Sensational Smith claims back-to-back ProTour titles with victory over Rydz at Players Championship 15

Michael Smith came into these two days of Players Championship action as the standout player in a depleted field in Wigan not including many of the big names.

But Smith has lived up to that billing in some style with back-to-back glory seeing off Callan Rydz in the final 8-3 courtesy of a 110 average, 9/11 on the doubles and a high checkout of 161.

This after sealing the title yesterday in similar dominant fashion and barring surviving match darts against Ritchie Edhouse, he was in similar unstoppable form today.

This included a nine-dart finish earlier in the day and now he has fourteen consecutive wins and two titles to show for it.

Rydz started with a 90 checkout for a 12-darter using two 25’s and double 20 to go 1-0 up. He missed the bull for a 112 checkout and Smith replied with a 70 checkout to level up.

A 180 and 62 for a 12-darter saw Smith lead with a break. Another 12 saw him hit an 81 checkout to go 3-1 up. An effortless 128 checkout saw Rydz go 3-2 down with a hold.

Smith missed the 105 going next door on double eight but he returned for that target again to pin it to go 4-2 up. Rydz kept clinging on at 4-3 down but needed a break and that wasn’t forthcoming with double 14 seeing that two leg gap opened again at 5-3.

A 161 checkout saw Smith continue his showstopping salvo as he went 6-3 up to break again with a 109 average. He hit double eight to go one away. Rydz missed chances to hold and keep himself in it and Smith took out 69 on double 12 for the title.

Players Championship 15 Results

Last 16

Steve West (84.75) 4 | 6 (89.81) Alan Soutar

Josh Rock (101.55) 6 | 4 (94.01) Martijn Kleermaker

Michael Smith (104.08) 6 | 5 (94.29) Mario Vandenbogaerde

Florian Hempel (83.38) 6 | 1 (84.03) Jamie Hughes

Callan Rydz (100.16) 6 | 1 (101.42) Rob Cross

Dirk van Duijvenbode (108.15) 6 | 1 (90.13) Robert Owen

Damon Heta (94.59) 6 | 2 (89.82) Adrian Lewis

Ryan Joyce (93.69) 6 | 5 (95.96) Stephen Bunting

Quarter-Finals

Alan Soutar (85.11) 6 | 4 (91.38) Josh Rock

Michael Smith (114.90) 6 | 2 (94.64) Florian Hempel

Callan Rydz (102.65) 6 | 4 (103.11) Dirk van Duijvenbode

Ryan Joyce (96.52) 6 | 4 (98.22) Damon Heta

Semi-Finals

Michael Smith (92.73) 7 | 3 (90.37) Alan Soutar

Callan Rydz (104.07) 7 | 1 (91.79) Ryan Joyce

Final

Michael Smith (109.95) 8 | 3 (104.13) Callan Rydz

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