PRICE RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS WITH DRAMATIC WIN OVER DOBEY AT PC2
Gerwyn Price secured his first PDC ranking title in over a year with a thrilling 8-7 victory over Chris Dobey in Tuesday’s Players Championship Two final.
Price overturned a 6-3 deficit to deny his BetMGM Premier League rival Dobey in a high-quality final in Wigan, winning five of the last six legs to clinch his first ProTour crown since November 2023.
The Welshman has enjoyed a promising start to 2025, and he defeated a host of big names to return to winning ways at the Robin Park Leisure Centre.
Price stormed through to the last 16 with a hat-trick of 6-2 wins against William Borland, Danny Lauby and Jonny Clayton, averaging almost 106 in his opening round tie against Borland.
Following a routine victory over his World Cup partner Clayton, Price produced back-to-back 14-darters to defeat Martin Schindler 6-4, defying a ton-plus average from the German number one.
The 2021 World Champion then won through an epic deciding-leg clash against World Champion Luke Littler in the last eight, averaging 102 to set up a semi-final showdown with Ryan Searle.
Price continued his march towards glory with a 7-5 success against Searle, although he looked set to succumb to an inspired Dobey, who led 6-3 with a 106 average at one stage.
However, the Bedlington star spurned four darts for a 7-3 lead, and Price duly capitalised, following up a clutch 78 checkout with successive 14-darters to level at six apiece.
The 39-year-old continued his charge with a fourth straight leg to lead 7-6, and while Dobey hit back to force a decider, Price kept his cool to scoop the £15,000 top prize.
“I think Chris played better than me in that final, but I hung in there until the end,” claimed Price, fresh from claiming his 18th Players Championship title!
“I know how well I am playing, but when it comes to the big games sometimes, I am trying too hard because I want it too much.
“This is what I needed. This win will hopefully make things come a little bit easier, because when you’re winning you don’t try too hard."
The 34-year-old landed a trio of ton-plus averages in early wins over Chris Landman, Jose de Sousa and Callan Rydz, before battling past Kim Huybrechts and Florian Hempel.
Following his deciding-leg triumph against Hempel in the last eight, Dobey then ran out a 7-4 winner against Ross Smith in the last four, crashing in seven 180s in the process.
Former European Champion Smith edged out Brett Claydon and Ryan Meikle in deciding-leg ties to kick off his campaign, while he also accounted for Danny Noppert and top seed Dave Chisnall in the latter stages.
Smith was joined in the semi-finals by Somerset star Searle, who walked away with £5,000 following wins over Alan Soutar, Brendan Dolan, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Damon Heta and Gian van Veen.
Littler landed a brace of ton-plus averages in reaching the quarter-finals, with top seed Chisnall and German star Hempel completing the last eight line-up at the Robin Park Leisure Centre.
Tuesday’s action also provided a landmark moment for two-time Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves, who celebrated her first victory on the PDC ProTour.
The 21-year-old averaged 102 and landed six 180s to defeat Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock in a sensational contest, although she was beaten by a clinical Krzysztof Ratajski in round two.
The 2025 PDC ProTour season continues with Players Championships 3-4 in Rosmalen on February 17-18, with coverage set to be broadcast live through PDCTV and bookmakers’ websites worldwide.
2025 Players Championship 2
Tuesday February 11
Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Last 16
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Nick Kenny
Ross Smith 6-4 Danny Noppert
Florian Hempel 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Chris Dobey 6-4 Kim Huybrechts
Gian van Veen 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Ryan Searle 6-3 Damon Heta
Luke Littler 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Martin Schindler
Quarter-Finals
Ross Smith 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Chris Dobey 6-5 Florian Hempel
Ryan Searle 6-3 Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Luke Littler
Semi-Finals
Chris Dobey 7-4 Ross Smith
Gerwyn Price 7-5 Ryan Searle
Final
Gerwyn Price 8-7 Chris Dobey
