Maiden Win For Anderson

GARY ANDERSON claimed his first title since joining the PDC with a 6-2 victory over Mervyn King in the Welsh Players Championship.

The Scotsman followed up two finals a month ago to go one better at the Newport Centre, picking up the £6,000 to continue a superb week.

He defeated John Part in a Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Challenge Match on Thursday, and saw off two other Premier League stars on his way to victory on Saturday.

Having dropped just two legs in early wins against Ricky Williams and Geoff Whitworth, he defeated Ronnie Baxter 6-3 and then whitewashed Andy Hamilton in the last 16.

Anderson then edged out Jelle Klaasen 6-5 in the quarter-finals and saw off Colin Osborne 6-1 in the semis.

In the final, he shared the opening two legs before holding throw in the third and producing a 12-darter to break for a 3-1 lead.

Anderson also took the fifth before King reduced the gap to 4-2 - only for a 180 to set up a 13-darter for the Scot in the next.

He then landed back-to-back maximums in opening the next leg, and though a potential nine-darter went begging, he took the leg in 14 darts on double five for the match.

King's run in Newport, which included wins over Wayne Jones, world number two James Wade and Terry Jenkins, saw him reach his first PDC Pro Tour final of 2009.

Osborne reached the semis for the third successive Players Championship, while Jones was appearing in the last four for the fourth time in 2009.

Holland's Toon Greebe lifted his hopes of winning a qualification place for the Stan James World Matchplay this summer by reaching the last eight, alongside fellow countryman Klaasen, James Wade and Justin Pipe - who was appearing in his first PDC quarter-final.

Welsh Players Championship
Preliminary Round

Roland Scholten 6-1 Geoff Wylie
Dyson Parody 6-1 Shaun Dring
Dennis Smith 6-0 Andy Relf
Mark Lawrence 6-3 Dennis Zijderhand
Robert Watson-Lang 6-3 Ben Burton
Chris Allen 6-4 Mick McGowan
Robert Alford 6-4 John Quantock
Steve Hine 6-1 Kevin Harris
Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Robbie Newland
Alan Caves 6-4 Ian Lever
Peter Wright 6-4 Dave Honey
Mark Frost 6-1 Paul Gudgeon
Steve Perry 6-4 Nigel Birch
Jason Clark 6-5 Tony Ayres
Sam Rooney 6-0 Ian Lilley
Barrie Bates 6-1 Lee Holden

First Round
Lionel Sams 6-4 Dennis Priestley (1)
Steve Brown 6-0 Mike Roberts
Wayne Mardle (32) 6-3 Nick Fullwell
Roland Scholten 6-0 Arron Monk
Adrian Lewis (16) 6-0 Jon Archer
Justin Pipe 6-0 Jonathan Overton
Vincent van der Voort (17) 6-3 Richard Foster
Mark Stephenson 6-1 Dyson Parody
Colin Osborne (8) 6-0 Darren Latham
Chris Loudon 6-5 Robbie Parker
Steve Maish (25) 6-2 Simon Craven
Dennis Smith 6-1 Russell Mason
Colin Lloyd (9) 6-0 Alex Tinsley
Louis Blundell 6-2 Stephen Hardy
Tony Eccles (24) 6-4 Darren Johnson
Mark Lawrence 6-2 Ray Farrell
Ronnie Baxter (5) 6-0 Colin Wonnacott
Colin Monk 6-1 Stuart Holden
Gary Anderson (28) 6-1 Ricky Williams
Geoff Whitworth 6-5 Robert Watson-Lang
Andy Hamilton (12) 6-1 Dave Smith
Trevor Frost 6-3 Mark Tiller
Andy Jenkins (21) 6-3 Paul Knighton
Michael Barnard 6-2 Chris Allen
Alan Tabern (4) 6-1 Ian McFarlane
Adrian Gray 6-1 Richie Burnett
Jelle Klaasen (29) 6-4 Chris Thompson
Robert Alford 6-3 Steve Perkins
Stuart Bousfield 6-3 Kevin Painter (13)
Pete Allen Bye (Dave Ahmet retired during game)
Jan van der Rassel 6-4 Alex Roy (20)
Steve Hine 6-2 Danny King
James Wade (2) 6-3 Dave Ladley
Wayne Atwood 6-0 Jimmy O'Regan
Co Stompe (31) 6-1 Lee White
Kirk Shepherd 6-5 Ian Jopling
Mark Dudbridge (15) 6-1 Steve Musson
Gary Mawson 6-1 Jim Leighton
Steve Beaton (18) 6-1 Mark Webster
Paul Anthony 6-3 Alan Caves
Terry Jenkins (7) 6-0 Mark Jodrill
Martyn Turner 6-2 Norman Fletcher
Matt Clark (26) 6-1 Kevin Hill
Peter Wright 6-1 Kevin Dowling
Mervyn King (10) 6-2 Chris Mason
Kieran Leal 6-1 Steve Cupitt
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Peter Manley (23)
Mark Frost 6-5 Kevin McDine
Mark Walsh (6) 6-1 Gary Scratchley
Gary Welding 6-3 Jim Withers
Andy Smith (27) Bye (Andy Fordham withdrew)
Toon Greebe 6-3 Steve Perry
Denis Ovens (11) 6-2 Stuart Dutton
Par Riihonen 6-1 Steve Grubb
Jamie Caven (22) 6-2 John Part
Jason Clark 6-5 Steve Evans
Robert Thornton (3) 6-0 Michael Smith
Chris Cooper 6-5 Lee Williams
Wes Newton (30) 6-4 Ian Perkins
John MaGowan 6-3 Sam Rooney
Michael van Gerwen (14) 6-0 Jimmy Dunlop
Bryan de Hoog 6-0 Gary Blades
Wayne Jones (19) 6-3 Owen Caffrey
Barrie Bates 6-0 Ken Dobson

