Anderson Wins In Nuland ( SAT 24/09/2011 )

GARY ANDERSON'S run of sensational form in Players Championships continued as he picked up his third Nuland victory of 2011, and eighth of the year in all competitions, by defeating Colin Lloyd 6-2 in Saturday's final.

The Premier League Darts champion had also won six other PDC ProTour events this year before returning to Holland, where he claimed a notable double in June with back-to-back wins and extended his unbeaten run at the Van Der Valk Hotel to three successive events.

The Scot was in imperious form throughout, hitting eight 180s in a first round whitewash of Dutch youngster Dirk van Duijvenbode before seeing off Joe Cullen, Nigel Heydon, Colin Osborne and Mark Webster to reach the semis.

There, he picked up another whitewash against Tony Ayres before going on to defeat Lloyd in the decider.

Lloyd, in his first final of 2011, led 2-1 early on after opening with a ten-dart leg and also hitting a 12-darter.

But the Essex ace could not match Anderson's relentless scoring, as the Scot hit two 180s in the next three legs, which were won in 12, 13 and 14 darts.

Anderson was also ahead in the seventh before miscounting when needing 129 - he finished 139 by mistake to let Lloyd in, but his miss at double 16 gave the Scot a reprieve on double 18.

Lloyd hit back with a 180 in the next, but Anderson was first to a finish and landed double top to complete victory.

Lloyd picked up the £3,000 runner-up prize following his best display of the year, as he saw off Niels-Jan Stuiver, Terry Temple, Kim Huybrechts, Wes Newton, Dave Chisnall and Scott Rand.

Rand's run to the semi-finals lifts him above Co Stompe and Colin Osborne into the provisional qualifying places for the World Grand Prix - with only Sunday's Players Championship remaining before the 32-player field is confirmed.

Ayres' semi-final appearance was his best since reaching the last eight of a Players Championship in Holland 12 months ago, and matched his run to the last four in the 2010 UK Open.

Chisnall's impressive first year on the PDC circuit continued as he made the last eight, only to miss three darts to defeat Lloyd in a tight battle, while he was joined in the quarter-finals by Mark Walsh, Mark Webster and Brendan Dolan.

Dolan's £1,000 prize money improved his chances of securing a World Grand Prix place as one of the top two players from Ireland & Northern Ireland in the Players Championship Order of Merit - while Michael Mansell's run to the last 16 saw him close the gap on William O'Connor.