Darts: Who Wins the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals?

by Roy Brindley, 24 November 2021

During the past six years, Michael van Gerwen has landed the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals five times. He failed to take the title in 2018 but still finished runner-up. He first won the competition in 2013.

However, the once invincible Dutch player has gone twelve months since his last notable televised tournament win. In that period, he has only reached one final. Furthermore, he has lost his world number one status for the first time in seven years.

Michael van Gerwen has lost his form and number one status. So, is a seventh Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals victory beyond him? ©Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The rankings – better known as the PDC Order of Merit – are based on prizemoney won over a two-year period by players in ranking tournaments.

The Price of Success

Gerwyn Price is the new table-topper. Bolstered by success in January’s World Championship and last week’s Grand Slam of Darts, the Welshman’s earnings are £1,246,750. Peter Wright, winner of the World Matchplay in July and Price’s victim in the Grand Slam final, follows with £1,091,500.

Given he has won the Premier League, Masters and World Series of Darts finals in 2021, many would be surprised to learn Jonny Clayton only sits eighth on the list. But none of these competitions were ‘ranking events’ and so they have not contributed to his Order of Merit tally.

The bookmakers cannot be fooled and despite his position in the official rankings, Clayton at 11/2 with tournament sponsors Ladbrokes, is third favorite in the 2021 Players Championship Finals betting list. The competition is being played at the Butlin’s Resort, Minehead, this weekend.

Players Championships Explained

The criteria for entry to the Players Championship Finals is a top 64 position in the Players Championships Order of Merit. It too is solely based on prize money won. In this case, cash won in Players Championship events during the season.

Players Championship events are normally played behind closed doors without a live audience. They are open to 128 players and have a prize-fund of £75,000. £10,000 goes to the winner.

In 2021 there have been 30 Player Championship events. Peter Wright landed four of them, Jose de Sousa took three. Several players claimed two titles including Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton.

For the ITV televised Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals there is no random draw. Number one seed, Jose de Sousa, is pitted against the number 64, Devon Petersen. Number two, Peter Wright meets number 63, Keane Barry and so on.

The format is ‘best of 11 legs’ games in rounds one and two. Third and fourth-round matches are ‘best of 19 legs’ confrontations. The semi-finals and final are ‘best of 21 legs’ games.

The Contenders

Sadly, there is no place for Fallon Sherrock in the field. Raymond van Barneveld, returning from retirement, has made the line-up. The Dutchman won a Players Championship in February. 26th in the Order of Merit list, he meets countryman Maik Kuivenhoven in the opening round.

But none of the sports big names are missing. The history books show, during the past decade only established in-form players progress to the final.

It means Michael van Gerwen can be set aside. Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock and Daryl Gurney have been on a slow descent and are others easily ignored.

James Wade is playing to a consistent level of form. He’s never made the final here and possibly his best will not be good enough.

Rob Cross will hope to add a second televised major to his 2021 haul. ©Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Rob Cross has found some form – winning the European Championship in mid-October – and could go deep. But consistency has never been his strong point.

The Likely Winner Is…

There is no need to state the case for Gerwyn Price – the Welshman is 10/3 for outright success with Ladbrokes – likewise Johnny Clayton (6/1) and Peter Wright (9/1).

The best approach may be supporting a handful of in-form players just beneath these ‘big three’ in the betting. Here are a few to consider:

• Gary Anderson: Has won pretty much all the sport has to offer including two World Championships. He is no spent force and tends to peak this time of year. He averaged in the 100’s during last week’s Grand Slam of Darts, at 50/1 the Scotsman is surely over-priced.
• Dimitri Van den Bergh: Only 27 but already ranked number five in the world despite not winning a televised major, the Belgian number one has appeared in two finals this year. He missed the European Championship and the recent Grand Slam of Darts – where he withdrew following a positive Covid test – making his record even more impressive. Registering a nine-dart finish in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts – and averaging 114.85 when winning a match in the same competition two years later – he is destined for greatness. The bookies are wary, but Ladbrokes 16/1 is still an attractive price.
• Krzysztof Ratajski: Another without a televised victory, Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski made it to the quarter-final stages of three of this season’s first four televised majors. In the other event, the World Matchplay, he was a semi-finalist. He must overcome a poor effort in last week’s Grand Slam of Darts but if doing so will surely go very deep in this event. He is a live and realistic 33/1 each-way play.

Ryan Searle could make a mockery of his odds. ©Lawrence Lustig/PDC

• Ryan Searle: Bookmakers cannot agree on Ryan Searle. Some only offer 33/1, the best darts betting sites go 66/1. Winning one Players Championship event and making an additional three finals – amassing £57,500 in prizemoney during 2021 – Searle is seeded number five in this competition. It underlines his ability. Not yet the finished article in terms of delivering telling blows at key moments in major televised events, a few adjustments might see him play his A-game before a live audience. Should he do so, he could make a mockery of his odds.

2021 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals Fact File

November 26-28

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