Gary Anderson continued his blistering form to secure Players Championship 25 glory on Wednesday, defeating Josh Rock 8-4 in the decider to claim back-to-back ProTour titles in Barnsley.
Anderson, a winner at Players Championship 24 last month, landed a nine-dart finish on his way to victory at the Barnsley Metrodome, before dispatching Rock to clinch his third ranking title of the year.
The two-time world champion boasted a tournament average of 101.45 to seal the £12,000 top prize, which moves him top of the 2023 Players Championship Order of Merit with five events remaining.
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Rock struck the first blow with an immediate break of throw, but Anderson responded with a 121 leveller on the bull, sparking a run of four straight legs for the Scot.
He converted a clinical 110 kill on tops to stretch his lead to 4-1, and while Rock stopped the rot in leg six, the veteran star restored his three-leg buffer with a 12-dart hold.
Rock hit back with 67 and 72 combination finishes as he threatened to launch a late fightback, although 'The Flying Scotsman' had other ideas, producing an effortless 127 finish in leg 10 to regain control at 6-4.
The Northern Irishman then paid the price for spurning two darts at double as Anderson moved to the cusp of victory at 7-4, before pinning double four moments later to cap off another terrific campaign.
"I've got nothing to lose. I just come up and throw darts and they're going alright," said 52-year-old Anderson, who hit a nine-dart finish during his second-round win over Keane Barry.
"I last played in Leicester two weeks ago. Today is only the second time I've thrown since Andrew [Gilding] battered me on that stage!
"I was struggling at the end there. The young boys that do this every day of the week - hats off to them.
"I'm playing well, but I'm not looking too far ahead. I have my odd practice with Ryan [Searle], play in the Players Championships, and if I qualify for anything else in between it's a bonus."
This week's Players Championship action continues with Players Championship 26 on Thursday.
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2023 Players Championship 25
Wednesday October 18
The Barnsley Metrodome
Last 16
Martijn Kleermaker 6-4 Callan Rydz
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Danny Jansen
Josh Rock 6-2 Daniel Klose
Rob Cross 6-5 Joe Cullen
Gary Anderson 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Danny Noppert 6-1 Martin Lukeman
Cam Crabtree 6-4 Stephen Burton
Jim Williams 6-3 Mervyn King
Quarter-Finals
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Martijn Kleermaker
Josh Rock 6-3 Rob Cross
Gary Anderson 6-4 Danny Noppert
Jim Williams 6-3 Cam Crabtree
Semi-Finals
Josh Rock 7-5 Brendan Dolan
Gary Anderson 7-5 Jim Williams
Final
Gary Anderson 8-4 Josh Rock
Watch the seventeenth staging of the Grand Slam of Darts from 11-19 November at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Stream your favourite sports and more with NOW