Hong Kong’s Kevin Leung beats eighth-ranked Michael Smith in darts’ Players Championship
- The 37-year-old reaches the last 16 of a pro event for the third time in his career and is up to 82 on the PDC money list
- Leung wins three matches in the eighth tournament of the Players Championship to follow up his fourth-round effort in March’s UK Open
Hong Kong’s Kevin Leung Kai-fan is taking heart from an encouraging last-16 performance at the Players Championship (PC) second series as he looks to establish himself on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world tour.
“Fat Beauty” Leung scored a stunning 6-5 upset over Michael Smith – ranked eighth on the PDC order of merit – in the opening round as he won three matches in the fourth and final event of the second series in Milton Keynes.
It was the third last-16 performance in his career, taking his career earnings to £16,000 and moving up to 82 in the PDC money list. He has earned £4,000 in March after his breakthrough fourth-round run at the UK Open early in the month.
“The UK Open was a breakthrough for me and gave me a push,” said Leung, who failed to go past the second round in the previous three tournaments of the PC. “I earned £2,000 there and £2,000 here, not a lot but I’ll take the positives and carry on.”
The Players Championship series comprise 12 one-day tournament featuring three series, with four events in a single series. The next four tournaments for the third series is from April 24-27 in Niedernhausen, Germany.
On Friday, Leung defeated Michael Smith 6-5 in the opening round of 128 players before completing a strong 6-2 win over 79th-ranked Alan Soutar in the last 64. Leung then beat Ryan Joyce, ranked 44 on the money list, to take his place in the final 16.