Second Round
Lionel Sams 6-3 Steve Brown
Wayne Mardle 6-5 Roland Scholten
Justin Pipe 6-1 Adrian Lewis
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Mark Stephenson
Colin Osborne 6-2 Chris Loudon
Dennis Smith 6-3 Steve Maish
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Louis Blundell
Mark Lawrence 6-3 Tony Eccles
Ronnie Baxter 6-0 Colin Monk
Gary Anderson 6-1 Geoff Whitworth
Andy Hamilton 6-3 Trevor Frost
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Michael Barnard
Alan Tabern 6-2 Adrian Gray
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Robert Alford
Stuart Bousfield 6-4 Pete Allen
Steve Hine 6-3 Jan van der Rassel
James Wade 6-2 Wayne Atwood
Co Stompe 6-1 Kirk Shepherd
Mark Dudbridge 6-0 Gary Mawson
Steve Beaton 6-0 Paul Anthony
Terry Jenkins 6-2 Martyn Turner
Peter Wright 6-4 Matt Clark
Mervyn King 6-0 Kieran Leal
Mark Frost  6-3 Brendan Dolan
Mark Walsh 6-5 Gary Welding
Toon Greebe 6-5 Andy Smith
Denis Ovens 6-3 Par Riihonen
Jamie Caven 6-1 Jason Clark
Robert Thornton 6-5 Chris Cooper
John MaGowan 6-3 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Bryan de Hoog
Wayne Jones 6-1 Barrie Bates
Losers £200

Third Round
Lionel Sams 6-4 Wayne Mardle
Justin Pipe 6-2 Vincent van der Voort
Colin Osborne 6-4 Dennis Smith
Colin Lloyd 6-1 Mark Lawrence
Gary Anderson 6-3 Ronnie Baxter
Andy Hamilton 6-3 Andy Jenkins
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Alan Tabern
Steve Hine 6-1 Stuart Bousfield
James Wade 6-5 Co Stompe
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Steve Beaton
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Peter Wright
Mervyn King 6-4 Mark Frost
Toon Greebe 6-5 Mark Walsh 
Denis Ovens 6-3 Jamie Caven
Robert Thornton 6-4 John MaGowan
Wayne Jones 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Losers £300

Fourth Round
Justin Pipe 6-2 Lionel Sams
Colin Osborne 6-1 Colin Lloyd
Gary Anderson 6-0 Andy Hamilton
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Steve Hine
James Wade 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Mervyn King 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Toon Greebe 6-4 Denis Ovens
Wayne Jones 6-4 Robert Thornton
Losers £400

Quarter-Finals
Colin Osborne 6-1 Justin Pipe
Gary Anderson 6-5 Jelle Klaasen
Mervyn King 6-4 James Wade
Wayne Jones 6-5 Toon Greebe
Losers £800

Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-1 Colin Osborne
Mervyn King 6-1 Wayne Jones
Losers £1,500

Final
Gary Anderson 6-2 Mervyn King
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000


News Updates
In a change to the published list of entries, Raymond van Barneveld is not competing in Newport.
Andy Fordham also withdrew shortly before the start of the tournament for personal reasons.

