Latest news with #BradleyBrooks
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Betfair punters hit £3,760 jackpot as 500/1 Bradley Brooks lands maiden PDC ProTour darts title
SIX savvy Betfair punters are toasting a huge windfall after backing Bradley Brooks at colossal odds of 500/1! Former world youth champion Brooks won the Players Championship 21 - with two bettors turning £5 each-way punts into a stunning £3,760 return apiece. The 25-year-old from Blackburn pulled off the biggest win of his professional career on Tuesday, clinching his maiden PDC ProTour title in Leicester and pocketing the £15,000 winner's cheque. Brooks stormed past top names including Chris Dobey and James Wade before toppling 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price in the final, sealing an impressive 8–5 victory. His surprise triumph has also sealed him a spot at December's World Darts Championship, capping a breakthrough moment that few saw coming – except for our mystery punters! "I'm lost for words," he said. "This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Darts star fights back tears as 500/1 outsider, 25, incredibly wins life changing prize money at Players Championship
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DARTS underdog Bradley Brooks banked himself £15,000 when he overcame the odds to win the Players Championship 21 on Wednesday. Brooks, 25, got the better of three top players to earn himself a life-changing payday and a maiden senior PDC title in Leicester. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Bradley Brooks defied the odds to win the Players Championship 21 and pocket £15,000 Credit: Getty The Blackburn thrower, who previously won the World Youth Championship in 2020, got the better of Chris Dobey and James Wade on his way to an 8-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final. Brooks put up an average of 97 to beat former world champ Price, fending off a comeback from 'The Iceman' despite being 500/1 to win the tournament at the start of the day. Brooks was overcome with emotion when discussing the victory post-match, fighting back tears as he opened up on bouncing back from losing his Tour Card last year to earning his first title. He said: "I'm proud, but it's not all just me. I've got a good family, a good manager, Mrs, mum, nan - everyone. They all look after me. READ MORE ON DARTS 'WHY WE PLAY INDOORS' Luke Littler and Luke Humphries struggle in new darts tournament "And they all know how much I struggled when I lost my Tour Card last year, my dad included as well, and I think if it wasn't for the people around me I wouldn't be where I am today". In disbelief at what he had achieved, he added: "I'm lost for words. This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." 3 Brooks appeared emotional as he discussed his shock victory Credit: X Bradley Brooks' route to success Here's how Brooks blew away top competition to earn himself a handsome payday.. Round of 128 Bradley Brooks 6-2 William Borland Round of 64 Brandon Brooks 6-3 Chris Dobey Round of 32 Bradley Brooks 6-5 Brendan Dolan Last 16 Bradley Brooks 6-5 James Wade Quarter-finals Bradley Brooks 6-1 Josh Rock Semi-final Bradley Brooks 7-6 James Hurrell Final Bradley Brooks 8-5 Gerwyn Price CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The victory for Brooks has rocketed him 23 places higher in the PDC Order of Merit, leaving him at 73rd spot. While his spot at 60th in the ProTour Order of Merit puts him in good stead for a place at the World Championship this December if he can continue his form. Elsewhere at the Players Championship 21, former world champion Micheal Smith crashed out in the first round - meaning he will miss out on a place at the World Matchplay for the first time in 12 years. Bully Boy needed to make at least the semi-finals of the Leicester tournament to climb into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit and earn a place at next week's showpiece. Unfortunately Smith crashed out in the first round, losing 6-4 to Thibault Tricole and sealing his unfortunate fate. Although Smith hasn't missed a World Matchplay event since 2013, he has never lifted the trophy and came closest to tasting success in 2019 when he finished runner up to Rob Cross. 3 Michael Smith has failed to qualify for the World Matchplay in Blackpool Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Darts star fights back tears as 500/1 outsider, 25, incredibly wins life changing prize money at Players Championship
DARTS underdog Bradley Brooks banked himself £15,000 when he overcame the odds to win the Players Championship 21 on Wednesday. Brooks, 25, got the better of three top players to earn himself a life-changing payday and a maiden senior PDC title in Leicester. 3 Bradley Brooks defied the odds to win the Players Championship 21 and pocket £15,000 Credit: Getty The Blackburn thrower, who previously won the World Youth Championship in 2020, got the better of Chris Dobey and James Wade on his way to an 8-5 victory over Brooks put up an average of 97 to beat former world champ Price, fending off a comeback from 'The Iceman' despite being 500/1 to win the tournament at the start of the day. Brooks was overcome with emotion when discussing the victory post-match, fighting back tears as he opened up on bouncing back from losing his Tour Card last year to earning his first title. He said: "I'm proud, but it's not all just me. I've got a good family, a good manager, Mrs, mum, nan - everyone. They all look after me. READ MORE ON DARTS "And they all know how much I struggled when I lost my Tour Card last year, my dad included as well, and I think if it wasn't for the people around me I wouldn't be where I am today". In disbelief at what he had achieved, he added: "I'm lost for words. This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." Most read in Darts 3 Brooks appeared emotional as he discussed his shock victory Credit: X Bradley Brooks' route to success Here's how Brooks blew away top competition to earn himself a handsome payday.. Round of 128 Bradley Brooks 6-2 William Borland Round of 64 Brandon Brooks 6-3 Chris Dobey Round of 32 Bradley Brooks 6-5 Brendan Dolan Last 16 Bradley Brooks 6-5 James Wade Quarter-finals Bradley Brooks 6-1 Josh Rock Semi-final