Radek Szaganski broke new ground earlier this season by reaching his maiden semi-final in Leicester earlier in the year, but he has sealed a first Players Championship title on Friday evening in Barnsley winning Event 27.

Szaganski capped off a run which saw him defeat yesterday's champion Ryan Joyce, Maik Kuivenhoven and German Darts Championship winner, Ricardo Pietreczko before seeing off Connor Scutt 8-5. He stayed with 'Sniper' throughout after an early break and took his chances to see off the Surrey ace.

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Scutt had the lead with a 76 checkout for a break. A 65 checkout saw Scutt hold at 2-0. A 118 checkout saw Szaganski hit back with a hold.

He went 3-1 up from there. A 62 checkout saw Szaganski down at 3-2. The trend continued as Scutt made it 4-2.

Szaganski produced a superb hold when it looked like Scutt was going to head to 5-2. Szaganski broke on double eight from there at 4-4.

165 to leave 32 saw him hold to make it 5-4. Scutt held on double 20 for 5-5. Scutt went for the wrong treble on 102 and Szaganski went one away at 7-5. Match darts came and went for Szaganski but he returned for double eight for the title.

Players Championship 27 Results

Last 16

Connor Scutt (103.97) 6 | 3 (100.34) Ross Smith

Gary Anderson (103.03) 6 | 1 (89.56) Darryl Pilgrim

Ryan Searle (95.10) 6 | 5 (96.26) Josh Rock

Gian van Veen (96.74) 6 | 5 (95.57) Stephen Bunting

Ricardo Pietreczko (96.41) 6 | 5 (98.18) Raymond van Barneveld

Niels Zonneveld (87.05) 6 | 1 (81.45) George Killington

Maik Kuivenhoven (94.54) 6 | 4 (89.71) Andrew Gilding

Radek Szaganski (90.60) 6 | 4 (90.68) Ryan Joyce

Quarter-Finals

Connor Scutt (95.87) 6 | 4 (98.81) Gary Anderson

Ryan Searle (101.82) 5 | 6 (100.86) Gian van Veen

Ricardo Pietreczko (89.33) 6 | 4 (88.31) Niels Zonneveld

Maik Kuivenhoven (78.00) 1 | 6 (92.73) Radek Szaganski

Semi-Finals

Connor Scutt (93.34) 7 | 5 (91.60) Gian van Veen

Ricardo Pietreczko (89.38) 3 | 7 (96.91) Radek Szaganski

Final

Connor Scutt (89.84) 5 | 8 (98.28) Radek Szaganski