Jonny Clayton picked up a first PDC title of the year on Tuesday, after a dominant 8-2 victory over Dominik Gruellich in the final of Players Championship 14, as the PDC Pro Tour double header concluded in Rosmalen, Netherlands.
Former Premier League Champion, Clayton, who picked up his last Players Championship event in July 2024, reached the final by dropping just nine legs across the day with victories coming against George Killington, Oskar Lukasiak, Jeffrey De Graaf, Michael Van Gerwen, James Wade and Danny Noppert, to set up a clash with Germany’s Gruellich.
The final began with a 15-dart leg from Gruellich, before Clayton charged in front by winning three successive legs in 15,17 and 11 darts respectively to move 3-1 ahead in a race to eight. Gruellich went on to half the deficit in Leg Five with a 13 darter, before Clayton rattled off five successive legs and sealed the victory in Leg 10 with a 12-dart leg and a 121 checkout to pick up a 16th PDC title of his career as well as the £15,000 top prize.
Gruellich, who won his PDC Tour Card back in January and picked up a maiden Development Tour title in March, reached his first Pro Tour final by recording victories on the day against Ryan Meikle, Alexander Merkx, Daryl Gurney, Maik Kuivenhoven, Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Michael Smith, before being denied by 'The Ferret’.
Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko and Former Players Championship Event winner Mickey Mansell, whilst the likes of 2x World Champion Peter Wright and reigning European Champion Ritchie Edhouse were amongst the high profile first round casualties. The day also saw Ross Smith fire in a nine-dart leg during his second-round victory against Thibault Tricole.
The PDC Pro Tour returns on 12-13th May in Hildesheim with Players Championship 15 & 16 taking place from Halle 39, with 128 players competing for £125,000 in prize money each day. Play will be broadcasted across four streaming boards on PDC.TV and various bookmaker websites worldwide, with all live scores and results on tv.dartconnect.com.
For more in depth coverage of everything darts, and the latest issues of thier legendary publications, head on over to dartsworld.com
2025 Players Championship (Event 14)
Last 16
Dominik Gruellich 6-4 Maik Kuivenhoven
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 6-4 Chris Dobey
Michael Smith 6-2 Darren Beveridge
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Danny Noppert 6-2 Jimmy Van Schie
Mickey Mansell 6-5 Andreas Harrysson
James Wade 6-5 Martin Schindler
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Michael Van Gerwen
Quarter Finals
Dominik Gruellich 6-5 Dirk Van Duijvenbode
Michael Smith 6-2 Ricardo Pietreczko
Danny Noppert 6-1 Mickey Mansell
Jonny Clayton 6-0 James Wade
Semi Finals
Dominik Gruellich 7-4 Michael Smith
Jonny Clayton 7-3 Danny Noppert
Final
Jonny Clayton 8-2 Dominik Gruellich