PDC Players Championship: Gary Anderson continues red-hot form as he defeats Josh Rock in Barnsley

Gary Anderson continued to roll back the years to secure Players Championship 25 glory by defeating Josh Rock in the final; Next up on Sky Sports’ darts calendar is the 17th edition of the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11 to 19 at Aldersley Leisure Village

At the age of 52, Gary Anderson appears to be in the form of his life

Gary Anderson continued his blistering form to secure Players Championship 25 victory on Wednesday, beating Josh Rock 8-4 in the decider to claim back-to-back ProTour titles in Barnsley.

Anderson, winner of Players Championship 24 last month, hit a nine-dart finish en route to victory at the Barnsley Metrodome before sending Rock on his way to claim his third ranking title of the year.

The two-time world champion had a tournament average of 101.45 to seal the £12,000 top prize, which puts him at the top of the 2023 Players Championship Order of Merit with five events remaining.

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Dan Dawson discusses the turnaround in Anderson’s form in Love The Darts

Rock struck the first blow with an immediate throw break, but Anderson responded with a 121 leveler on the bull, leading to a run of four straight legs for the Scot.

He converted a clinical kill of 110 on tops to extend his lead to 4-1, and while Rock stopped the rot in leg six, the veteran restored his cushion with three legs with a twelve-dart hold.

Rock hit back with combinations of 67 and 72 as he threatened to mount a late fightback, although ‘The Flying Scotsman’ had other ideas and produced an effortless 127 finish on leg 10 to regain control at 6-4.

The Northern Irishman then paid the price for denying two darts to the double as Anderson found himself 7-4 on the cusp of victory, before pinning the double four moments later to cap another great campaign.

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I just come out and throw darts and I’m fine,” said the 52-year-old Anderson, who hit a nine-darter in his second-round win over Keane Barry.

“Two weeks ago I last played in Leicester. Today is only the second time I’ve thrown since Andrew (Gilding) beat me up on that stage!

“I had a hard time at the end. The young guys who do this every day of the week, hats off to them.

“I’m playing well, but I’m not looking too far ahead. I practice with Ryan (Searle) every now and then, play in the Players Championships and if I qualify for anything else in between that’s a bonus.”

This week’s Players Championship action continues with Players Championship 26 on Thursday.

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Josh Rock stunned Michael van Gerwen with a nine-darter at the Grand Slam of Darts last year, before MVG won 10-8 in a classic

Players Championship 2023 25
Wednesday October 18
The Barnsley Metrodome

Last 16
Martijn Kleermaker 6-4 Callan Rydz
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Danny Jansen
Josh Rock 6-2 Daniel Klose
Rob Cross 6-5 Joe Cullen
Gary Anderson 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Danny Noppert 6-1 Martin Lukeman
Cam Crabtree 6-4 Stephen Burton
Jim Williams 6-3 Mervyn King

Quarterfinals
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Martijn Kleermaker
Josh Rock 6-3 Rob Cross
Gary Anderson 6-4 Danny Noppert
Jim Williams 6-3 Cam Crabtree

Semi-finals
Josh Rock 7-5 Brendan Dolan
Gary Anderson 7-5 Jim Williams

Last
Gary Anderson 8-4 Josh Rock

Watch the seventeenth staging of the Grand Slam of Darts at Aldersley Leisure Village from November 11 to 19. Stream your favorite sports and more with NOW