Super Soutar Secures First PDC Title Win – Players Championship 11 Report
Scotland’s Alan Soutar Beats Daryl Gurney to win Players Championship Event 11
Soutar was pushed all the way in the final by Northern Irishman Daryl Gurney but held his nerve to hold his throw in the the deciding leg, opening with back to back 180s the fireman from Arbroath got the job done in just 11 darts.
The victory signifies a welcome return to form for Soutar who has had an underwhelming year so far and began the day right on the cusp of the cut off area in the race to retain his tour card. Claiming his first PDC Players Championship has catapulted him up the order of merit bringing him closer to securing another year on tour.
The Road to the Final of Players Championship 11
Soutar reached his first ever PDC ranking final by beating Niels Zonneveld 6-3 in his quarter-final after earlier overcoming Steve Beaton, Martin Lukeman, Danny Noppert and Ritchie Edhouse. The Scotsman then put on a magnificent performance in the semi-final where he whitewashed Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-0 averaging 102.
Gurney’s road to the final was a tough one where he worked his way through Matthew Dennent, George Killington, Mervyn King and Jermaine Wattimena to set up a quarter final with James Wade. Wade, who is still playing for every penny to cling on to his spot at the Matchplay next month was unable to stop Gurney, not could former World Champion Raymond van Barnaveld who “Superchin” defeated 7-4 in his semi final.
Elsewhere in Players Championship 11
The event saw two 9 dart, perfect legs, both coming in the opening round of the event from Stephen Bunting and Adam Hunt. Neither player could use their perfect leg as a catalyst to kick on in the event with Hunt losing that very opening game against a returning Kim Huybrechts and Bunting falling in the second round to his “closest namesake on tour” Stephen Burton.
Huybrechts return and great performance against Hunt bode well for him being able to take up his spot on team Belgium at the World Cup of Darts later this month
Final Rounds Results – Players Championship 11
Quarter-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Kevin Doets
Daryl Gurney 6-4 James Wade
Alan Soutar 6-3 Niels Zonneveld
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Madars Razma
Semi-Finals
Daryl Gurney 7-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Alan Soutar 7-0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Final
Alan Soutar 8-7 Daryl Gurney