Bradley Brooks 7-6 James Hurrell Final Bradley Brooks 8-5 Gerwyn Price CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The victory for Brooks has rocketed him 23 places higher in the PDC Order of Merit, leaving him at 73rd spot. While his spot at 60th in the ProTour Order of Merit puts him in good stead for a place at the World Championship this December if he can continue his form. Elsewhere at the Players Championship 21, former world champion Micheal Smith crashed out in the first round - meaning Unfortunately Smith crashed out in the first round, losing 6-4 to Thibault Tricole and sealing his unfortunate fate. Although Smith hasn't missed a World Matchplay event since 2013, he has never lifted the trophy and came closest to tasting success in 2019 when he finished runner up to 3 Michael Smith has failed to qualify for the World Matchplay in Blackpool Credit: Getty World Matchplay field Here's a look at the field for the tournament in Blackpool.. Luke Humphries Luke Littler Michael van Gerwen Stephen Bunting Jonny Clayton Chris Dobey Damon Heta Nathan Aspinall James Wade Rob Cross Gerwyn Price Dave Chisnall Gary Anderson Ross Smith Peter Wright Danny Noppert Qualifiers from ProTour Rankings Martin Schindler Josh Rock Cameron Menzies Gian van Veen Wessel Nijman Ryan Searle Mike De Decker Dirk van Duijvenbode Jermaine Wattimena Andrew Gilding Daryl Gurney Joe Cullen Ricardo Pietreczko Luke Woodhouse Raymond van Barneveld Ryan Joyce
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Darts star fights back tears as 500/1 outsider, 25, incredibly wins life changing prize money at Players Championship
DARTS underdog Bradley Brooks banked himself £15,000 when he overcame the odds to win the Players Championship 21 on Wednesday. Brooks, 25, got the better of three top players to earn himself a life-changing payday and a maiden senior PDC title in Leicester. The Blackburn thrower, who previously won the World Youth Championship in 2020, got the better of Chris Dobey and James Wade on his way to an 8-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final. Brooks put up an average of 97 to beat former world champ Price, fending off a comeback from 'The Iceman' despite being 500/1 to win the tournament at the start of the day. Brooks was overcome with emotion when discussing the victory post-match, fighting back tears as he opened up on bouncing back from losing his Tour Card last year to earning his first title. He said: "I'm proud, but it's not all just me. I've got a good family, a good manager, Mrs, mum, nan - everyone. They all look after me. "And they all know how much I struggled when I lost my Tour Card last year, my dad included as well, and I think if it wasn't for the people around me I wouldn't be where I am today". In disbelief at what he had achieved, he added: "I'm lost for words. This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." 3 The victory for Brooks has rocketed him 23 places higher in the PDC Order of Merit, leaving him at 73rd spot. While his spot at 60th in the ProTour Order of Merit puts him in good stead for a place at the World Championship this December if he can continue his form. Elsewhere at the Players Championship 21, former world champion Micheal Smith crashed out in the first round - meaning he will miss out on a place at the World Matchplay for the first time in 12 years. Bully Boy needed to make at least the semi-finals of the Leicester tournament to climb into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit and earn a place at next week's showpiece. Unfortunately Smith crashed out in the first round, losing 6-4 to Thibault Tricole and sealing his unfortunate fate. Although Smith hasn't missed a World Matchplay event since 2013, he has never lifted the trophy and came closest to tasting success in 2019 when he finished runner up to Rob Cross. 3 World Matchplay field Here's a look at the field for the tournament in Blackpool.. Luke Humphries Luke Littler Michael van Gerwen Stephen Bunting Jonny Clayton Chris Dobey Damon Heta Nathan Aspinall James Wade Rob Cross Gerwyn Price Dave Chisnall Gary Anderson Ross Smith Peter Wright Danny Noppert Qualifiers from ProTour Rankings Martin Schindler Josh Rock Cameron Menzies Gian van Veen Wessel Nijman Ryan Searle Mike De Decker Dirk van Duijvenbode Jermaine Wattimena Andrew Gilding Daryl Gurney Joe Cullen Ricardo Pietreczko Luke Woodhouse Raymond van Barneveld Ryan Joyce
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Former darts world champion misses out on major tournament for the first time in 12 years following shock loss
FORMER darts world champion Michael Smith will miss out on the World Matchplay in Blackpool for the first time in 12 years. Smith, 34, failed to qualify for the competition for the first time since 2013 after a poor performance in the Players Championship 21. 2 Bully Boy needed to make at least the semi-finals of the Leicester tournament to climb into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit and earn a place at next week's showpiece. Unfortunately Smith crashed out in the first round, losing 6-4 to Thibault Tricole and sealing his unfortunate fate. Although Smith hasn't missed a World Matchplay event since 2013, he has never lifted the trophy and came closest to tasting success in 2019 when he finished runner up to Rob Cross. After Smith's exit from this week's Players Championship 21, it was former world youth champion Bradley Brooks who went on to win the tournament. Brooks, 25, banked £15,000 after beating the likes of Chris Dobey and James Wade on his way to an 8-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final. The Blackburn thrower was in disbelief at his sensational performance. Speaking afterwards, he said: "I'm lost for words. This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. 2 "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." Unfortunately Brooks will also miss out on a spot at the World Matchplay given that he is still way back in 73rd spot in the Order of Merit. Big name players such as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have, of course, earned their spot on the stage in Blackpool. While exciting qualifiers from the ProTour rankings include Martin Schindler, Ryan Searle, Mike De Decker and Raymond van Barneveld.
