Heavy defeat for The Mirror Man but still achieved 95.7

PLAYERS Championship 15 was contested at the Barnsley Metrodome yesterday and although Plymouth marksman Simon Stevenson got defeated 6-0 in the second round, he put up a far better performance than the scoreline would suggest.

His opening match was against the Hull marksman Reece Robinson and after Stevenson led 2-1, he stepped up a gear and took the remaining four legs in 16, 15, 17 and 18 for a comprehensive 6-1 victory.

He was then drawn to play Glen Durrant, a player who needs no introduction after winning the BDO World Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019, before switching his allegiance to the PDC and winning his Tour Card in January.

The Middlesbrough thrower went 3-0 up in 13, 15 and 14 and was averaging 107.36 at this stage.

But the Mirror Man’s head never dropped and in the fourth leg left 32 after 15, only for Durrant to checkout out from 108 for a win 15.

In leg five, Simon left double four after 18, only for his opponent to finish in 19 and it was the same story in leg six.

Stevenson left himself double 16 after 15, but aided by two maximum throws, Durrant won it in 13 finishing with an average of 101.3, five maximums and a checkout percentage of 55%. Simon’s efforts earned him a 95.7 average.

Durrant (101.1) went on to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-2 in the semi-final before winning the event when over-powering Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas 8-1 in the final.

Players will today compete in Players Championship 16.