Klaasen’s Barnsley Glory As World Grand Prix Competitors Confirmed

Dutchman Jelle Klaasen has won Players Championship 16 in Barnsley, beating fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the final as Kim Huybrechts hit a nine-darter in his quarter-final match against Simon Whitlock before missing D12 for two perfect legs in the same match.

Barney’s impressive run in Barnsley came to an end in the final against Klassen, who averaged 98 to win the tournament. The match was tied at 4-4, but Barney just ran out of fuel at the end of the day, allowing Klaasen to step in and win the £10,000 top prize.

Despite defeat in the final, Raymond van Barneveld did what was required to secure a place in next week’s World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Jamie Caven also knocked Joe Murnan out of the qualifying spots for the World Grand Prix to sneak into the ProTour qualifying places for the unique event in Dublin. Murnan was beaten in the second round, which meant that ‘Jabba’s’ last sixteen run was enough to book his place in the World Grand Prix.

Caven survived a couple of scares along the way to qualifying. In the first round he eased past Devon Petersen, but was on the brink of defeat in the second round when Kevin McDine lead 5-3, but Caven somehow managed to find a 6-5 win. A 6-4 victory against Robert Thornton was to follow, taking out a couple of mammoth finishes to win after trailing 3-0.

He was beaten by Robbie Green in the last sixteen 6-2, but the £1,500 he earned was enough to see him put in the pot for the World Grand Prix first round draw. Here is a full list of the competitors.

(1) Michael van Gerwen
(2) Gary Anderson
(3) Phil Taylor
(4) Peter Wright
(5) Adrian Lewis
(6) James Wade
(7) Robert Thornton
(8) Michael Smith
Dave Chisnall
Ian White
Simon Whitlock
Brendan Dolan
Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King
Kim Huybrechts
Raymond van Barneveld
Jelle Klaasen
Justin Pipe
Vincent van der Voort
Benito van de Pas
Mensur Suljovic
Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price
Steve Beaton
John Henderson
Andrew Gilding
Mark Webster
Keegan Brown
Jamie Caven
Jamie Lewis
Daryl Gurney (HNQ)
William O’Connor (HNQ)