Smith seals first PDC ranking title of 2022 with Players Championship 14 win over O'Shea

PDC
Tuesday, 10 May 2022 at 18:42
Michael Smith QF UK Open 1
Michael Smith has emerged from a depleted field to seal Players Championship 14, his first PDC ranking title of the season.
In doing so, he saw off the challenge of John O'Shea who was into his maiden PDC ranking final. But it was 'Bully Boy' who won the day with an 8-5 win and a 101.4 average.
It was six holds of throw to begin the tie before Smith finally hit double 10 to break and go 4-3 up. O’Shea pressured with a 180 but Smith cleaned up 60 to hold and go 5-3 up.
O’Shea kept it to one leg with a hold. But again Smith edged ahead at 6-4. A 13-dart break of throw saw Smith go one away and he was throwing for an 8-4 win.
He began that throw with a 180 with O’Shea replying to try for one last reprieve and it was one he grabbed as he made it 7-5 after a break back.
But despite initially missing match darts, Smith finally pinned double two to end the potential comeback early and seal it.
Players Championship 14 Results
Last 16
Max Hopp (78.31) 4 | 6 (87.33) James Wilson
Michael Smith (101.91) 6 | 4 (98.84) Martin Lukeman
Ritchie Edhouse (101.18) 6 | 2 (98.59) Kim Huybrechts
Damon Heta (98.02) 6 | 2 (88.78) Andrew Gilding
Dave Chisnall (97.51) 6 | 5 (91.55) Ryan Meikle
Krzysztof Ratajski (93.94) 6 | 0 (84.83) Shaun Wilkinson
Maik Kuivenhoven (93.22) 6 | 2 (90.72) Joe Cullen
John O'Shea (99.09) 6 | 3 (90.00) Ross Smith
Quarter-Finals
James Wilson (95.59) 4 | 6 (97.65) Michael Smith
Damon Heta (104.26) 6 | 4 (96.50) Ritchie Edhouse
Dave Chisnall (96.68) 6 | 3 (93.20) Krzysztof Ratajski
John O'Shea (90.56) 6 | 4 (88.67) Maik Kuivenhoven
Semi-Finals
Michael Smith (98.40) 7 | 2 (97.33) Damon Heta
Dave Chisnall (86.16) 4 | 7 (87.88) John O'Shea
Final
Michael Smith (101.39) 8 | 5 (93.81) John O'Shea