BROOKS CLAIMS MAIDEN PROTOUR TITLE AT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 21

BRADLEY BROOKS claimed the Players Championship 21 title after beating Gerwyn Price 8-5 in the final.  

‘Bam Bam’ won his first PDC senior title and scooped up the £15,000 top prize with victory at the Mattioli Arena.  

World No. 96 Brooks recorded an early break of throw in a high-standard start to the match with a 13-darter as he opened up a key 3-1 lead against Price. 

Seven-times major winner Price hit back to trail 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5 – landing a 12-darter along the way – but crucially was never able to level, despite hitting five doubles from seven attempts. 

Blackburn thrower Brooks finished 79 to move to the brink of victory at 7-5, and when Price uncharacteristically missed eight darts at doubles in the next leg, Brooks swooped to close out victory on tops. 

Brooks opened up on how much the support of his family meant to him after bouncing back from losing his Tour Card last year. 

He said: “I’m proud but it’s not all me I have a good family, manager, Mrs, mum and nan who all look after me.  

“They know how much I struggled when I lost my Tour Card last year and my Dad included.  

“If it weren’t for the people around me I would not be where I am today.  

“To win this is huge. This week I felt so comfortable with my game and everything just clicked today.

“At the time of losing my card it was not the best thing that ever happened to me.  

“But to have the year off and watching everyone play it made me want to comeback more.  

“Instead of me coming back and doing two years then dropping off I wanted to play ProTour until I wanted to leave.” 

The 25-year-old shared his pride after securing his spot at the World Championship and proving to himself that he can still compete with the very best. 

He added: “It’s been a while since I have been at the worlds 

“When I won my Tour Card back my aim was to win a Players Championship and go to the Worlds.  

“Obviously I qualified for the Masters at the start of the year which was great and it showed me where I am with my game.  

“I’ve struggled a couple of times this year but when I do get it right I can mix it with best in the room.  

“I’m just over the moon. 

“It just shows what I am doing is working.” 

Brooks averaged over 108 in each of his first two games – defeating William Borland and Chris Dobey – before then edging out Brendan Dolan and James Wade in deciding legs.  

Former World Youth champion Brooks then cruised past Josh Rock 6-1 before coming from 3-0 and 6-5 down to edge out James Hurrell in the semis.

Image by Taylor Lanning.