April 22, 2024 - Anderson Wins First Euro Tour Title For 10 Years

A Week In Darts – April 22, 2024 – Anderson Ends 10-Year Wait For Euro Tour Title

Gary Anderson returned to the winners’ circle in PDC stage events as he won the European Darts Grand Prix on Sunday night. Here’s our look back at how the weekend of darts played out in Sindelfingen, along with all the other action in the darting world over the last seven days…

ANDERSON ENDS 10-YEAR WAIT FOR SECOND EURO TOUR TITLE

Gary Anderson is a European Tour title winner again after defeating Ross Smith 8-6 in the final of the European Darts Grand Prix on Sunday.

Since winning his first European Tour title at the 2014 German Darts Championship, ‘The Flying Scotsman’ has gone on to lift many of the game’s biggest trophies, including two PDC World Championships, the UK Open and the World Matchplay.

But at the weekend the Scot brought an end to his 10-year wait for a second success on the European Tour, as he got the better of first-time finalist Smith in the decider.

“It’s been a very long time (since winning a stage title),” said Anderson, who only brought an end to his seven-year hiatus from the European Tour last year.

“Many years ago when I played in the European Tour the crowd was just starting to grow and since then it’s just got bigger and bigger.

“Wherever you go now, people want to play darts and watch darts. These crowds are incredible.

“I don’t know how I’ve won it tonight. My last three games I’ve never been as lucky in darts.”

Anderson started his campaign in Sindelfingen with a 6-3 win against Christian Perez on Saturday, a match which saw him average 110.23.

On the final day on Sunday, his run continued with wins against Gerwyn Price (6-4), Josh Rock (6-5) and Rob Cross (7-5) to reach the final.

With the decider locked at 6-6, the turning point came in the next leg as Anderson checked out 121 to break throw and move to within one leg of the title.

Smith then missed seven darts to break straight back, which allowed Anderson to clinch the win with a 43 finish on double 10.

ASPINALL RULES IN ROTTERDAM AGAIN

Nathan Aspinall claimed his second nightly win of the Premier League season with a 6-4 victory over Michael Smith in the Rotterdam final on Thursday night.

The reigning World Matchplay champion was the night winner in Rotterdam 12 months ago, and repeated the feat with wins against Peter Wright, Luke Humphries and Smith to scoop the £10,000 bonus.

The five-point haul helped Aspinall move back above Michael van Gerwen and into third place in the table, and now just three points behind the joint leaders Humphries and Luke Littler.

“I’ve played in Rotterdam twice and I’ve won here twice,” Aspinall said.

“Last year I missed out (on the play-offs) on nightly wins and I was on 24 points. We said a few weeks ago 26 was the target, but looking at the table, I think that might be a push!

“I think it’s fantastic – credit to all the lads. They have made this Premier League so exciting. It’s the most enjoyable one I’ve been involved in, and there’s still a lot to play for.”

The Premier League roadshow rolls into Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Thursday this week, with Humphries and Aspinall meeting in the quarter-finals, whilst Littler takes on Gerwyn Price.

With only four weeks of the regular season left to go, it looks to be a five-player race for the play-offs at London’s O2 next month.

Humphries occupies top spot ahead of Littler on nights won, with Aspinall and van Gerwen close behind and Smith two points adrift of the top four.

WOMEN’S SERIES DOUBLE FOR GREAVES

Beau Greaves reasserted herself as the number one player in the ladies game after winning two titles on the PDC Women’s Series at the weekend.

The reigning two-time WDF women’s world champion missed out on a title during the last weekend of the 2023 Women’s Series, and also went without a title when the circuit resumed last month.

But the 20-year-old bounced back with a pair of titles in Wigan, winning Events 6 and 7 to rise to the top of the Women’s Series Order of Merit.

After losing the Event 5 decider 5-4 to Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who had battled back from 4-0 down in the final to win her second title of the season, Greaves responded with a title success in Event 6.

Greaves whitewashed van Leuven 5-0 in the semi-finals, before seeing off Lisa Ashton 5-1 in the final to claim her first title of the campaign.

“I’m so happy,” she said. “I’m so relieved to get that win over the line and recover from earlier on.

“I’ve had a long time not winning and just being unlucky or just playing bad. Sometimes it happens. You go through periods of your career where you’re up and down and I’ve had my little spell now.

“I felt great today, I’ve been unlucky in patches but I’m so happy to keep plodding on and not lose hope that at some point I would win one back.”

Greaves then doubled up for the weekend as she won Event 7 and was in imperious form as she won the title without dropping a single leg.

A 98 average helped her defeat Fallon Sherrock 5-0 in the final, but it was Japan’s Mikuru Suzuki who would have the last word as she denied Greaves a hat-trick with a 5-1 win in the final of Event 8 to double her own title tally for 2024.

The Women’s Series continues with Events 9-12 in Wigan on June 15-16, with the eight-player field for the Women’s World Matchplay to be confirmed after Event 12.

Pictures: PDC Europe

Previous Next

RECENT BLOG POSTS

May 7, 2024 - Littler And Humphries Book Play-Off Spots

Beau Greaves Luke Humphries Luke Littler Michael Smith Wessel Nijman
READ BLOG

The Weekly Dartscast Podcast

Podcast
READ BLOG

April 29, 2024 - More European Tour Glory For Littler

Beau Greaves Luke Littler
READ BLOG