NORTHWICH ace Stuart Kellett’s run to the last 32 on Friday afternoon is his best during a PDC Players’ Championship tournament to date this year.

He bowed out after a deciding leg against Scot Mark Barilli at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Earlier in the day, the 33-year-old had seen off Jyhan Artut (6-3), from Germany, and Dutchman Dimitri Van den Bergh (6-5) to reach the third round for the first time in 2015.

On Saturday, Kellett scored a notable success against in-form Andrew Gilding – who reached the UK Open semi finals in March – to reach the second stage.

However he lost 6-3 to Darren Webster.

The Cheshire regular’s weekend ended with a first-round exit, by 6-4, on Sunday against Jason Lovett.

World number one, and Premier League leader, Michael van Gerwen won Friday’s competition before Peter Wright and Keegan Brown – the World Youth champion – matched that feat on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

It leaves Kellett 39th in the world rankings and 61st in the one-year ProTour standings with £7,750 in prize money.

He returns to action in the next two Players’ Championship tournaments later this month.

Results

Players’ Championship 6

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Friday

First Round

Stuart Kellett 6-3 Jyhan Artut

Second Round

Stuart Kellett 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Last 32

Mark Barilli 6-5 Stuart Kellett (£750)

 

Players’ Championship 7

Saturday

First Round

Stuart Kellett 6-5 Andrew Gilding

Second Round

Darren Webster 6-3 Stuart Kellett (£250)

 

Players’ Championship 8

Sunday

First Round

Jason Lovett 6-4 Stuart Kellett