the win.
In claiming the title today, Bialecki took down Gian van Veen 7-4. Damon Heta in a 6-2 win as well as Bradley Brooks 6-0, Viktor Tingstrom 6-1 and finally Cor Dekker 6-5 and Dennie Olde Kalter 6-5.
After Coates scooped the crown yesterday having played superbly in the past on both the Development Tour and Challenge Tour, it is the turn of another youth prodigy in Bialecki who in comparison is very much rising up the PDC ranks at the rate of knots.
He dominated the Development Tour so much that like Beau Greaves in the Women's Series, he has hurtled towards the top 64 and can't play it anymore. But that success has rubbed off as he has managed to replicate it again on the main tour.
For Vandenbogaerde too who like duly noted on the coverage very much needs runs like this to fight the ever increasing Tour Card risk, it is one that could've seen Rob Owen sent into trouble again. But while he didn't win the final, he had a great day and both title runs this week have produced incredible stories from two rising stars making their way in the senior game.