Ryan Joyce has been hitting top form when its mattered most in recent months as he aims to qualify for majors and he adds a second ranking title to his collection at
Players Championship 26 on Thursday.
Joyce denied
Gerwyn Price a sixth ranking title of the season and in the process scoops £12,000 in a match where he kept on Price's coattails after falling behind early and then pounced when it mattered most in the decider 8-7. Superb from 'Relentless'.
Joyce missed 120 and 118 in the early going for a foothold but after Price missed a chance for 3-0, the former made it 2-1.
Price hit a 180 and 81 to go 3-1 up with an 11-darter. Joyce hit a 180 and fixed the job on the 41 hitting double eight for 3-2 down.
Price returned to hold again to hit double nine. Joyce hit a superb 131 to keep one down at 4-3. Price hit double 10 to make it 5-3 though and remain ahead.
Price missed 72 for 6-3 and Joyce split 18 for 5-4 down. Price remained ahead at 6-5 but Joyce was still on his coattails.
Price had a chance to go one away and Joyce broke back at 6-6. Joyce hit a 137 to leave 54 to hold and go one away at 7-6.
Joyce left 74 in case Price couldn’t hit 110 but he did. Joyce as a result was throwing in the decider. From 247, Joyce left 107 with Price needing to hit back and he did with a 140. The North East ace hit 107 for the win.
Results Players Championship 26
Last 16
Ryan Joyce (102.36) 6 | 3 (93.89) Mervyn King
Jose De Sousa (91.09) 6 | 3 (89.01) Keane Barry
Ritchie Edhouse (97.92) 6 | 3 (91.20) Andrew Gilding
Peter Wright (99.67) 6 | 3 (94.85) Dimitri Van den Bergh
Luke Humphries (90.35) 6 | 3 (80.85) Matt Campbell
Gary Anderson (108.62) 6 | 3 (89.39) Lee Evans
Gerwyn Price (103.22) 6 | 1 (87.98) Chris Landman
Chris Dobey (103.22) 6 | 2 (92.02) Robert Grundy
Quarter-Finals
Ryan Joyce (95.96) 6 | 5 (91.65) Jose De Sousa
Ritchie Edhouse (97.02) 6 | 4 (95.19) Peter Wright
Luke Humphries (105.29) 6 | 2 (99.22) Gary Anderson
Gerwyn Price (99.72) 6 | 3 (91.57) Chris Dobey
Semi-Finals
Ryan Joyce (105.54) 7 | 4 (1`01.24) Ritchie Edhouse
Luke Humphries (98.12) 6 | 7 (105.23) Gerwyn Price
Final
Ryan Joyce (95.8) 8 | 7 (96.7) Gerwyn Price