Second time lucky for Ryan Searle as he defeats Gary Anderson in Players Championship at Leicester

Searle was beaten 8-5 in the final last week in Wigan but was taken to a last-leg decider this time around before eventually coming out on top to stop Anderson from making it back-to-back wins.

Anderson made his way to the final with a 7-4 victory over Callan Rydz, who had previously beaten Luke Littler 6-4 in the quarter-finals, while Searle ran out a 7-4 winner over pre-tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen to put himself in the final for the second straight week.

Both players hit eight 180s each in a high-quality contest where both averaged over 107.

Searle raced into a 3-0 lead before Anderson opened his account with a game-high 164 checkout, but Searle re-established his three-leg lead with a double 19-finish in the very next leg.

Two-time world champion Anderson found himself 6-3 down but fought back to level the contest which included an 11-dart break of throw.

Both players held throw to take it to a last-leg shootout but Searle smacked in two 180s in the deciding leg and held his nerve to grab the £15,000 prize.

Searle told PDC.tv: “I wasn’t at my best today, but when it came to the final, I feel like I played pretty well.

“Me and Gary have only practised twice together this year. He is playing phenomenal darts at the moment, so I’m happy to be able to get one over on him for once.

“I believe that Gary is probably the best player in the world, and I’ve said that for a long time. When you’re practising against him he’s banging in 180 after 180 and taking out massive finishes.”