Callan Rydz won his first senior PDC ranking title at Players Championship 2 in Bolton on Friday, defeating Jonny Clayton 8-7 in the final.
Rydz, 22, survived a match dart from defeat back-to-back ProTour runner-up Clayton in a thrilling finale to ensure a dream start to just his second year as a PDC Tour Card Holder .
Previously a winner on the Challenge and Development Tours, Rydz – who was announced as PDC Young Player of the Year last month – came out on top of the 128-player field on the second day of the new ProTour season at the Bolton Whites Hotel.
“It feels amazing,” said an emotional Rydz. “I’ve played well all day and taken my chances when I got them. The 127 I took out in the final was massive.
“I’ve felt confident all day. Last year I lost a lot of games 6-5, now I’m a bit more experienced and consistent I’m coming out on the right side of those scorelines.
“I said to my manager last night ‘I feel like I can win one of these’ and I’m so happy to have done it.”
The young Geordie inflicted last-leg agony for a second successive day on Ladbrokes Masters champion and new Unibet Premier League star Clayton, who impressed with a 6-1 defeat of world number two Michael van Gerwen at the last 16 stage.
The Welshman took first blood in the final with a 121 checkout to go 2-1 up before Rydz, competing in his first senior PDC ranking final, punished two missed doubles from Clayton by pinning tops to break back and level at 3-3.
Rydz looked on course for glory when he tidied up 51 in two darts to go 6-4 in front, only for Clayton to reel off the next three legs, taking out 84 to move within a leg of the title.
With Clayton waiting on 47 after missing a dart at bullseye for the match, Rydz found the same target for a match-saving 127 checkout to send the contest to a final leg.
Rydz won the last-leg shoot-out in 15 darts, sealing the £10,000 prize with an 87 checkout.
Rydz also survived a match dart in wins over Boris Koltsov and Alan Soutar earlier in the day, before dropping just one leg in defeating Jeff Smith and Ian White to reach the semi-finals.
There, he scored a 7-2 victory over world number five Nathan Aspinall, who made it to the final four for a second successive day.
Elsewhere, it was another day of disappointment for World Champion Gerwyn Price who suffered a shock second round exit at the hands of Aaron Beeney, while world number three Peter Wright fell at the first hurdle to impressive newcomer Soutar.
Raymond van Barneveld picked up his first win since making his return to the PDC circuit, coming back from 5-2 down to defeat Ryan Murray 6-5 before losing out to fellow-Dutchman Danny Noppert in round two.
Vincent van der Voort made it two semi-final appearances in his last six ProTour outings, while Greece’s John Michael reached his first ProTour quarter-final.
Super Series 1 continues on Saturday with Players Championship 3 as the 128 players compete for a further £75,000 in prize money.
2021 Players Championship 2
Friday February 26
Last 16
John Michael 6-4 Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Callan Rydz 6-0 Jeff Smith
Ian White 6-3 Gary Anderson
Steve Beaton 6-2 Joe Cullen
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Michael van Gerwen
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Chas Barstow
Quarter-Finals
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 John Michael
Callan Rydz 6-1 Ian White
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Steve Beaton
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
Semi-Finals
Callan Rydz 7-2 Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton 7-5 Vincent van der Voort
Final
Callan Rydz 8-7 Jonny Clayton
