PLAISIER CLAIMS FIRST PDC TITLE AT PC28

Wesley Plaisier claimed his first senior PDC title at Players Championship 28 in Wigan on Wednesday, defeating Josh Rock 8-7 in a thrilling final.

Plaisier's remarkable run sees him become just the fourth player to win a PDC ranking title without holding a PDC Tour Card.

The Dutchman, who came runner-up in back-to-back Players Championship events in July, survived six match darts from Rock in the final.

"I cannot believe it, to be honest, it's unbelievable," said Plaisier.

"Every game is tough but the final was a really hard game; I was hoping and praying I would get another chance.

"In the quarter-finals I managed to come back from 5-3down against Jose [de Sousa] and I started thinking 'maybe this is my day'.

"I've been playing well all year and this is a crown on top of it."

A compelling final saw Rock land a 111 checkout to move half-way to victory at 4-3 up, before Plaisier won four of the next six legs to move to the brink of victory at 7-6.

Rock produced a skin-saving 112 checkout to force a decider, but spurned six match darts at doubles 16, eight and four, allowing Plaisier to wrap up victory on double top.

Plaisier began the day with wins over Matt Campbell, Ritchie Edhouse and Florian Hempel, before coming through deciding legs against Krzysztof Ratajski and De Sousa to reach the semi-finals, where he defeated fellow-Dutchman Danny Noppert 7-5.

Meanwhile, Rock produced some dazzling displays as he came agonisingly close to a third ranking title of the year, including a 110.89 average in his last 16 win over George Killington.

That game also saw Rock become the third player of the day to hit a nine-darter in Wigan, following Jamie Hughes and Callum Goffin's first round efforts against Niels Zonneveld and Jelle Klaasen respectively.

The 2024 PDC ProTour season continues on Friday with the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open (ET13) - the final European Tour event of 2024 - which will take place from October 18-20 at the PVA EXPO in Prague.