Players Championship Finals 2023 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
Thirty-two will become eight following an action-packed Day Two at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead on Saturday.
The opening day of the £600,000 major saw world number one Michael Smith and former champion Daryl Gurney among the notable casualties at the Butlins Minehead Resort.
Another blockbuster double session across two stages will see the Second Round ties take place in the afternoon, before the Last 16 ties follow in the evening.
Among the stand-out ties on the Main Stage is a show-down between top seed Gerwyn Price and 2012 runner-up Kim Huybrechts.
The pair have contested a number of fiery battles, including a sudden death shootout in the 2021/22 World Championship, while Huybrechts prevailed 7-3 in the Semi-Finals of Players Championship 3 this year on his way to claiming the title.
Price, who is vying to claim a first major title at this venue, took just ten minutes to whitewash Ricky Evans 6-0 on Friday night, while Huybrechts came through a contrastingly close battle to edge out Martin Schindler in a deciding leg.
Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen continues the defence of his title with a clash against 2022 European Champion Ross Smith.
Van Gerwen, who has won seven of the last ten stagings of this event, punished a below-par Callan Rydz to prevail 6-3 in his opener, while ProTour event winner Smith averaged 98.2 in a commanding 6-2 win over Scott Williams.
Two former World Matchplay champions collide in the opening tie of the day as Gary Anderson faces Dimitri Van den Bergh.
The pair met on this stage in March’s UK Open, with Van den Bergh securing a 10-8 victory to reach the Quarter-Finals, but the Belgian has largely struggled for form this season by his high standards.
Anderson, the number two seed who has picked up three Players Championship titles this year, edged out Steve Beaton in a deciding leg on Friday despite 18 missed darts at doubles in a cagey contest.
Newly-crowned Grand Slam champion Luke Humphries resumes his bid for a third major ranking title in the space of seven weeks with a tie against Poland’s Radek Szaganski.
Humphries, who also triumphed at the World Grand Prix last month, reeled off four straight legs from 4-2 down to deny Martin Lukeman in his opener, while Players Championship event winner Szaganski saw off Ian White 6-2 on Stage Two.
Dave Chisnall, the number four seed, comes up against Masters champion Chris Dobey in what promises to be heavy-scoring affair.
Chisnall defeated Lee Evans 6-2 to finally secure his first win in a televised ranking major this season, while Dobey defied a plethora of missed doubles to dispatch Raymond van Barneveld 6-3.
Recent Grand Slam quarter-finalist Damon Heta, the number three seed, faces Dutch darter Kevin Doets – who knocked out Jose De Sousa in a deciding leg after surviving four match darts.
Richard Veenstra’s reward for his shock win over World Champion Michael Smith is a clash against Jermaine Wattimena – who overcame an injury-hit Dirk van Duijvenbode on Stage Two.
A resurgent James Wade aims to continue his superb spell of form when he meets Irish ace Steve Lennon.
Wade was runner-up in last month’s European Championship and reached the Semi-Finals of the Grand Slam last Sunday, before averaging 101.5 in a 6-2 success over William O’Connor to kick-start his campaign here.
Lennon sent UK Open champion Andrew Gilding packing with a 6-3 triumph to end a run of three consecutive First Round exits in this event.
The Stage Two line-up also features a tasty tie between Grand Slam semi-finalist Stephen Bunting and European Championship semi-finalist Gian van Veen.
Ryan Searle, runner-up in this event two years ago, takes on German Championship winner Ricardo Pietreczko, while Grand Slam quarter-finalist Josh Rock plays German number one – Gabriel Clemens.
Jonny Clayton, runner-up here in 2017, faces Dutch left-hander Niels Zonneveld – who dispatched 2018 champion Daryl Gurney in Round One.
Rob Cross, runner-up in the Grand Slam six days ago and a beaten finalist here last year, looks to sustain his clinical vein of form when he takes on Luke Woodhouse – who saw off Simon Whitlock in his opener.
Recent Players Championship event winner Ryan Joyce will be eyeing a deep run in the bottom section of the draw, but faces a formidable task against former Premier League finalist Joe Cullen – twice a major semi-finalist this season.
Canadian number one Matt Campbell takes on Belgian veteran Mario Vandenbogaerde, while Maik Kuivenhoven meets 2021 semi-finalist Brendan Dolan.
The action gets under way from 12.45pm GMT, with Second Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs and Third Round ties best of 19 legs.
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Players Championship Finals 2023 Day Two Schedule
Saturday November 25
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)
Second Round
Main Stage
Gary Anderson v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Damon Heta v Kevin Doets
Gerwyn Price v Kim Huybrechts
Ross Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Dave Chisnall v Chris Dobey
Luke Humphries v Radek Szaganski
Jermaine Wattimena v Richard Veenstra
Stage Two
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Ryan Searle v Ricardo Pietreczko
Matt Campbell v Mario Vandenbogaerde
Maik Kuivenhoven v Brendan Dolan
Rob Cross v Luke Woodhouse
Josh Rock v Gabriel Clemens
Ryan Joyce v Joe Cullen
Jonny Clayton v Niels Zonneveld
James Wade v Steve Lennon
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Third Round
Main Stage & Stage Two
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