16/04/2023

Van Duijvenbode dominates De Sousa, seals third ProTour title of the season at Players Championship 10

Dirk van Duijvenbode has emerged this season especially on the ProTour as the player to beat and has a third Players Championship title of the season during Event 10 on Sunday in Wigan.

Van Duijvenbode saw off Jose de Sousa who reached his first final since June 2021 and was looking for a resurgent title win but saw the Dutchman dazzle again with an 8-3 win.

It was once again a bucket of 180's and the highlight being a spectacular 156 checkout to hold throw late into the contest with De Sousa waiting to break. A sixth ranking title and a third of the season for 'Aubergenius'.

Prize Money breakdown 2023 Players Championship circuit with £3,000,000 on offer

Van Duijvenbode had a good start holding throw on double 10. He hit his first 180 and a second to leave 81. He missed the bull but returned for double eight and a break of throw.

He continued to be given time by an out of sorts De Sousa and pinned double 20 to go 3-0 up. A 113 checkout saw Van Duijvenbode make it 4-0. He hit double eight to hold again to make it 5-0.

It was two 180’s in a leg for De Sousa but an awful bounceout meant Van Duijvenbode could hit 130 to leave 32 in case he didn’t hit 75 but he hit double six to make it 5-1.

De Sousa having poor visits interspersed with good scoring let him down and he left 46 but Van Duijvenbode thumped in a 156 to go 6-1 up and hold.

De Sousa held again with a 96 checkout to make it 6-2 but Van Duijvenbode still had the throw to go one away. He hit another 180 to leave double four from 188, De Sousa hit a fifth 180 to leave 25 but after Van Duijvenbode fluffed his lines, De Sousa couldn’t take his shot.

But Van Duijvenbode made a meal of it again and De Sousa broke for 6-3 down. But Van Duijvenbode restored the four leg buffer on double six to go one away and was throwing for the match.

Van Duijvenbode hit a sixth 180 and De Sousa hit another himself. The former missed the bull from 128 for the match and De Sousa missed 167. Van Duijvenbode returned and sealed it and a third title of the season.

Players Championship 10

Last 16

Jose De Sousa (94.08) 6 | 5 (93.72) Luke Humphries

Martin Schindler (89.44) 6 | 2 (84.11) Christian Kist

Damon Heta (96.76) 6 | 1 (90.15) Lee Evans

Ian White (100.37) 6 | 5 (92.59) Luke Woodhouse

Dimitri Van den Bergh (93.85) 6 | 5 (89.85) Jermaine Wattimena

Josh Rock (98.73) 6 | 4 (90.94) Jonny Clayton

Dirk van Duijvenbode (92.54) 6 | 2 (88.74) Andrew Gilding

Martijn Kleermaker (101.02) 6 | 3 (91.37) Jeffrey Sparidaans

Quarter-Finals

Jose De Sousa (90.05) 6 | 5 (92.44) Martin Schindler