Preliminary Round
Sam Rooney whitewashes Ian Lilley to move into first round.
Barrie Bates, Mark Frost, Steve Hine and Dyson Parody all pick up 6-1 victories.
Kirk Shepherd defeats Robbie Newland 6-4, with Chris Allen and Peter Wright progressing in the same manner.
Dennis Smith whitewashes Andy Relf, and Mark Lawrence wins 6-3 against Dennis Zijderhand.
Roland Scholten is 6-1 winner against Geoff Wylie.
Steve Perry defeats Nigel Birch 6-4.
Robert Watson-Lang is 6-3 winner against Ben Burton, and Alan Caves defeats Ian Lever 6-4.
Jason Clark wins in a deciding leg against Tony Ayres.

First Round
Robert Thornton is 6-0 victor against Michael Smith.
Michael van Gerwen picks up whitewash win over Jimmy Dunlop.
Terry Jenkins, Adrian Lewis, Colin Lloyd and Colin Osborne all pick up 6-0 wins, against Mark Jodrill, Jon Archer, Alex Tinsley and Darren Latham.
Stuart Bousfield knocks out Kevin Painter, the number 13 seed, with 6-3 victory.
Mark Walsh and Mark Dudbridge pick up 6-1 victories in their opening games.
James Wade wins 6-3 against Dave Ladley.
Bryan de Hoog whitewashes Gary Blades and now meets fellow Dutchman van Gerwen.
Andy Hamilton and Alan Tabern progress with 6-1 wins over Dave Smith and Ian McFarlane.
Ronnie Baxter whitewashes Colin Wonnacott and Pete Allen is handed a walkover victory when Dave Ahmet retires.
Chris Cooper edges out Lee Williams in a deciding leg, and Denis Ovens wins 6-2 against Stuart Dutton.
Louis Blundell is 6-2 winner against Stephen Hardy.
Mervyn King wins 6-2 against Chris Mason.
Lionel Sams knocks out number one seed Dennis Priestley with 6-4 victory, and Justin Pipe whitewashes Jonathan Overton.
Gary Welding picks up 6-3 win against Jim Withers.
Wayne Atwood whitewashes Jimmy O'Regan to set up second round tie with James Wade.
Jan van der Rassel defeats Alex Roy 6-4.
Chris Loudon takes out 145 to win deciding leg against Robbie Parker, who was waiting on double top for the match.
Kieran Leal is 6-1 winner over Steve Cupitt, and Wayne Jones wins 6-3 against Owen Caffrey.
Steve Brown whitewashes Mike Roberts to move into last 64.
Adrian Gray is 6-1 winner against Welshman Richie Burnett.
Steve Beaton knocks out another Welsh ace, Mark Webster, with 6-1 win.
Brendan Dolan is another 6-1 victor, defeating Peter Manley.
Trevor Frost wins 6-3 against Mark Tiller.
Gary Anderson, a winner in Thursday's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Challenge Match, opens with 6-1 victory against Ricky Williams.
Vincent van der Voort, Steve Maish and Tony Eccles pick up wins.
Toon Greebe and Barrie Bates also progress with wins.
Steve Hine defeats Danny King 6-2, having missed double 12 for a nine-darter in one leg.
Jamie Caven is 6-2 winner against John Part.
Wayne Mardle makes successful return to action after illness with 6-3 win over Nick Fullwell.
Jelle Klaasen takes 6-4 win over Chris Thompson.
Peter Wright is 6-1 winner against Kevin Dowling, while Paul Anthony overcomes Alan Caves 6-3.
John MaGowan wins 6-3 against Sam Rooney.
Andy Jenkins and Robert Alford pick up 6-3 wins.
Roland Scholten defeats Arron Monk in straight legs, while Mark Frost takes deciding leg victory against Kevin McDine.
Mark Stephenson is 6-1 winner against Dyson Parody.
Michael Barnard overcomes Chris Allen 6-2.
Kirk Shepherd is deciding leg winner against Ian Jopling.

