Baxter ends title drought

Baxter: Title drought ended

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• Order of Merit
• On Sky TV
• Darts Schedule/Results

Ronnie Baxter won his first title for a year in Newport, where Alan Tabern claimed a Players Championship hat-trick.

'The Rocket' Baxter claimed his first title since the Windy City Open last year as he defeated Jamie Caven in the Newport final without dropping a leg.

Francis Mellor and Joe Cullen were disposed of by Baxter without dropping a set, before Germany's Michael Rosenauer went 3-1 in the last 32.

Blackpool-based Baxter then defeated Sam Rooney, Matt Clark and Ireland's James Keogh before overwhelming Caven in the final.

Hat-trick

While it was an end to a long drought for Baxter, St Helens left-hander Tabern claimed a hat-trick of Players Championship titles with his victory.

After winning in the two contrasting venues of Wigan and Atlanta, 'The Saint' beat Colin Osborne in Newport to move up into a career-high tenth place in the Order of Merit.

Tabern had trailed Osborne 2-1 before turning the final on it's head with the next two sets to claim the spoils in what was the final qualifying event for the Sky Bet World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Mervyn King's run to the semi-finals saw him enter the world's top 16 for the first time since his switch to the PDC 18 months ago to ensure he made next month's event in Dublin through the Order of Merit.

Andy Smith will play at the CityWest at the expense of Kevin McDine after he made it to the quarter-finals, while Co Stompe came close to making a dramatic appearance.

Needing to win the Newport tournament, Dutchman Stompe made it all the way to the semis with fine victories over James Wade and Ronnie Baxter before losing out to Osborne.