DE GRAAF DIGS DEEP TO CLAIM PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 19 CROWN

JEFFREY DE GRAAF believes his timing was “spot on” after battling through a difficult day to claim Players Championship 19 glory.

The Swede claimed his second ProTour title and pocketed the £15,000 winner’s cheque after averaging 101.11 and smashing in eight 180s to defeat Jonny Clayton 8-5 in the final.

The world No.56 survived four match darts to edge past Luke Woodhouse 7-6 in a dramatic semi-final, having earlier knocked out top seed Wessel Nijman 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

De Graaf confessed he was not at his fluent best in Milton Keynes but found the levels he needed at the crucial moments.

He said: “It’s been a struggle all day. This is the first game where I feel like it is clicking. But every game was a struggle.

“My finishing was brilliant and that is about it. The final was great, it felt like I couldn’t miss, but Jonny is brilliant so you need to push your level.

“Even though it has been a struggle all day, I do feel like I did the right things at the right time and my timing was spot on.

“I am happy with the win. I feel like I have been more consistent now. It is my third year on tour with a Tour Card.

“I feel like the first three years it was very inconsistent and a couple of times I had a good day that saved my year.”

De Graaf hopes his title-winning run will boost his chances of qualifying for more televised and ranking events on the PDC circuit.

He added: “This year I feel like I have been way more consistent. On the other side, it is the 19th tournament and I hadn’t had a deep run.

“Now it is the first time I got past the board final and it is amazing I got the win.

“I want to play in all the European Tours. I think I am in a good spot for that now. The Matchplay is still a bit off though.

“I just want to improve and I feel the results will come with it.”

Elsewhere, Gian van Veen and Chris Dobey suffered surprise first-round exits after defeats to Christopher Wickenden and Henry Coates respectively.

Nathan Aspinall was beaten 6-3 by Stephen Burton in his first Players Championship appearance since March.

Beau Greaves’ run came to an end in the second round as she fell 6-2 to Ryan Joyce, despite both players averaging more than 100.

Nijman produced an impressive display to see off two-time world champion Gary Anderson 6-3 in the last 32.

Image by Taylor Lanning.