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

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