Plaisier wins maiden PDC title at Players Championship

Wesley Plaisier had lost his first-round match on each of his past five appearances at the Players Championship

Dutchman Wesley Plaisier beat Josh Rock 8-7 in a thrilling final at Players Championship 28 in Wigan to win his first PDC title.

Rock led 4-3 after a 111 checkout before Plaisier put the finishing line in sight by winning four of the following six legs to lead 7-6.

A 112 checkout from Rock forced a decider but the Northern Ireland man wasted six match darts as Plaisier wrapped up the win with double tops.

Earlier, Rock became one of the players to hit a nine-darter in the event following Jamie Hughes and Callum Goffin's first round efforts against Niels Zonneveld and Jelle Klaasen as the Broughshane man achieved his maximum against in his last-16 win over George Killington.

Plaisier, 34, is just the fourth player to win a PDC ranking title without holding a PDC Tour card.

"It's unbelievable," said the Dutchman.

"Every game is tough, but the final was a really hard game. I was hoping and praying I would get another chance.

"I've been playing well all year and this is the crown to top it off."

Plaisier finished runner-up at two Players Championship events in July, losing to Ross Smith and Jonny Clayton in the respective finals.

He won seven matches in total, beating Matt Campbell, Ritchie Edhouse, Florian Hempel, Krzysztof Ratajski, Jose de Sousa and Danny Noppert, before wrapping up his remarkable run with victory against Rock.