Burger & Schnier Head Austrian Qualifiers

European Tour

DIETMAR BURGER and Hannes Schnier were amongst the five Host Nation Qualifiers to win places in the Austrian Darts Open.

2018 Austrian Darts Open Draw

European Tour

THE draw and schedule of play for the 2018 Austrian Darts Open are now available ahead of the European Tour event in Graz.

Players Championship 9-10 Entries

ProTour

ENTRIES have been confirmed for the next Players Championship double-header, which will be held on April 28-29 in Wigan.

Incredible Hopp Wins First Euro Title

European Tour

MAX HOPP created history as he won his first PDC European Tour title at the German Darts Open in Saarbrucken.

2018 German Darts Open Day Two

European Tour

ROB CROSS & Dave Chisnall turned on the style in the German Darts Open on Saturday, as Peter Wright crashed out.

2018 German Darts Open Day One

European Tour

HOME favourite Max Hopp delighted the crowd at the German Darts Open in Saarbrucken with a superb first round display.

Double Qualifying Success For Trio

European Tour

MAX HOPP, Dimitri Van den Bergh & Ronny Huybrechts enjoyed a double success for the German Darts Open and Austrian Darts Open.

Mighty Mickey Claims Maiden PDC Title

ProTour

MICKEY MANSELL claimed his maiden PDC title after a 6-4 win over Adrian Lewis in the final of Players Championship Eight

Second 2018 Title For Smith In PC7

ProTour

MICHAEL SMITH secured his second title of the year with a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis in the Players Championship Seven final.

Seven Secure Double European Qualification

European Tour

SEVEN players secured double qualification success at the European Tour UK Qualifier double-header at the Barnsley Metrodome.

Jose De Sousa claimed a second PDC title inside a month at Players Championship 28 in Dublin on Saturday, beating Glen Durrant 8-6 in the final.

De Sousa, who won a PDC Tour Card for the first time in January, produced a string of impressive displays to reach his third ProTour final of the year and claim the £10,000 top prize.

The final was a close encounter but a crucial break of throw in the penultimate leg gave the Portuguese the chance to throw for the match, a chance he took to down his English opponent.

“The final was not my best game, it was a complicated game. This final was a moment of magic for me, a great moment,” said a delighted De Sousa.

“If I play my best game I can beat almost anyone. I practice so hard, every day and I want to make a big future for myself.

“I didn’t think this was possible, I could not imagine this.”

The 45-year-old, who had only won his PDC Tour Card in January at Qualifying School, won the crown on another definitive day for Portuguese darts.

“This is my first year in the PDC, all I wanted was experience but this has been amazing," he added. "I will continue my work and in the future we will see what happens.”

A 98 average in a 6-2 win against Mark Dudbridge opened the day for De Sousa, before a remarkable 6-1 triumph over Stephen Burton, with an average of almost 108 moved him safely into the last 32.

A hard fought 6-4 victory against Mark Webster and then a 6-2 win over Spaniard Jesus Noguera saw De Sousa move in to the quarter-finals.

Another ton-plus average followed, this time in a 6-3 win over a resurgent Kim Huybrechts as the Portuguese progressed in to the last four.

De Sousa then faced Mensur Suljovic, who earlier in the day had produced the perfect nine-dart leg in his victory over Adam Hunt.

Suljovic could not compete with his opponent in the semi-finals though as De Sousa powered through to the final with a 7-3 success.

The decider swung both ways, with neither player able to gain complete control of the encounter as De Sousa's early 4-1 lead was cancelled out by three straight legs from Durrant.

The pair traded breaks of throw in the middle of the match before Durrant eventually levelled at 6-6.

With the game looking set to go all the way to a deciding leg, De Sousa produced the all important break of throw with a 14-darter to go within a leg of the match before eventually pinning double ten for the title.

Durrant, who was playing in his fourth PDC final since a move from the BDO in January, had another successful day with notable wins against Ian White and a semi-final victory against Friday’s champion Gerwyn Price.

Suljovic achieved the 43rd nine-dart finish in a PDC event during his win over Hunt in the last 64, and also notched ton-plus averages in wins over Alan Tabern and Peter Wright.

The final two Players Championship events of 2019 will take place on October 14-15 where the field for the Players Championship finals will be confirmed.

Televised darts returns on Sunday as the BoyleSports World Grand Prix is broadcast live around the world from the Citywest Convention Centre in Dublin, starting seven days of the double-start event.

Drawboard