Players Championship 5 sees string of incredibly high averages including personal records for Luke Littler and James Wade

Joe Cullen claimed victory at the fifth Players Championship of the year, edging out Gian van Veen in a thrilling 8-7 final in Leicester. ‘The Rockstar’ showcased his class throughout the day in a tournament packed with exceptional performances, including personal bests from Luke Littler and James Wade.

Luke Littler once again left fans in awe, producing a jaw-dropping display in his 6-1 quarter-final win over Damon Heta. ‘The Nuke’ recorded a staggering 122.96 average—the highest of his career in an official PDC match. Despite his brilliance, Littler’s run came to an end in the semi-finals with a narrow 7-6 defeat to Gian van Veen.

James Wade also etched his name into the record books with the second-highest average of the tournament. ‘The Machine’ posted a career-best 115.92 during his 6-2 victory over Beau Greaves in the last 64. The 41-year-old, a PDC stalwart for two decades, had never previously reached such heights in an official match. However, his campaign ended in the last 16 after a tight 6-5 loss to Kevin Doets.

Michael van Gerwen secured the third-highest average of the day, firing in a 111.13 during his dominant 6-1 win over Max Hopp in the last 64. ‘Mighty Mike’ pushed on to the quarter-finals but fell short against Van Veen, losing 6-4.

The action doesn’t stop there, as the sixth Players Championship event of the season takes place today at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. With momentum building, more spectacular performances are sure to follow.