Second Round
Michael van Gerwen wins all-Dutch game with Bryan de Hoog 6-2.
Stuart Bousfield progresses to last 32 with 6-4 win over Pete Allen.
Mark Walsh picks up narrow 6-5 win against Gary Welding.
Colin Lloyd is 6-2 winner against Louis Blundell.
Mervyn King whitewashes Kieran Leal to progress, while Justin Pipe knocks out Adrian Lewis 6-1.
Robert Thornton wins 6-4 against Chris Cooper.
Wayne Jones is 6-1 winner against Barrie Bates and now plays Michael van Gerwen.
Mark Dudbridge whitewashes Gary Mawson and Ronnie Baxter is another 6-0 winner, against Colin Monk.
Steve Hine wins 6-3 against Jan van der Rassel.
Lionel Sams picks up 6-3 win over Steve Brown.
Colin Osborne takes 6-2 victory against Chris Loudon, with Alan Tabern defeating Adrian Gray in the same manner.
Mark Lawrence wins 6-3 against Tony Eccles and now meets Colin Lloyd.
Steve Beaton whitewashes Paul Anthony, and Gary Anderson is 6-1 winner against Geoff Whitworth.
Terry Jenkins overcomes Martyn Turner 6-2, with Mark Frost picking up 6-3 victory over Brendan Dolan.
Vincent van der Voort is 6-4 winner against Mark Stephenson.
Denis Ovens is 6-3 victor in clash with Sweden's Par Riihonen.
Co Stompe defeats Kirk Shepherd 6-1 and now takes on James Wade.
Wayne Mardle edges out Roland Scholten in a deciding leg.
Jelle Klaasen is another narrow winner, against Robert Alford.
Toon Greebe edges out Andy Smith 6-5.
Andy Hamilton moves into round three with 6-3 win over Trevor Frost.
Dennis Smith wins 6-3 against Steve Maish.
Andy Jenkins completes the second round action with 6-1 win over Michael Barnard.

Third Round
Wayne Jones reaches last 16 with 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen.
Steve Hine races past Stuart Bousfield 6-1 to reach last 16.
Colin Lloyd defeats Mark Lawrence 6-1.
Toon Greebe wins a second successive game 6-5, this time against Mark Walsh, to move into last 16.
Mark Dudbridge edges out Steve Beaton 6-5.
Mervyn King progresses to round four with 6-4 win over Mark Frost.
Justin Pipe takes 6-2 win against Vincent van der Voort.
Robert Thornton comes from behind to win 6-4 against veteran John MaGowan.
Lionel Sams ends Wayne Mardle's return to action with 6-4 victory.
Denis Ovens progresses with 6-3 victory against Jamie Caven.
James Wade defeats Co Stompe in a deciding leg, after taking out 167 to level at five-all.
Jelle Klaasen overcomes Alan Tabern 6-1.
Colin Osborne sets up fourth round game with Colin Lloyd with 6-4 win over Dennis Smith.
Gary Anderson progresses with 6-3 win over Ronnie Baxter.
Andy Hamilton completes the last 16 line-up with 6-3 win against Andy Jenkins.

Fourth Round
Jelle Klaasen wins in 11 legs against Steve Hine, who missed double 12 for a nine-darter for the second time in the day.
James Wade also sneaks into the quarter-finals, defeating Mark Dudbridge 6-5.
Wayne Jones picks up 6-4 win over Robert Thornton.
Toon Greebe sets up quarter-final with Jones after 6-4 win against Denis Ovens, reaching the last eight for the second time this year.
Mervyn King will meet James Wade in the last eight after 6-4 defeat of Terry Jenkins.
Gary Anderson whitewashes Andy Hamilton to reach quarter-finals.
Justin Pipe reaches his first PDC Pro Tour quarter-final with 6-2 win over Lionel Sams.
Colin Osborne sets up quarter-final against Pipe with 6-1 win over Colin Lloyd.

Quarter-Finals
Wayne Jones books semi-final spot with 6-5 win over Toon Greebe, his fourth last four appearance this season.
Mervyn King progresses to last four with 6-4 win against James Wade.
Gary Anderson wins through to semi-finals by seeing off Jelle Klaasen in a deciding leg, taking out 62 in two-darts for a 14-darter with Klaasen waiting on double top.
Colin Osborne powers into semis with 6-1 by defeating Justin Pipe 6-1.

Semi-Finals
Mervyn King wins place in Welsh Players Championship final with 6-1 defeat of Wayne Jones.
Gary Anderson earns a spot in his third Players Championship final of 2009 with 6-1 win against Colin Osborne.