Gerwyn Price steamrolls to victory at Players Championship as Luke Littler suffers major shock

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Callum Vurley

By Callum Vurley


Published: 31/03/2025

- 20:31

Gerwyn Price returned to winning ways after winning Players Championship Nine

Gerwyn Price claimed victory in Players Championship Nine in Leicester, defeating England's Ian White 8-4 in the final.

The former world champion produced a dominant display to secure his second Players Championship tournament win of the 2025 season.


White, contesting his first ProTour final in five years, had earlier caused a major upset by knocking out teenage world champion Luke Littler in the third round.

Price was in commanding form throughout the day, particularly impressing with a 114 average in his 7-0 semi-final win against Brendan Dolan.

Gerwyn Price

Gerwyn Price landed victory over Ian White to win Players Championship Nine

PA

In the final, Price produced a superb 140 checkout in the fourth leg to take a 3-1 lead, which proved to be the highest checkout of the match.

The Welshman averaged 94.67 compared to White's slightly higher 96.99 and hit fewer 180s - three to White's six.

However, Price's superior checkout success of 34.8% versus White's 28.6% proved decisive in securing the victory.

Price maintained his composure throughout the remainder of the contest at the Leicester Arena to claim the title.

White's victory over Littler came in a thrilling deciding leg, with the 54-year-old securing a 6-5 win to avenge his World Championship defeat from December.

Littler had defeated White 4-1 at Alexandra Palace, but this time failed to land a 102 checkout in the final leg.

White capitalised on the opportunity, nailing a 46 checkout and finishing on double top.

The veteran, nicknamed 'Diamond', had previously revealed he used to beat 18-year-old Littler's grandfather on the pub darts circuit in Runcorn during the 1990s.

Luke Littler

Luke Littler crashed out earlier in the competition to Ian White, who made his way to the final

PA

"I didn't feel too good at the beginning of today - was a little bit up and down in games - but that will give a me boost for the Premier League next week," Price told the PDC.

"I was a little bit inconsistent but I battled on. In the past I probably throw those games away. There were some ragged points but I'm glad to get a win."

Following his victory in Leicester, this marks Price's second Players Championship tournament win of the 2025 season.

White's impressive run to the final included victories over Josh Rock and Cameron Menzies in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

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The Players Championship series consists of 34 events throughout the year, with the second part of the Leicester double-header taking place on Tuesday.

Gary Anderson provided another highlight during the tournament, compiling a nine-dart finish in his first-round match against Krzysztof Ratajski before exiting in the last 32.

The competition's finals will be held in Minehead from 21 to 23 November.

White, currently ranked 52nd in the PDC order of merit, had reached his first professional tour final in five years.