Anderson opens his 2024 title account with an inspired day at Players Championship 2

Gary Anderson was in excellent form as he won his first PDC championship of the year at Players Championship 2 in Wigan on Tuesday, defeating Ryan Searle 8-5 in the final.

Anderson had four ton-plus averages throughout the day and missed double 12 for a nine-darter three times, the last of which occurred in the final leg of the final.

The Scot had already missed a perfect dart earlier in the match, as well as one in his semi-final victory over Peter Wright.

Anderson’s 117.12 average in a 6-0 victory over Andy Baetens in the fourth round is the highest he has ever registered, having previously defeated Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals.

Anderson, who began the day with victories against Daniel Klose, Adam Gawlas, and Daryl Gurney, wins the £15,000 top prize, moving him up two places to 25th on the PDC Order of Merit.

“It’s always nice to win these events, especially the way I played today,” said Anderson, who won three Players Championship titles in 2023.

“Yesterday I felt like a kid at a new school, I was nervous but today I felt more settled and it showed in my performances.

“It’s been a long day and I’m happy to come out on top against a great player in Ryan.

“We’ve practiced together a couple of times since the World Championship, we spur each other on.

“He’s a great guy, he just gets on with it and plays darts, he puts the effort in so it’s nice to see him do well.

“I’ll just carry on doing what I do, I’m in a good place in my life and I’m enjoy playing darts.

“I’m looking forward to playing the European Tour events as well this year and I want to keep my form going.”

Searle had another excellent day, finishing runner-up for the second day in a row, having lost to Luke Littler in the Players Championship 1 Final.

Littler’s first defeat on the ProTour occurred in the second round, when he lost 6-5 to Radek Szaganski.

Wright’s improved performance propelled him to his first ranking semi-final since October, while World Champion Luke Humphries lost 6-5 to Jurjen van der Velde in the first round.

2024 Players Championship 2

Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan

Tuesday February 13

Last 16

Peter Wright 6-2 Cameron Menzies

Robert Owen 6-4 Ryan Joyce

Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Gian van Veen

Gary Anderson 6-0 Andy Baetens

Martin Lukeman 6-3 Chris Dobey

Callan Rydz 6-4 Jose De Sousa

Ryan Searle 6-1 Arron Monk

Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Paul Krohne

 

Quarter-Finals

Peter Wright 6-2 Robert Owen

Gary Anderson 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld

Martin Lukeman 6-2 Callan Rydz

Ryan Searle 6-4 Niels Zonneveld

 

Semi-Finals

Gary Anderson 7-5 Peter Wright

Ryan Searle 7-6 Martin Lukeman

 

Final

Gary Anderson 8-5 Ryan Searle