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Rydz Ends Two-Year Title Drought

Rydz Ends Two-Year Title Drought

Alex Moss |

A Week In Darts – September 4, 2023 – Rydz Back In The PDC Winners’ Circle

It has been another busy week in the world of darts with tournaments taking place all over the globe, including in England, New Zealand and America. In this latest edition of A Week In Darts we take a look back at everything that’s happened in the last seven days.

 

RYDZ ENDS TWO-YEAR WAIT FOR THIRD PDC TITLE

The world’s top players in the PDC made the trip to Barnsley for a triple header of floor events, which started yesterday with Callan Rydz beating Dave Chisnall 8-7 to win Players Championship 19.

The victory ended an almost two-year run without a PDC ranking title for Rydz, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2021-22 season, winning his first two titles and reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship.

The 25-year-old got the better of Chisnall in a last-leg decider at Barnsley Metrodome on Sunday to clinch his third senior title and with it boost his chances of qualifying for the World Grand Prix next month.

“I’ve been awful this year, but in this last month I’ve been using new darts and they went alright today,” Rydz said.

“Today I didn’t play fantastic all day, but I was hitting the right shots at the right time. It’s baby steps for me, and today was a big step.”

Rydz produced some impressive darts during his run to the final, seeing off both Gabriel Clemens and James Wade with 100+ averages.

Meanwhile, beaten finalist Chisnall was also in superb form, getting the better of UK Open champion Andrew Gilding 6-4 before posting ton-plus averages in wins against Joe Cullen and Ryan Joyce.

The ProTour triple header continues with Players Championship 20 today (1pm start).

HAT-TRICK FOR GATES IN THE SENIORS

America’s Leonard Gates made it a hat-trick of titles on the World Seniors Darts Tour after winning the World Seniors Matchplay in York on Sunday.

‘Soulger’ went into the final seniors major event of 2023 having won the previous two tournaments, the Champion of Champions and World Seniors Masters.

Gates started his bid for a third consecutive title with a 9-7 success over Colin McGarry, and he needed extra legs again to see off David Cameron 11-9 in the quarter-finals.

A high-quality all-North American quarter-final tie had seen Gates post a 101.28 average – the highest recorded in a World Seniors televised match – and he followed that up with wins over Paul Hogan (9-7) and Jim McEwan (9-6) to complete the hat-trick of titles.

The World Seniors Darts Tour is open to all players aged 50 and above who do not have a PDC tour card. The 2023 season concludes with two weekends of Open Series events in October and November.

AROUND THE BOARD

Stowe Buntz saw his title-winning form continue at the weekend with a victory in the WDF-ranked Washington Open.

‘Buntzy’ had caught the eye last month on the CDC circuit when he pulled off an historic clean sweep by winning all three tournaments in the same weekend.

And the Virginia native added to his growing trophy haul, winning the men’s singles title at the Washington Open, along with the men’s doubles cricket and open singles titles.

Elsewhere, more history was made in the SN Motors Dereham Dart League, in Norfolk, when Paul Taylor threw a perfect nine-dart leg.

The astonishing feat was achieved during a knockout game at the Mattishall Sports and Social Club, where Taylor, who has been playing darts for 40 years, threw two 180s followed by a 141 finish.

Paul Taylor Nine Darter

“I went a little nuts when it happened,” Taylor told the Dereham Times.

“When I hit it, I screamed out, ‘get in there’, and jumped in the air and shook hands with everyone around me, the guy I beat had never seen one.

“I was the talk of the night and the next few days. I also got a number of drinks brought for me.”

Picture: Paul Taylor

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