Amazing Asp Claims Second Pro Tour Title
Nathan Aspinall came out on top at Players Championship 22 after beating Krzysztof Ratajski 8-3 with an average of 97.18 to claim his second Pro Tour of 2022. The Asp was formidable on double sixteen across the whole Final and despite many pauses to regrip his darts, he remained composed on the oche to fend off a late resurgence from his opponent having lost the last two legs.
The Stockport ace returned to competitive action after his epic with World Matchplay champion Michael van Gerwen at the Winter Gardens where he lost 16-14.
His run to the Quarter Finals last month returned him back into the World’s top 16, and the form continued in Barnsley including a superb 6-4 victory over Dave Chisnall despite averaging over 8 points lower than the St Helens man.
The 31-year-old beat the likes of Stephen Bunting in the Quarter Finals 6-4 before staging a fantastic comeback against Ryan Searle, coming from 5-2 down to beat Heavy Metal 7-6 and secure his spot in another Players Championship Final.
Danny Noppert fresh off his first World Matchplay Semi-Final 11 days ago reached the same stage in Barnsley, falling to a 7-5 defeat by Krzysztof Ratajski despite averaging 99. The Freeze beat Michael Smith 6-4 in a repeat of the UK Open Final that saw the Winmau man win his first PDC televised major.
The Dutchman managed his best arrows in his opening First Round match after scoring 101.46 in a 6-5 victory over Radek Szaganski, his first match since his Semi Final defeat to World Number 1 Gerwyn Price at the World Matchplay.
Luke Humphries shut down all the haters after a poor outing in Blackpool, by reaching the Quarter Finals of event 22 losing a high-quality tungsten tussle with Ryan Searle as both players averaged in triple figures.
Cool Hand averaged over 100 in three matches on Wednesday including a fantastic 106.79 in beating Josh Rock 6-2 in the Last 16, knowing he had to put in a good performance against the young Northern Irishman after seeing him average 121.88 earlier in the day against the last winner of a Pro Tour Brendan Dolan.
Jeff Smith showed a return to form in his match with Event 17 winner Scott Williams after winning 6-2 with an average of 105.73. The Silencer went out in the Third Round to Luke Humphries but can hold his head high having scored more than the Euro Tour King across the eight legs played.
The triple header at the Barnsley Metrodome continues tomorrow with Players Championship 23 live on PDC TV from midday, as reigning World Champion Peter Wright looks for redemption having lost 6-4 to David Pallett despite averaging 107.67 in the First Round on Wednesday.
Players Championship 22 Results:
Last 16:
Luke Humphries 6-2 Josh Rock
Ryan Searle 6-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Martijn Kleermaker
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Michael Smith 6-5 Martin Schindler
Danny Noppert 6-2 David Pallett
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 John O’Shea
Quarter Finals:
Ryan Searle 6-2 Luke Humphries
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Danny Noppert 6-4 Michael Smith
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Dimitri van den Bergh
Semi Finals:
Nathan Aspinall 7-6 Ryan Searle
Krzysztof Ratajski 7-5 Danny Noppert
Final:
Nathan Aspinall 8-3 Krzysztof Ratajski