STUART Kellett reached the last 16 of a Players’ Championship for the first time in 2015 on Sunday.
It marks his best performance in a Professional Darts Corporation ProTour event in more than a year.
The Northwich darter’s run was ended by Dutch youngster Dirk van Duijvenbode after a deciding leg in Barnsley, leaving the 33-year-old to pocket £1,500 in prize money.
He had started the afternoon with a 6-4 success against world number 19 Andy Hamilton before sending out German Tomas Seyler and Mark Dudbridge – an opponent he had got the better of in Crawley seven days earlier – by the same score.
On Saturday, Kellett had made it to the last 32 for a third successive tournament.
His path started with a notable success against world number seven Simon Whitlock (6-3) – a third victory in the past four meetings between the two.
A 6-2 success against Spaniard Cristo Reyes followed before Jamie Lewis, who went on to reach the semi finals, ended his involvement.
Kellett climbs five places in the one-year PDC ProTour Order of Merit, to 46th, as a reward for his performance.
The next Players’ Championship events are scheduled for early July.
Results
Saturday
Players’ Championship 11
Round One: Simon Whitlock 3-6 Stuart Kellett. Round Two: Stuart Kellett 6-2 Cristo Reyes. Last 32: Stuart Kellett 3-6 Jamie Lewis
Sunday
Players’ Championship 12
Round One: Andy Hamilton 4-6 Stuart Kellett. Round Two: Stuart Kellett 6-4 Tomas Seyler. Last 32: Mark Dudbridge 4-6 Stuart Kellett. Last 16: Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Stuart Kellett
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